Photo: Mike Zytek/Coachella Valley Firebirds
the Coachella Valley Firebirds The Hershey Bears were defeated 5-2 in Game 6 of the Calder Cup Finals on Monday night at Accresor Arena in Palm Desert, California. With the win, the Firebirds snapped a best-of-seven series at three games apiece, with the deciding seventh game taking place Wednesday night in Palm Desert.
The Bears opened the scoring less than two minutes into Game 6 with a score of 200,000 Connor McMichael, His first goal of the series and his first Bears first goal at Accresor Arena. But it was all the Firebirds got through the rest of the period, getting goals from Max McCormick, John Hayden and Cameron Hughes to take a 3-1 lead going into the first break.
Cut Bears Firebirds leads to one’s aim Beck Mallenstein Less than four minutes later, the goal went ahead, but the Firebird responded with a powerful goal in the middle of the road to restore the two-goal advantage and maintain a 4-2 lead after two periods of play.
Coachella Valley added a fifth early in the final frame, chasing Hunter Shepard from the game. The Firebirds would close out the win 5-2.
Lined up
Hunter Shepard (13-5, 2.14 GAA, .916 sv%) Got the start between the pipes for the visiting Bears. Joey Dacord (14-10, 2.22 GAA, .927 sv%) Got the starting goaltender for the 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 opened the scoring less than two minutes into the game. Conor McMichael (5) Notched his first tally of the series at 1:31 with an assist Joe Snelly (12) and Lucas Johansen (4). The goal was the Bears’ first in Palm Desert.
It was started by Conor McMichael. Nice cross-ice feed by LuJo and center feed by Joe Snively. The Bears lead 1-0. # the capper #HBH pic.twitter.com/JwWxOcwrSi
– Capitals Horizons (@jon_m_sorensen) June 20, 2023
The Firebirds answered with a view to power play from Max McCormick (13) 10:10 in the opening segment. Andrew Poturalsky (7) He had the only help.
Prepare reports for assignment pic.twitter.com/fPAgwc36gN
– x – Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) June 20, 2023
Coachella Valley then took its first lead of the night with a score of John Hayden (1) Just two minutes later. Ricker Evans (19) and Will Bateman (5) Had two assists at 12:10 of the first period.
Birds take a 2-1 lead pic.twitter.com/JWW6OogqPu
– x – Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) June 20, 2023
The Firebirds quickly made it 3-1 in the first frame with a goal Cameron Hughes (4) At 16:52 of the first period. Will Bateman (6) f Gustav Olofsson (3) He had assistants.
The birds are on fire
We lead 3-1 pic.twitter.com/99RTk7kQ7r
– x – Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) June 20, 2023
Coachella Valley held a 3-1 lead as the first period ended. Hershey took the shots, 10-9. The Bears were 0-for-1 and the Firebirds 1-for-1 on the power play in the first 20 minutes.
The second period
Cut Bears Firebirds leads to one’s aim Beck Mallenstein (4) At 3:28 of the second period. Mallenstein delivered what looked like a pass that was tipped by the opposition past Dacor to score. Riley Souter (4) f Henrik Borgstrom (4) He had two assists.
Beck brought us back inside one!
🍎 Sutter
🍏 day pic.twitter.com/474cYp2aiE– Hershey’s Bears (@TheHersheyBears) June 20, 2023
But the Firebirds answer on Malenstyn’s mark to restore their 2-goal lead with a power play from Ugly bird (8) At 11:50. Joey Dacord (3) He has the only help.
Birds lead 4-2 pic.twitter.com/i5aN3H2dgL
– x – Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) June 20, 2023
The Firebirds held a 4-2 lead heading into the second intermission. Coachella Valley led in shooting 7-3 in the second period and 16-13 after two periods of play. Hershey was 0 for 2 and Coachella Valley 2 for 2 on the power play after two periods.
Third period
The Firebirds made it 5-2 early in the third day Ugly bird (9) At 3:57. Alexander is correct (12) and Brogan Rafferty (9) He had assistants. Hunter Shepard was replaced by Zach Fucale after the Firebirds’ fifth tally.
Bird height 5-2 pic.twitter.com/i0ynk3BBBD
– x – Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) June 20, 2023
The Bears pulled Fucale with just over five minutes left in the final frame, but were unable to flex the strings. 5-2 was the final.
Game 7 is set on a Wednesday night in the Palm Desert with the puck drop set for 10 PM ET.
Video summary from “The Hockey Guy”:
Carpentry
- AHL Box Points
- Attendance: 10,087
- Coachella Valley led in shots, 28-22.
- The Bears had 7 shots in the first 2 minutes of the game and 15 shots in the remaining 58 minutes.
- Hunter Shepard stops 17 of 22 for a . 772 game save percentage.
- Conor McMichael, Sam Anas, and Aliaksi Protas led all Bears in putouts with 4 each.
- Hershey was 0 for 2 and Coachella Valley was 2 for 4 on the power play.
- The Bears won 14-2 in all three games played at Coachella Valley.