Photo: Hartford Wolf Pack
The Hershey Bears rallied from two goals down in the third period to beat the Hartford Wolf Pack, 3-2 (OT) in game one of the Atlantic Division Finals Thursday night at the Giant Center in Hershey. With the victory the Bears take a 1-0 series lead in the best-of-five Atlantic Division finals.
The Wolf Pack opened the scoring with a power play marker early in the first frame and held the 1-0 lead at the first intermission. Play was halted with 2:39 remaining in the period for a medical emergency that occurred on Hartford’s bench.
The Wolf Pack made it 2-0 early in the second period on their second power play goal of the game and held a 2-0 lead at the second intermission.
The Bears finally dented the twine early in the final frame on Logan Day‘s first goal as a Bear and Connor McMichael re-directed a shot for the game-tying tally with just over two minutes remaining in regulation to send the game to overtime.
Henrik Borgstrom would pot the game-winning tally for the Bears less than five minutes into overtime.
LINEUP
Hunter Shepard (3-1-0, 1.77 GAA, .924 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the Bears. Dylan Garand (5-1-0, 1.37 GAA, .954 sv%) got the start for the visiting Wolf Pack. The forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:
Mike Vecchione – Henrik Borgstrom – Ethen Frank
Joe Snively – Connor McMichael – Garrett Pilon
Aliaksei Protas – Hendrix Lapierre – Sam Anas
Beck Malenstyn – Riley Sutter – Mason Morelli
Gabriel Carlsson – Dylan McIlrath
Lucas Johansen – Vincent Iorio
Jake Massie – Logan Day
Hunter Shepard
Zach Fucale
Scratches: Mike Sgarbossa (injury), Aaron Ness (injury), Shane Gersich, Bobby Nardella, Henrik Rybinski, Matt Strome, Julian Napravnik, Bogdan Trineyev, Ludwig Persson, Dru Krebs, Alexander Suzdalev and Garin Bjorklund.
FIRST PERIOD
The Wolf Pack struck first with a power play goal from Lauri Pajuniemi (4) at 6:54 of the first frame. Zac Jones (4) and Tim Gettinger (6) had the helpers.
a little 💥 on the Power Play pic.twitter.com/8jSD7ROV0i
— x – Hartford Wolf Pack (@WolfPackAHL) May 11, 2023
The first period concluded with 2:39 remaining in the period after a Hartford player collapsed on the bench.
First period ends with 2:38 remaining on the clock after a Hartford player collapses on the bench. The player left the ice in pain and then fell when he reached the bench. They will play the extra time in the second period.
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) May 11, 2023
The Wolf Pack led 1-0 after 20 minutes. The Bears led in shots 17-3 in the first period. Hartford was 1 for 1 and Hershey 0 for 1 on the power play after the first period.
SECOND PERIOD
The remainder of the first period went without a score. Anton Blidh, the player that collapsed on the Hartford bench was back playing for the re-start of the first period.
Hartford stretched their lead to 2-0 on their second power play goal of the game. Jonny Brodzinski (1) notched the tally at 2:33 of the middle frame. Tanner Fritz (7) and Will Cuylle (2) had the assists.
Jonny’s first 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs goal comes on the power play 💥 pic.twitter.com/3OdfP4hhVt
— x – Hartford Wolf Pack (@WolfPackAHL) May 12, 2023
Connor McMichael had the Bears best opportunity for a score in the second period, but was robbed by Dylan Garand.
Connor McMichael robbed by Wolf Pack netminder Dylan Garand. Bears trail 2-0 with 7 mins remaining in 2nd period. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/kM4p2txJi1
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) May 12, 2023
The second period concluded with Hartford leading, 2-0. The Wolf Pack led in shots 16-7 in the second period with the Bears leading 24-19 after two periods. Hartford was 2 for 3 and Hershey 0 for 3 on the power play after two periods.
THIRD PERIOD
The Bears finally dented the twine early in the final frame. Logan Day scored his first goal as a Hershey Bear on the power play at 2:52. Aliaksei Protas (3)and Sam Anas (5) had the assists.
Logan Day with his first goal as a Bear, a bomb from Altoona and the Bears are within one. #HBH pic.twitter.com/lBRulxZs9v
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) May 12, 2023
The Bears completed the comeback with a little over two minutes remaining in regulation. Connor McMichael (3) deflected a shot from the point by Jake Massie for the tying tally at 2:09 of the third. Jake Massie (1) and Logan Day (1) had the helpers.
Connor McMichael with the deflection, ties the game 2-2 with 2:09 remaining. Game 1 is headed to OT. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/gTOeqtGIqf
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) May 12, 2023
Regulation would end with the game tied, 2-2. Hartford led in shots 7-6 in the third period with the Bears leading 30-26 after three periods. Hartford was 2 for 3 and Hershey 1 for 4 on the power play after three periods.
OVERTIME
The Bears would win it in overtime. Henrik Borgstrom brought the curtain down at 4:41 of the extra frame.
Henrik Borgstrom calls game! Bears lead 1-0 in best-of-five Atlantic Division Finals. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/GpRmuusvOO
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) May 12, 2023
Game two is set for Saturday night in Hershey.
SHAVINGS
- AHL box score
- Attendance: 7,274
- Hershey led in shots 35-27.
- Hunter Shepard stopped 25 of 27 shots for a .926 game save percentage.
- Stars of the game: 1) Henrik Borgstrom, 2) Logan Day and 3) Jake Massie