Hershey Bears

Bears Beat Firebirds, 1-0 In Overtime, Lead Series 3-2; Garrett Pilon Scores Game-Winner

By Jon Sorensen·
Photo: Twitter/The AHL

The Hershey Bears downed the Coachella Valley Firebirds, 1-0 (OT) in game 5 of the Calder Cup Finals Saturday night at Giant Center in Hershey. With the win, the Bears take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Game 5 had a much different feel than the first four games of the series, as the game was scoreless at the end of regulation. The Bears had several golden scoring opportunities in all three periods, but just couldn’t find the back of the net. Garrett Pilon would finally score the game-winner in the extra frame.

LINEUP

Hunter Shepard (12-5, 2.29 GAA, .912 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the Bears. Joey Daccord (14-9, 2.29 GAA, .925 sv%) got the start in goal for the visiting Firebirds. 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

Aaron Ness – Logan Day
Gabriel Carlsson – Dylan McIlrath
Lucas Johansen – Vincent Iorio

Hunter Shepard
Zach Fucale

Scratches: Mike Sgarbossa (injury), Bobby Nardella, Jake Massie, Shane Gersich, Henrik Rybinski, Matt Strome, Julian Napravnik, Bogdan Trineyev, Ludwig Persson, Dru Krebs, Alexander Suzdalev.

FIRST PERIOD

The Bears were awarded the game’s first power play just six minutes into the contest but were unable to capitalize. Four minutes later, the Firebirds went to their first man advantage, but the Bears’ penalty kill was also up to the task.

There would be no scoring in the opening frame. The Bears had a majority of the scoring chances, including a couple of grade “a”s, but no paydirt.

Bears led in shots, 8-6. Both sides were 0 for 1 on the power play in the first 20 minutes.

SECOND PERIOD

The Firebirds stepped up the offensive zone pressure to start the second period, leading in shots, 6-1 in the first seven minutes.

The Bears finally stepped-up their offensive zone pressure and went to their second power play of the game with eight minutes gone in the middle frame, but were unable to strike.

The Firebirds returned to the man advantage with just under eight minutes remaining in the period, but were unable to do any damage. The penalty parade continued when Coachella Valley was called for too many men, but the Bears came up empty on their third man advantage of the game.

The second period would ultimately go without a score. Hershey led in shots 13-7 for the second period and 21-13 after two periods. Coachella Valley was 0 for 2 and Hershey 0 for 3 on the power play after 40 minutes of play.

THIRD PERIOD

The Bears and Firebirds completed the trifecta by skating to a scoreless draw in the final period of regulation. Coachella Valley led in shots, 7-3. The Bears led 24-20 after three periods of play.

Both teams were 0 for 3 on the power play after 60 minutes.

OVERTIME

The Bears went to their fourth power play of the game less than two minutes into the extra frame, but were once again stymied by the Firebirds penalty kill.

The Bears returned to the power play with 12:06 remaining in overtime, but once again came up empty.

However, immediately following the expiration of the Bears fifth power play, Garrett Pilon scored the game-winner at 10:01 of the extra frame.

Coachella Valley protested that the Bears had too many men on the ice for the Pilon goal, but officials determined there was no penalty on the play.

Game 6 is set for Monday night in Palm Desert, California. Puck drop is scheduled for 10PM ET.

SHAVINGS

  • AHL box score
  • Attendance: 10,869
  • Bears led in shots 31-21.
  • Bears led in shots 7-1 in overtime.
  • Connor McMichael led all Bears in shots with 5.
  • Hunter Shepard recorded his third shutout of the postseason.
  • Stars of the game: 1) Garrett Pilon, 2) Hunter Shepard, 3) Joey Daccord.
  • The home team has won all five games of the series so far.
  • This was game 94 for the Bears this season.

Game 5 recap video courtesy of “The Hockey Guy”: