Hershey Bears

Hendrix Lapierre Scores Second Postseason Goal, Bears Down Wolf Pack, 4-2, Take 2-0 Series Lead In Atlantic Division Finals

By Jon Sorensen·
Photo: Hartford Wolf Pack

The Hershey Bears downed the Hartford Wolf Pack, 4-2 in game 2 of the Atlantic Division Finals Saturday night at Giant Center in Hershey. With the victory the Bears take a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five Atlantic Division Finals.

The Bears opened the Game 2 scoring with a power play goal from Mason Morelli a little over three minutes into the contest. The Wolf Pack would answer with a power play tally of their own near the midway point of the opening stanza, but the Bears struck right back a little over a minute later with a tally from Beck Malenstyn to make it 2-1 at the first intermission.

The Bears stretched their lead to 3-1 on Mike Vecchione‘s second goal of the postseason midway through the middle frame, and held the two-goal edge heading into the second intermission.

The third period was a defensive struggle, as the Bears sat back in the zone and made life difficult for the Wolf Pack. Hendrix Lapierre broke the silence with his second tally of the post season late in the period to make it 4-1. The Wolf Pack added a 6-on-5 goal late to make it 4-2, the final.

 LINEUP

Hunter Shepard (4-1-0, 1.79 GAA, .924 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the Bears. Dylan Garand (5-2-0, 1.42 GAA, .946 sv%) got the start in goal 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 Bears wasted little time in lighting the lamp in game 2. Joe Snively (5) drove the zone, dangled and made a nice backhand dish to Mason Morelli (3), who finished 5-hole for the power play score at 3:12 of the first period.

The Wolf Pack answered with a power play goal of their own from Will Cuylle (1) at 11:32 of the opening frame. Ryan Carpenter (2) and Tanner Fritz (8) had the helpers.

But the Bears would do a bit of answering of their own a little over a minute later. Beck Malenstyn (2) finished on a rush to make it 2-1 at 12:44 of the first period. Mason Morelli (1) and Vincent Iorio (3) had the assists.

That was it for the first 20. The Bears led in shots 12-8 with both teams 1 for 2 on the power play.

SECOND PERIOD

The Bears stretched their lead to 3-1 on a tally from Mike Vecchione (2) at 11:12 of the middle frame. Henrik Borgstrom (1) had the lone assist.

The score would hold for the remainder of the period. The Bears led in shots 12 to 5 in the second period and 24-13 after two periods.

THIRD PERIOD

The Bears made it 4-1 on Hendrix Lapierre’s (2) second goal of the postseason at 13:14 of the final frame. Aliaksei Protas (4) and Logan Day (2) had the helpers.

With their goaltender pulled, the Wolf Pack struck less than two minutes later to make it 4-2. Adam Clendening (2) notched the marker, assisted by Wyatt Kalynuk (2) and Tanner Fritz (9). That would be the final.

Game 3 is set for Wednesday in Hartford.

SHAVINGS

  • AHL box score
  • Attendance: 9,520
  • Bears led in shots, 30-27.
  • Both teams were 1 for 2 on the power play.
  • Hunter Shepard stopped 25 of 27 for a .926 game save percentage.
  • All four of Hartford’s goals in the series have come on the man advantage.
  • Stars of the game: 1) Mason Morelli, 2) Beck Malenstyn and 3) Mike Vecchione.