photo via The Hershey Bears
HERSHEY, Pa. — The Hershey Bears rallied from a two goal deficit in the third period to force overtime, before completing the comeback to take Game 1 of the Atlantic Division Finals over the Hartford Wolfpack, 3-2, in a best-of-five series. The game actually was a relief for both teams, however, as Hartford’s Anton Blidh suffered a medical incident in the first period but later returned.
Garrett Pilon sprung Henrik Borgstrom into a two-one-one from the blue line in early in overtime, and Borgstrom made no mistake as he fired a shot past Hartford’s goalie.
BORGY CALLED GAME! 🚨
🍎 Pilon pic.twitter.com/DivlfOMARr
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) May 12, 2023
Down 2-0, the comeback for Hershey started when Logan Day‘s point shot found a hole less than three minutes into the third period. The crowd at GIANT Center, who booed the Bears off the ice after the second period, roared back to life.
What a 🚀
🍎 Protas
🍏 Anas pic.twitter.com/CYUBY43j6S— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) May 12, 2023
Hershey found the equalizer just as the team lifted goalie Hunter Shepard for the extra attacker.
Jake Massie fired a shot from the point that bounced off Connor McMichael and into the back of the net.
Can't spell "McMichael" without H I M 😈
🍎 Massie
🍏 Day pic.twitter.com/Osp7WSWP2N— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) May 12, 2023
The Bears found themselves in a two goal deficit despite a fantastic opening period where they outshot the Wolfpack, 17-3.
“Our first period was the best hockey we’ve played all through the playoffs,” Hershey head coach Todd Nelson said. “We were generating quite a bit five-on-five, unfortunately we were down 1-0.”
Hartford’s goal came on the power play on their third shot of the game.
Shepard saved a sharp angle shot, but the rebound came out directly to the slot where Lauri Pajuniemi shot in the rebound.
With just under three minutes remaining in the first period, a medical emergency occurred with Hartford’s Blidh. Play was paused and the teams headed to the locker rooms. However, news quickly spread that Blidh was okay and that the game would continue.
When play resumed, the two teams finished off the period, had a one minute break and then played the second 20 minutes.
By then, the Wolfpack had adjusted, as they outshot the Bears 16-7 in the frame and tacked on another goal early in the period.
Gabriel Carlsson was called for cross-checking and Hartford once again converted on the man advantage.
“Special teams came into play obviously,” Nelson said. Each team had four power plays, with Hartford converting twice and Hershey once.
In the end, the Bears came out on top, something especially important in a five-game series. With it being a shorter series, Nelson knows how crucial each game is.
“It scares the crap out of me. It just does,” Nelson said about not having time to feel out how games are going in a short series. Adding that if they dropped the game, it was the equivalent of being down 2-1 in a seven-game series.
Game 2 of the series is set for Saturday at 7 at GIANT Center.
