Photo: @TheHersheyBears

The Hershey Bears beat the Toronto Marlies 3-2 on Saturday afternoon at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto. The win finishes a rather impressive dismantling of the AHL’s best team during the regular season, taking the Eastern Conference Final series four games to one. The win punches the Bears’ ticket to the Calder Cup Finals, the first time since 2010. The Bears will face the Lake Erie Monsters for the Calder Cup. 

The starting offensive lines for the Bears:

C. Bourque-Boyd-Vrana,
Walker-Camper-Barber,
O’Brien-Stephenson-Mitchell,
R. Bourque-Sill-Gazley.

Riley Barber returned to starting lineup after being a healthy scratch for the first four games of the series. Sean Collins was the scratch for the Bears. Justin Peters once again started in net for the Bears.

FIRST PERIOD
The Bears Jakub Vrana would be awarded a penalty shot at 6:22 of the opening frame, but Vrana would be unable to convert.

In Bibeau we trust ❌#TORvsHERhttps://t.co/rdqCJBpSyd

— AHL (@TheAHL) May 29, 2016

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However, the Bears would ultimately strike first in game 5 on a feed from Dustin Gazley to Liam O’Brien at 9:18 of the first period.

.@ob61 gets the scoring started for @TheHersheyBears #TORvsHER #Game5https://t.co/7sWj2GTuNL

— AHL (@TheAHL) May 29, 2016

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The Bears would successfully kill a late power play by the Marlies to sustain the 1-0 lead at the first intermission. The Bears led 9-8 in shots on goal for the first period.

SECOND PERIOD
Christian Djoos would stretch the Bears lead to 2-0 just 1:09 into the second period.

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Nathan Walker would add to the Bears lead at 2:13 of the second period, stretching the lead to 3-1.

Two goals in the first 2:13 of the second period gives @TheHersheyBears a 3-0 lead. #TORvsHER #Game5https://t.co/h0p8XfipMf

— AHL (@TheAHL) May 29, 2016

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The Marlies would get on the scoreboard at 8:05 of the second period on a goal by William Nylander, cutting the Bears lead to 3-1.

The @TorontoMarlies are back in it, cutting Hershey’s lead to two. #TORvsHER #CalderCuphttps://t.co/ay7LZWcH5m

— AHL (@TheAHL) May 29, 2016

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The second period ended with the Bears leading 3-1. The Bears led 16-12 in shots on goal through two periods of play.

THIRD PERIOD
The Marlies closed the gap to 3-2 on a goal by Nikita Soshnikov with 13:04 left in the game.

Soshnikov makes it a 3-2 game. #TORvsHERhttps://t.co/iuUSsL1L6C

— AHL (@TheAHL) May 29, 2016

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The Bears would hold on for the 3-2 win, and advance to the Calder Cup finals.

Coaches, how ya feelin’? pic.twitter.com/mnPqiNpFq1

— AHL (@TheAHL) May 29, 2016

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Games 1 & 2 of the Final at Hershey, next Wednesday & Friday nights.

Dates for Games 3-4-5 in Cleveland will be announced Tuesday morning after the NBA Finals schedule has been set. Tickets for Games 1 & 2 of the Calder Cup Finals on sale Monday, May 30 at 9AM.

Respect. pic.twitter.com/nqWJLqkZhQ

— AHL (@TheAHL) May 29, 2016

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Congrats @thehersheybears Calder Cup Finals !!

A post shared by NoVa Caps (@nova_caps) on May 29, 2016 at 2:59pm PDT