All Jimmy Huntington may do is marvel when requested about linemate Pierrick Dubé.
That Dubé is even taking part in proper now’s a testomony to his grit, to say nothing of modern-day dentistry. The 23-year-old misplaced “5 – 6” enamel throughout Hershey’s Japanese Convention Finals battle with Cleveland. After present process oral surgical procedure and lacking three video games, he returned to the lineup for Sport 7, scoring a giant second-period purpose in a 3-2 time beyond regulation victory that despatched the Bears on to the Calder Cup Finals.
“Getting back from that harm, it was fairly insane,” Huntington mentioned of the 5-foot-9, 172-pound Dubé. “We noticed him on the desk, it was like, ‘Oh my God, how is that attainable?’”
But it surely was.
Dubé continues to place his physique on the road for the Bears even after the harm. He supplied the game-winning purpose in Sport 2, driving laborious to the online, taking a cross-slot feed from Huntington, and directing it previous Firebirds goaltender Chris Driedger earlier than falling closely into the top boards. However Dubé shortly popped up, mobbed by his teammates, earlier than charging towards the Hershey bench for extra celebrations.
After notching one purpose in his first eight playoff video games, Dubé’s manufacturing has began to return, together with the OT winner in Sport 2 towards Cleveland final spherical. Having gotten 28 targets from Dubé throughout the common season, the Bears want each little bit of the offensive drive that he can present towards a staff as potent because the Firebirds.
“[Dubé is] a warrior,” Huntington added, “and he’s going to do every little thing it takes to win a Cup right here. We’re proper there. We’re right here. Why not win it?”
Each groups made lineup adjustments for Sport 2 following accidents within the sequence opener.
Two-time Calder Cup winner Andrew Poturalski was out on Sunday after leaving halfway via Sport 1. Shane Wright took his place on a line with Max McCormick and Kole Lind, whereas Lleyton Roed made his Calder Cup Playoff debut.
Roed, a Hobey Baker Award nominee this season with Bemidji State College, signed as a free agent with the Seattle Kraken on Mar. 27 after recording 30 factors (14 targets, 16 assists) in 38 NCAA video games. The 21-year-old additionally performed 5 regular-season contests with the Firebirds, notching a purpose and an help. His father, Peter, performed two seasons with the AHL’s Kentucky Thoroughblades, together with a playoff sequence towards Hershey throughout the 2000 postseason.
For the Bears, ahead Garrett Roe, who had the series-clinching time beyond regulation winner in Sport 7 towards Cleveland, was additionally injured throughout Sport 1 and missed Sunday’s contest. Matt Strome stepped in to take Roe’s place.
― with recordsdata from Patrick Williams
