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Rochester Downs Hershey, 4-1, Forces A Game 6 In Eastern Conference Finals; Aliaksei Protas Scores 5th Postseason Goal

By Jon Sorensen·
Photo: Twitter: Rochester Americans

The Hershey Bears fell to the Rochester Americans, 4-1 in game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals Wednesday night at Giant Center in Hershey. With the victory, Rochester forces a game 6 on Friday in Rochester.

The Bears once again dominated possession in the early going, but once again it would be the Amerks that struck first in game 5. They held a 1-0 lead at the first intermission.

Following a scoreless middle frame, the Amerks stretched their lead to 2-0 early in the final frame, but this time the Bears would answer less than two minutes later with a power play goal from Aliaksei Protas.

Rochester added a power play goal of their own to reinstate their two-goal lead and added a late empty net goal to make it 4-1, the final.

 LINEUP

Hunter Shepard (9-2, 1.91 GAA, .927 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the Bears. Malcolm Subban (7-5, 2.82 GAA, .910 sv%) got the start in goal for the visiting 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

As was the case in the previous four games of the series, the Bears dominated possession and the offensive zone time in the early going, but once again, were unable to beat Subban. The Amerks subsequently notched the first goal of game 5.

Jiri Kulich (7) notched the game’s first marker at 4:43 of the initial stanza, beating Shepard with a quick shot from the top of the slot. Joseph Cecconi (3) had the lone assist.

The Amerks picked up the pace following their opening salvo, and began to control more of the possession in the remainder of the period.

The first frame concluded with the Amerks leading, 1-0. Rochester led in shots, 9-8. The Amerks were 0 for 1 on the power play while the Bears did not have a man advantage in the first 20 minutes.

SECOND PERIOD

The Bears dominated possession and the offensive zone time in the middle frame, but just couldn’t get one past Subban.

The Bears were awarded their first power play which ultimately became a 4-on-3 with just under two minutes to play in the period, but couldn’t dent the twine.

The period concluded with the Amerks holding the 1-0 lead. The Bears doubled-up the Amerks in shots, 16-8 in the second period and led 24-17 after 40 minutes of play. Rochester was 0 for 3 and Hershey 0 for 1 on the power play after two periods.

THIRD PERIOD

The Amerks stretched their lead to 2-0 early in the third period on the end of a Bears turnover in their own end. Lukas Rousek (4) potted the Amerks second goal of the game at 1:22 of the third period.

But this time the Bears would answer a little over two minutes later on the power play. Aliaksei Protas (5) redirected a shot from the point by Logan Day for the Bears first goal at 3:44 of the final frame. Logan Day (6) and Joe Snively (9) had the helpers.

Rochester reinstated their two-goal lead with a power play goal late in the third period. Michael Mersch (6) sniped for the Amerks third goal at 13:11. Linus Weissbach (7) and Lawrence Pilut (7) had the helpers.

The Amerks added a late empty net goal to make it 4-1, the final.

SHAVINGS

  • AHL box score
  • Attendance: 10,520
  • Hershey led in shots 33-27.
  • Hendrix Lapierre led all Bears in shots with 4.
  • Garrett Pilon and Mike Vecchione were both -3 in the game.
  • Rochester was 1 for 4 and Hershey 1 for 2 on the power play.
  • Hunter Shepard stopped 23 of 26 for a .884 game save percentage.