photo: Twitter/AHL
Hershey Bears made a drop Coachella Valley Firebirds, 3-2 in Game 4 of the Calder Cup Finals Thursday night at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. With the win, the Bears tied for a best-of-seven series, two games apiece.
The Bears opened the scoring in Game 4 with a power play goal from Mike Vecion Less than five minutes into the contest, however, Coachella Valley answered midway through the period with the score tied at 1-1 after 20 minutes of play. The Bears had a 5-on-3 at the end of the period but were unable to capitalize.
The Bears regained the lead early in the game on Vecchione’s second goal of the game and extended their lead to 3-1 on Sunday. Ethan FrankHis second goal in as many matches made it 3-1 in the second half.
The Firebirds closed the gap by one goal just seven minutes into the final frame, but that would be it, as the Bears held on to win 3-2.
Lined up
Hunter Shepard (11-5, 2.30 GAA, .913 sv%) Got the start between the pipes for the Bears. Joey Dacord (14-8, 2.26 GAA, .926 sv%) Got the start in goal for the visiting Firebirds. Bears front lines and defensive pairs:
Mike Veccione – Henrik Borgstrom – Ethene Frank
Joe Sinville – Connor McMichael – Garrett Bailon
Alexi Brotas – Hendrix Lapierre – Sam Anas
Beck Mallenstein – Riley Sutter – Mason Morelli
Aaron Ness – Logan Day
Gabriel Carlson – Dylan McElrath
Lukas Johansen – Vincent Yorio
Hunter Shepard
Zack Focale
scratchesMike Sgarbosa (injury), Bobby Nardella, Jake Massey, Shane Jersic, Henrik Rybinski, Matt Strom, Julian Napravnik, Bogdan Treniev, Ludwig Pearson, Drew Krebs, Aleksandr Suzdalev.
The first period
The Bears headed to their first power play of the game less than five minutes into the mile after former Bear Eddie Whittchow was called for a high stick, and the Bears immediately took advantage. Mike Vecion (3) He achieved the first tally of the match at 4:27. Mason Morelli (6) f Joe Snelly (11) He had assistants.
I felt good 😤
🍎: Morelli & Snively pic.twitter.com/Afpo5DBVI1
– Hershey’s Bears (@TheHersheyBears) June 15, 2023
The Firebirds answered in the middle of the period. Austin Bagansky (2) The match was tied at 12:41 of the first half, with an assist Shane Wright (7) and Brogan Rafferty (8).
Let’s go Pogo!!! 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/74rGxuVZco
– x – Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) June 15, 2023
The Bears got back into the power play late in the opening segment and were also given a 5-on-3 Man advantage for 52 seconds, but were unable to bend the strings.
The period ended with the match still tied at 1-1. The Bears lead, 10-4. Hershey was 1 for 3 and Coachella Valley 0 for 1 on power play in the first 20 minutes.
The second period
Riley Sutter was called for a cross-checking penalty as time expired in the first period, but the Bears’ penalty killing took care of business and the Firebirds’ strong game was hampered.
Bears answered the death penalty Mike VecionThe second (4) goal in the match at 3:03 of the second half. Logan day (9) and Henrik Borgstrom (3) He got help.
Two goals in the qualifiers before the finals.
Two goals in the finals.
Veccs is growing!today
🍏 Bergstrom pic.twitter.com/9p0ygCAzmn– Hershey’s Bears (@TheHersheyBears) June 16, 2023
Coachella Valley returned to power play immediately after Mike Vecchione’s second goal of the game, but once again were unable to pick up a thread.
The Bears extended their lead to 3-1 Ethan Frank (2) The second goal in the highest number of matches at 14:24 of the middle frame. Mike Vecion (3) He has the only help.
Frankie says relax! Ethan Frank’s second goal in as many matches. The Bears lead 3-1, trailing in the middle frame. #HBH # the capper pic.twitter.com/xIa4VohuJR
– Capitals Horizons (@jon_m_sorensen) June 16, 2023
The second period concluded with the Bears leading, 3-1. Coachella Valley led in shots, 12-11 in the second half with the Bears leading 21-16 after two periods. The Firebirds were 0 for 3 and the Bears 1 for 4 on power play after 40 minutes of play.
Third period
The Firebirds closed the gap to 3-2 just over seven minutes into the third period. Jesper Freudin (5) Scored Coachella Valley’s second goal at 7:01 of the final frame after the Bears’ defensive zone collapsed. Max McCormick (13) and Ricker Evans (18) His assists.
3-2 lead pic.twitter.com/ZXV4nYeLtX
– x – Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) June 16, 2023
But the Bears would shut it out from there and go on to win 3-2. They tied the series 2-2 with Game 5 set Saturday night in Hershey. Puck Drop is set for 7 PM ET.
Carpentry
- AHL Box Points
- Attendance: 10,687
- The Bears led in shots, 28-21
- Garrett Bailon and Ethene Frank led all Bears in putouts with 4 each.
- Hunter Shepard stopped 19 of 21 with a 0.904 game save percentage.
- Coachella Valley was 0 for 4 and Hershey 1 for 6 on the power play.
- The game stars: 1) Mike Veccioni, 2) Ethene Frank 3) Lucas Johansen