Playoffs? Playoffs! Hershey, with a little help from Springfield and their at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has completed the affiliation’s trifecta on the next-to-last night of the season. And Christian Djoos, who has been having a terrific second season in Hershey, was the hero.
After Wilkes-Barre/Scranton got the game-tying goal on the power play when Hampus Gustafsson took a delay of game penalty just passed the midway point of the third period, Djoos scored his 13 goal of the season just 27 seconds later with Tom Gilbert and Jakub Vrana earning the assists.
Vrana, who hit the post twice, opened the scoring, giving Hershey a 1-0 lead just over three minutes into the second period with Chris Bourque and Tyler Lewington assisting. It was Vrana’s 18th goal of the season.
But it was Pheonix Copley, who stopped 22 of 23 shots including just one shot on goal in the first period, and Djoos who officially stole the show and sent the Bears into the Calder Cup Playoffs with a huge assist from the Springfield Thunderbirds.
ICYMI: Here’s the goal by Christian Djoos that propelled the Hershey Bears into the playoffs. It’s his 13th goal and 58th point. pic.twitter.com/O71AAEi83n
— Andrew Gallant (@AGallanzo) April 15, 2017
Springfield dealt Bridgeport a 7-0 defeat, eliminating the Sound Tigers from playoff contention and helping Hershey clinch tonight. Complete highlights from the Bears victory over the Penguins:
The Bears host Providence tomorrow night. The outcome of that game will determine if Hershey will be the #3 seed facing #2 Lehigh Valley or if the Bears will be the #4 seed facing Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Tomorrow’s game is a 7:00 start.
Hershey has now won their last four games: at Lehigh Valley, at Rochester, at North Division leader Toronto, and now at Atlantic Division leader Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
By Julie Beidler
Follow @juliebeidler
.@TheHersheyBears pic.twitter.com/qOL72ep9o6
— Springfield T-Birds (@ThunderbirdsAHL) April 15, 2017
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