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Hershey Bears Score Four Unanswered Goals In Third Period To Beat Rochester Americans, 4-2, Take Commanding 3-1 Series Lead

By Jon Sorensen·
Photo: Rochester Americans

The Hershey Bears rallied from two goals down in the third period to defeat the Rochester Americans, 4-2 in game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals Monday night at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester. With the win, the Bears take a commanding three games to one lead in the best-of-seven series.

The Amerks notched the game’s first tally just over three minutes into the contest and stretched their lead to 2-0 late in the second period to hold a 2-0 lead at the second intermission. But it would be all Bears in the final frame.

The Bears got on the scoreboard with a tally from Lucas Johansen and tied the game three minutes later with a goal from Logan Day. The Bears took their first lead of the night with a goal from Mason Morelli, to make it 3-2. Morelli added an empty net goal to make it 4-2, the final.

 LINEUP

Hunter Shepard (8-2-0, 1.90 GAA, .929 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the visiting Bears. Malcolm Subban (7-4-0, 2.79 GAA, .910 sv%) got the start in goal for the Americans. The forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:

Mason Morelli – Garrett Pilon – Mike Vecchione
Joe Snively – Connor McMichael – Ethen Frank
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: Henrik Borgstrom (illness), 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.

FIRST PERIOD

Rochester wasted little time in denting the twine in game 4. Linus Weissbach (4) notched the game’s first tally at 3:01 of the first. Filip Cederqvist (2) and Zach Metsa (2) had the helpers.

That was it for an otherwise yawner of a first frame. Shots on goal were tied 8-8. Rochester was 0 for 2 on the power play while the Bears did not have a man advantage in the first frame.

SECOND PERIOD

The Bears controlled the possession in the first half of the second period, but Amerks’ netminder Malcolm Subban was up to the task.

The Bears dominated possession for most of the second period but the Amerks began to find a little offensive push with about six minutes remaining in the period and would extend their lead to 2-0 with a goal from Linus Weissbach (3), his second of the game, at 16:01. Matt Bartkowski (1) and Filip Cederqvist (3) had the assists.

The Bears went to the power play with 1:38 remaining in the second period, but were unable to dent the twine, as the Amerks held a 2-0 lead after two periods of play.

Hershey led in shots 14-7 in the second period and 22-15 after two periods of play. Rochester was 0 for 2 and Hershey 0 for 3 on the power play after 40 minutes of play.

THIRD PERIOD

The Bears cut the Amerks lead in half with a goal from Lucas Johansen at 10:06 of the final frame. Connor McMichael (3) and Mason Morelli (4) had the assists.

The Bears tied  the game a little over two minutes later. Logan Day notched the tying tally at 12:11. Connor McMichael (3) and Mason Morelli (4) had the helpers.

The Bears took their first lead of the night with a goal from Mason Morelli at 15:27 of the third period. Logan Day (5) and Garrett Pilon (5) had the assists.

Mason Morelli added an empty need goal for the 4-2 final.

Game 5 is set for Wednesday night in Hershey.

SHAVINGS

  • AHL box score
  • Attendance: 10, 687 (Sell out)
  • Hershey led in shots 36-22
  • Mason Morelli had two goals and an assist.
  • Logan Day had a goal and an assist for the second straight game.
  • Rochester was 0 for 2 and Hershey 0 for 3 on the power play.
  • The Bears penalty kill is a perfect 7 for 7 in the series.
  • Bears have scored 19 goals in the third period the postseason.
  • First time Hershey has played on Memorial Day since 2009.