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Connor McMichael Scores 4th Postseason Goal, As Hershey Downs Rochester, 4-2, To Take 2-1 Series Lead

By Jon Sorensen·
Photo: Rochester Americans

The Hershey Bears downed the Rochester Americans, 4-2 in game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals Saturday night at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, New York. With the win, the Bears takes a two games to one lead in the best-of-seven series and regain home ice advantage.

The Bears struck first on a long-distance bomb by defenseman Logan Day from the top of slot midway through the first period, and maintained the 1-0 lead at the first intermission. Hunter Shepard was once again sharp, right from the start.

The Bears stretched their lead to 2-0 on a power play goal from Sam Anas early in the second period. The Amerks answered less than three minutes later to cut the Bears lead in half but the Bears answered right back. Connor McMichael scored his fourth goal of the postseason to restore the two-goal lead and held the 3-1 lead at the second break.

The Amerks closed the gap to a single goal early in the third period, but Aliaksei Protas added an empty net goal in the waning moments to seal the 4-2 win.

 LINEUP

Hunter Shepard (7-2-0, 1.89 GAA, .927 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the visiting Bears. Malcolm Subban (7-3-0, 2.76 GAA, .913 sv%) got the start in goal for the Americans. The forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:

Mason Morelli – Henrik Borgstrom – Mike Vecchione
Joe Snively – Connor McMichael – Garrett Pilon
Aliaksei Protas – Hendrix Lapierre – Sam Anas
Beck Malenstyn – Riley Sutter – Shane Gersich

Aaron Ness – Logan Day
Gabriel Carlsson – Dylan McIlrath
Jake Massie – Lucas Johansen

Hunter Shepard
Zach Fucale

Scratches: Ethen Frank, Vincent Iorio (injury – day-to-day), Mike Sgarbossa (injury), Bobby Nardella, Henrik Rybinski, Matt Strome, Julian Napravnik, Bogdan Trineyev, Ludwig Persson, Dru Krebs, Alexander Suzdalev.

Ethen Frank was a healthy scratch. Bears head coach Todd Nelson said it was a “reset” for Frank. “Anytime you go through a tough stretch, sometimes it’s good to take a break and push the reset button, and then get back at it,” Nelson said in his pregame interview.

Frank posted 30 goals and 19 assists in 57 games played during the regular season, but has no goals and just two assists in eight games played in the 2023 postseason.

FIRST PERIOD

The Bears opened the scoring with a long distance bomb from defenseman Logan Day at the top of the slot at 11:50 of the first period. Aliaksei Protas (5), and Sam Anas (6) had the helpers.

And that was it for the first frame in Rochester. Hershey led i shots 13-8. Joe Snively and Hendrix Lapierre led all Bears in shots with two each.

Rochester was 0 for 1 on the power play while the Bears did not have a man advantage in the first period.

SECOND PERIOD

The Bears made it 2-0 on a power play goal from Sam Anas (3) at 5:36 of the middle frame. Logan Day (4) and Hendrix Lapierre (3) had the assists.

The Amerks answered less than three minutes later. Zach Metsa (1) notched Rochester’s first tally of the night at 7:57 of the middle frame. Lawrence Pilut (6) and Linus Weissbach (6) had the helpers.

But the Bears would answer right back. Lucas Johansen (3) made a nice net front feed to Connor McMichael (4) who finished five hole to give the Bears a 3-1 lead at 10:27 of the second period.

The Bears held the 3-1 lead heading into the second intermission. Rochester led in shots 12-4 in the second period and 20-17 after two periods.

THIRD PERIOD

The Amerks cut the deficit to one with a tally from Sean Malone (3) at 7:36 of the third period. Michael Mersch (7) and Brendan Warren (4) had the assists.

The Bears held the one-goal lead, primarily behind the strong play from Hunter Shepard.

Aliakei Protas added an empty net goal to make it 4-2, the final. Game 4 is set for Monday night in Rochester. Puck drop is set for 6:05 PM ET.

SHAVINGS

  • AHL box score
  • Attendance: 10,746 (Sell out)
  • Rochester led in shots 33-25.
  • Hunter Shepard stopped 31 of 33 for a .939 game save percentage.
  • Sam Anas, Logan Day and Aliaksei Protas each had a goal and an assist.
  • 501st all-time meeting between Hershey and Rochester.