Hershey Bears level Calder Cup final series

PALM DESERT, Calif. (WHTM) – The Hershey Bears evened the Calder Cup finals series on Thursday with a 3-2 win in Game 4 over the Coachella Valley Firebirds.

This is the first home game the Firebirds have lost in the postseason.

How it happened

Hershey took advantage of the power play early, but failed to accomplish anything. Almost immediately after taking the power play, the Bears were penalized.

However, Coachella Valley achieved the same results and was unable to capitalize on the power play.

It looked like the first period would end scoreless, but with 1:23 left, Ethen Frank scored his tenth playoff goal to give the Bears a 1-0 lead heading into the second period.

The Bears had four power plays in the second period and were unable to score on any of them. After the first power play, a big fight ensued that ended in 4-on-4 hockey.

Coachella Valley tied the game with Hershey during this period when Cale Fleury dived to keep the Bears from going solo. Shane Wright of the Firebirds scored the equalizer.

After another penalty against Coachella Valley, the Bears’ power play went 4-on-3 in the first 50 seconds.

Although the Bears were unable to make any difference with the extra attacker, they were able to regain the lead in the final two minutes of the second period thanks to a goal by Hendrix Lapierre, who already had the most points in the Calder Cup playoffs before Game 4.

With just 1:22 left in the second period, the Bears went on the power play for the fourth time in the period, but committed a foul themselves, leading to more 4-on-4s. The double penalty lasted 0:38 into the final period, when Hershey led 2-1.

Just 32 seconds into the third period, the Firebirds tied the game with a goal by Ryker Evans. Both of Coachella Valley’s goals came on 4-on-4 play.

Joe Snively scored the 3-2 goal on a power play early in the final period, ending the Bears’ power play drought for the evening and scoring the decisive goal.

Bears goalie Hunter Shepard stopped 24 shots in the win, while Coachella Valley’s Chris Driedger stopped 25 shots.

What’s next

The series is now tied 2-2 and a sixth game in Hershey will be necessary. Hershey and Coachella Valley will remain in California and battle each other in game five of the Calder Cup finals on Saturday at 9 p.m. EST.

The remaining games of the Calder Cup final are as follows

• Game 5 – Saturday, June 22 at Acrisure Arena in Coachella Valley, 9 p.m.
• Game 6 – Monday, June 24 at GIANT Center, 7 p.m.
• *Game 7 – Wednesday, June 26 at GIANT Center, 7 p.m.

*if necessary