HERSHEY, Pa. — After showing their resilience several times this season, the Hershey Bears were unable to tap into that magic one last time this season, bowing out of the 2017 Calder Cup Playoffs to the #4 seeded Providence Bruins, 4-2 Wednesday night in Giant Center. 

Providence jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Jordan Szwarz was able to locate the puck that slid between Travis Boyd and Vitek Vanecek.

Riley Barber tied the game just before the midway point of the first period. Tyler Lewington got the puck to Nathan Walker who sent it to Barber as he skated down the middle of the zone. It was his first goal of the postseason.

Game 7: The perfect time for Riley Barber to net his first of the playoffs. #HERvsPRO pic.twitter.com/Nr8Rmk7ztJ

— AHL (@TheAHL) May 17, 2017

The game would remain tied until early in the second period when the Bruins regained the lead on the second goal of the evening from Szwarz. Providence would then get their third goal from Wayne Simpson. But Chandler Stephenson recorded a PP goal before the second intermission to bring the Bears to within a goal. Paul Carey sent the puck to Boyd who passed it to Christian Djoos before the defenseman finished off the tic-tac-toe passing play by sending it to Stephenson.

.@CStephenson22 wrists one past McIntyre to pull @TheHersheyBears within one. #Game7 #HERvsPRO pic.twitter.com/8K87NZ6R9d

— AHL (@TheAHL) May 18, 2017

In the third period, the Bears were unable to take advantage of a PP and an extended extra-attacker late in the game as Providence scored an empty net goal to secure the win. Complete game highlights:

Providence advances to the Eastern Conference Finals against the winner of the Toronto-Syracuse series. The Bears were outshot again 27-17. The PP was 1-for-3 while the PK was 0-2.

SERIES SUMMARY:
Game 1 – Sat., May 6 – Providence 3, HERSHEY 1
Game 2 – Sun., May 7 – HERSHEY 3, Providence 2 (OT)
Game 3 – Thu., May 11 – Hershey 2, PROVIDENCE 1 (OT)
Game 4 – Fri., May 12 – Hershey at Providence, 7:05
Game 5 – Sun., May 14 – Hershey at Providence, 3:05
Game 6 – Tue., May 16 – Providence at Hershey, 7:00
Game 7 – Wed., May 17 – Providence at Hershey, 7:00

By Julie Beidler
Follow @juliebeidler

Photos from final game of 2017

@Mitchy1_0 for the TKO after a bit of #ChunkySoup pic.twitter.com/BoMOFP7oP4

— Beids (@juliebeidler) May 17, 2017