The Hershey Bears shutout the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for Wilkes-Barre’s first playoff shutout since June 3, 2014 (St. John’s). With the 2-0 win, the Bears even the Atlantic Division Finals at one game each and ensure Game 5 will be played at GIANT Center next Friday.
The Bears are now 3-0 in this year’s playoffs following a loss. This game marks the first loss of the postseason for Wilkes-Barre, who swept the Providence Bruins in the first round.
Justin Peters took home first star honors in his sixth straight start in the crease, stopping all 27 Penguins shots, including 14 in the third and seven from Carter Rowney alone. Casey DeSmith saved 23 of 25 shots.
Sean Collins opened the evening with a shorthanded goal, catching Wilkes-Barre’s defense off-guard for his second of the playoffs. Dustin Gazley came up ice with speed and his centering pass eluded Tim Erixon. DeSmith bit on Collins’ deke, allowing the Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native to go the other way into an empty net.
Three minutes later, the Bears doubled their advantage. Carter Camper got helpers from Jakub Vrana and Madison Bowey to score from the left faceoff circle. Vrana circled the whole Penguins defense once before finding the opening for his pass to Camper’s stick.
Over the next two periods, the Bears and Penguins combined for 22 penalty minutes, 37 shots on goal, and no goals. Both teams were perfect on the penalty kill — 3/3 for WB/S and 5/5 for Hershey.
With DeSmith pulled for the final 160 seconds, the Bears missed three attempts at the open net. The Pens had the Bears defense scrambling for the final thirty seconds, but lost control of the puck with eight seconds remaining. When they regained the puck in neutral ice, they elected to not go into the zone for one more rush, accepting the 2-0 defeat.
Hershey forward Liam O’Brien sat out after being handed a one-game suspension by the American Hockey League for his late charging penalty in Game 1. He is eligible to return to the lineup for Game 3.
Games 3 and 4 will be played at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza on Saturday and Monday night.
