May 22, 2010
BEARS DOWN MONARCHS TO CAPTURE EASTERN CONFERENCE CROWN
Hershey Wins AHL-Record Seventh OT Decision
By Jess Mikula
Despite trailing by a pair of goals after two periods, the BEARS once again staged a third period comeback to emerge with a 3-2 overtime victory over Manchester. With the win, HERSHEY earned its fourth trip to the Calder Cup Finals in five seasons.
The BEARS and Monarchs were scoreless through the majority of the first period, but Manchester capitalized on a miscue in the HERSHEY zone late in the stanza. Karl Alzner touched up for what appeared to be an icing call, but icing was waived because netminder Michal Neuvirth left the crease. Amidst a befuddled BEARS defensive corps, John Zeiler struck for the visiting team with 16.9 seconds remaining in the opening period. Gabe Gauthier and Alec Martinez tallied the helpers. The Chocolate and White carried a one-goal deficit to the dressing room after one.
HERSHEY continued to struggle to generate offense through the second period and surrendered an additional late-period strike to the Monarchs. Joe Piskula finished the rebound of an Andrew Campbell point shot at 17:44, with Zeiler finding the secondary assist. The BEARS were out-shot by a 24-13 margin and trailed 2-0 through 40 minutes.
The BEARS clawed back with a pair of third period goals. Alexandre Giroux put the Chocolate and White on the board with his 12th of the postseason, backhanding a rebound past Manchester goaltender Jonathan Bernier at 7:37. Keith Aucoin and John Carlson registered the assists. The raucous crowd erupted as Patrick McNeill buried the equalizer at 14:09, launching a shot from the left point for his first of the playoffs, from Chris Bourque and Mathieu Perreault. Neither team scored through the remainder of regulation, forcing the fourth overtime period of the series.
Boyd Kane proved to be the hero for the BEARS in sudden-death overtime, finding his first goal of the postseason at the 7:06 mark. Kyle Wilson dished a feed from behind the cage to Kane, who netted the puck for the game winner. McNeill added the secondary assist as HERSHEY clinched its AHL-record seventh overtime victory of the postseason from its seventh different scorer.
Neuvirth earned his 10th win of the playoffs in net, turning aside 32 of 34 shots. The BEARS were blanked on the game’s lone power play.
Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game:
1. Boyd Kane (OT game winner)
2. Patrick McNeill (game-tying goal, assist)
3. Michal Neuvirth (32 saves on 34 shots)
Notes: With the Game 6 victory, the BEARS advanced to the Calder Cup Finals for the second consecutive season and fourth time in five years. HERSHEY has won 37 of its last 38 home games. Four of the six games of the Eastern Conference Finals were decided in overtime. The BEARS now boast the league record for most overtime victories in a single postseason with seven and have out-shot opponents 56-20 in sudden-death. HERSHEY will face either the Hamilton Bulldogs or the Texas Stars for the Calder Cup; Hamilton leads the Western Conference Finals three games to two.
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