Game 4 Preview: Bears at Bruins, 7:05 p.m.

May 12, 2017

TONIGHT'S GAME NOTES

ATLANTIC DIVISION FINALS: GAME 4
BEARS LEAD SERIES, 2-1
#3 Hershey Bears (Playoffs: 5-3, Regular Season: 43-22-8-3 , 97 points, 3rd in Atlantic) at #4 Providence Bruins (Playoffs: 4-4, 43-23-6-4, 96 points, 4th in Atlantic) 
Friday, May 12, 2017, 7:05 p.m.
Dunkin' Donuts Center

REFEREES: Tom Chmielewski (43), Evgenii Romasko (39)
LINESMEN: Ryan Daisy (81), Bevan Mills (53)

Broadcast Information (Pre-game 6:35 PM)
LISTEN ON: WQIC-100.1 FM, Fortress 1230 WKBO, the Bears app via WHP 580 stream, Caps Radio 24/7
WATCH: AHLLive.com

BEARS AT BRUINS: The Hershey Bears continue the 2017 Calder Cup Playoffs presented by Capital BlueCross this evening. The Bears lead the Providence Bruins, 2-1, in the best-of-seven Atlantic Division Finals series. Hershey claimed a 2-1 overtime victory last night in Game 3 thanks to Chris Bourque’s two goals and Pheonix Copley’s 39 saves.   

2016-17 SEASON SERIES VS PROVIDENCE (Playoffs: 2-1, Regular Season: 3-2-0-1) 
December 31    PROVIDENCE    Giant Center    W, 4-1
January 27    At Providence    Dunkin’ Donuts Center    SOL, 3-2
February 17    At Providence     Dunkin’ Donuts Center    L, 4-3
February 18    At Providence    Dunkin’ Donuts Center    W, 4-0
March 12    PROVDIENCE    Giant Center    W, 4-2
April 15    PROVIDENCE    Giant Center    W, 3-0
May 6-GAME 1    PROVIDENCE    Giant Center    L, 3-1
May 7-GAME 2    PROVIDENCE    Giant Center    OTW, 3-2
May 11-GAME 3    At Providence    Dunkin’ Donuts Center    OTW, 2-1

BEARS vs. BRUINS - SPECIAL TEAMS, 2017 PLAYOFFS

HERSHEY
Power Play    3-for-24 (12.5%)
Penalty Kill    21-for-24 (87.5%)

Providence 
Power Play    6-for-33 (18.2%) 
Penalty Kill    27-for-34 (79.4%) 

BEARS vs. BRUINS - SPECIAL TEAMS, 2016-17 REGULAR SEASON OVERALL:

HERSHEY
Power Play    66-for-319 (20.7%) – 5th in AHL, 4 SHGA
Penalty Kill    250-for-305 (82.3%) – 14th in AHL, 4 SHGF

Providence
Power Play    53-for-277 (19.1%) –11th in AHL, 4 SHGA
Penalty Kill    242-for-280 (86.4%) – 2nd in AHL, 10 SHGF

BEARS vs. BRUINS – TEAM LEADERS, 2017 PLAYOFFS

HERSHEY
Goals    Chris Bourque (4)
Assists    Barber, Boyd, Djoos (4)
Points    Bourque, Djoos, Galiev, (6)
Plus/Minus    Barber, Bowey (+4)
Wins    Pheonix Copley (5)
Goals-Against Average    Pheonix Copley (2.06)
Save Percentage    Pheonix Copley (.933)

Providence
Goals    DeBrusk, Heinen (4)
Assists    Daton Heinen (5)
Points    Danton Heinen (9)
Plus/Minus    Linus Arnesson (+5)
Wins    Zane McIntyre (4)
Goals-Against Average    Zane McIntyre (2.17)
Save Percentage    Zane McIntyre (.929)

BEARS vs. BRUINS – TEAM LEADERS, 2016-17 REGULAR SEASON OVERALL:

HERSHEY
Goals    Carey, Thomas (24)
Assists    Travis Boyd (47)
Points    Travis Boyd (63)
PIMs    Tyler Lewington (142)
Plus/Minus    Stanislav Galiev (+21)
Power-Play Goals    Christian Thomas (12)
Shorthanded Goals    Dustin Gazley (1)
Game-Winning Goals    Paul Carey (6)
Wins    Pheonix Copley (26)
Goals-Against Average    Pheonix Copley (2.25)
Save Percentage    Pheonix Copley (.924)

Providence
Goals    Jordan Szwarz (22)
Assists    Wayne Simpson (33)
Points    Jordan Szwarz (54)
PIMs    Tyler Randell (81)
Plus/Minus    Wayne Simpson (+22)
Power-Play Goals    Szwarz, Grant, DeBrusk (6)
Shorthanded Goals    Sean Kuraly (3)
Game-Winning Goals    Peter Cehlarik (4)
Wins    Zane McIntyre (21)
Goals-Against Average    Zane McIntyre (2.03)
Save Percentage    Zane McIntyre (.930)

BEARS RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
May 6    ADD    C    Chandler Stephenson    Returned on loan from Washington (NHL)
May 3    ADD    C    Garrett Pilon    Signed to ATO
May 3    ADD    D    Lucas Johansen    Signed to ATO
May 1    DEL    C    Chandler Stephenson    Recalled form loan by Washington (NHL)
Apr. 28    ADD    C    Chandler Stephenson    Returned on loan by Washington (NHL)

BRUINS RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
May 4    ADD    C    Noel Acciari    Returned on loan from Boston (NHL)
Apr. 25    ADD    C    Sean Kuraly     Returned on loan from Boston (NHL)
Apr. 23    ADD    D    Tommy Cross    Returned on loan from Boston (NHL)
Apr. 23    ADD    G    Dan Vladar    Returned on loan from Boston (NHL)
Apr. 20    ADD    D    Jeremy Lauzon    Reassigned by Boston (NHL) from Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)

BEARS NEWS AND NOTES:

THE SERIES SO FAR: The Providence Bruins and Hershey Bears split the first two games of the Atlantic Division Finals, with Providence claiming a 3-1 victory in Game 1 at the Giant Center, and Hershey responding with a 3-2 overtime victory in Game 2. The Bruins used three goals in the first period of Game 1, with two tallies coming shorthanded, to earn the road victory. Netminder Zane McIntyre stopped 24 shots for the Bruins. In Game 2, Hershey rallied late, scoring on the power play with 2:30 to play to tie the game and force overtime. In the extra session, Travis Boyd’s first goal of the playoffs gave Hershey the victory. In Game 3, Hershey also scored an overtime victory to take the series lead. Despite being outshot 40-15, Chris Bourque’s two goals gave Hershey the victory. Netminder Pheonix Copley stopped 39 shots in the win. 

OVERTIME SUCCESS: Despite struggling in overtime during the regular season, Hershey is now 3-1 in overtime during the 2017 Calder Cup Playoffs. Hershey has now scored overtime wins in Game 1 versus Lehigh Valley (Nathan Walker), and Game 2 (Travis Boyd) and Game 3 (Chris Bourque) versus Providence. During the regular season, Hershey went just 3-8 in overtime and 0-3 in shootouts.

CLUTCH CHRIS: Chris Bourque’s overtime winning goal last night was the third Calder Cup Playoffs overtime goal of his illustrious career. Bourque also scored two goals, including the winner, in Hershey’s 3-2 victory over Manchester in the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals. Bourque’s winning tally was his sixth goal of the playoffs and came 10:28 into the extra session at Giant Center. Bourque’s most recent overtime winner prior to Thursday night came versus Hershey. While a member of Hartford, Bourque scored the overtime winner in a 2-1 Wolf Pack victory in Game 1 of the Atlantic Division Finals on May 6, 2015 at Giant Center. 

COMEBACK KIDS: With two goals from Chris Bourque, Hershey scored a comeback victory in Game 3 of the Atlantic Division Finals. This marked the third time in the playoffs that Hershey has earned a victory when trailing after two periods of play. That mark is impressive, because during the entire 76 game regular season, Hershey only earned two victories when trailing though two periods of play. The Bears were 2-19-1-0 when they were behind after two periods during the 2016-17 campaign. 

DJOOS’ED UP: Defender Christian Djoos has points in four straight games for Hershey. The blue liner has posted a goal and three assists in that span. He has six points (two goals, four assists) in eight postseason contests. The Swedish defender was Hershey’s leading point producer from the blue line during the regular season, racking up 58 points (13 goals, 45 assists) in 66 games. 

PENALTY KILLED: Hershey’s penalty kill has been superb versus Providence this series. The Bears went 6-for-6 on the penalty kill last night and are 11-for-11 in the series when a man short. The Bruins entered the series with the league’s best power play in the playoffs, following six power play goals in a five-game series win versus Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the opening round. Hershey’s success on the penalty kill versus Providence dates back to the regular season. The Bears were 15-for-16 versus Providence on the penalty kill during the 2016-17 campaign.