Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Options Author
Todd Nelson preferred the outcome.
The method? Effectively, that wants some work.
Presently of the yr outcomes are what counts, however Nelson and his Hershey Bears gamers acknowledge that they have to be significantly better – even after they defeated the visiting Coachella Valley Firebirds 5-2 in Sport 2 of the Calder Cup Finals final night time.
One of the best-of-seven collection is even at one recreation apiece.
The defending champion Bears now face three video games this week at Acrisure Enviornment, the place the Firebirds have gone 6-0 on this postseason and outscored the Bears 16-5 in 4 video games throughout final yr’s Finals. Sport 3 is Tuesday night time (10 ET/7 PT, AHLTV).
The Bears headed to Harrisburg Worldwide Airport instantly after Sunday’s recreation for a cross-country flight, touchdown in Palm Springs round 12:30 a.m. PDT. The Firebirds, who’ve been on the street for 2 weeks, flew again to California this morning to arrange for Tuesday night time.
“We received away with one,” Nelson stated of Sport 2. “Let’s name a spade a shovel right here. They elevated their recreation, and we received worse – possibly as a result of they elevated it. I’m proud of the win, however we now have to be rather a lot higher if we wish to lengthen this collection.”
A part of the Bears’ problem these previous two video games has been managing the emotional transition and bodily fallout from their seven-game wrestle with Cleveland within the Jap Convention Finals. That collection solely ended final Wednesday earlier than the Bears needed to bounce into this Finals rematch with the well-rested Firebirds. Because the begin of the convention finals, Hershey has performed 9 video games in 18 days; the Firebirds had 11 days off between the top of the common season and their division semifinal opener towards Calgary, 9 days off earlier than their convention remaining towards Milwaukee, and 5 days off earlier than beginning the Finals in Hershey.
The Bears have managed simply 40 photographs on purpose by way of the primary two video games of the collection. They went 12:37 and not using a shot within the second interval of Sport 2 earlier than a heavy forecheck created a turnover behind the Coachella Valley web that become a Jimmy Huntington purpose that broke a 1-1 tie. They went shotless for one more 13 minutes in a stretch from late within the second interval to just about the third interval’s midpoint.
Hershey is fighting the Firebirds’ potent pace and transition recreation, one thing that compelled the Bears into lengthy stretches during which they struggled to maneuver pucks out of hazard spots. And when requested concerning the Bears closing out Coachella Valley’s 6-on-4 likelihood late within the recreation, Nelson pivoted to discussing his workforce permitting a purpose simply 17 seconds into the third interval, calling it “unacceptable” and including that he has seen defensive-zone errors within the collection that he has not seen from his gamers all season.
However successful the Calder Cup will not be alleged to be straightforward, and the Bears even have rather a lot going for them. AHL goaltender of the yr Hunter Shepard turned in a powerful efficiency in Sport 2, stopping 32 of 34 photographs.
“If Shep doesn’t play extraordinarily nicely, we don’t win that recreation,” Nelson acknowledged.
Pierrick Dubé continues to show in distinctive work following his return from a three-game absence after being hit within the face by a shot within the Cleveland collection. Dubé stormed the Coachella Valley web off a rush and transformed Huntington’s centering feed as he took a heavy tumble into the top boards, a purpose late within the second interval that stood up because the game-winner.
Hardy Häman Aktell, described by Nelson because the Bears’ finest blueliner this postseason, chipped in two objectives and helped to carry collectively a wounded protection corps that continues to be with out Lucas Johansen, Aaron Ness and Vincent Iorio. All-purpose ahead Matt Strome as soon as once more got here again into the lineup final night time, this time to take over for an injured Garrett Roe.
So the result’s there for the Bears, even when the method wants additional refinement. Furthermore, final night time’s win prevented the prospect of getting to go west down two video games to none. For the entire sunshine, palm bushes and exquisite desert surroundings, visiting groups don’t relish journeys to Acrisure Enviornment.
Something that Nelson says contained in the Hershey dressing room is taken to coronary heart. So video and relaxation are two potential cures for the Bears earlier than Sport 3. And even enjoying at what was admittedly removed from their finest, they nonetheless managed to deal a loss to an elite Firebirds workforce.
“Take into consideration the final collection,” Huntington stated. “We win in seven, and we performed 48 hours after. I believe the vitality was a bit bit low [in Game 2]. However hey, we gained the sport. We simply must win, and we made it occur.”
However stated – or was it warned? – Nelson of the Firebirds, “They’re a gifted group. They’re expert. They’ll be even higher of their dwelling constructing. We all know what we’re getting ourselves into. I do know that our workforce will probably be higher as a result of it couldn’t get any worse than it was [in Game 2].”
TheAHL.com options author Patrick Williams has been on the American Hockey League beat for almost 20 years for shops together with NHL.com, Sportsnet, TSN, The Hockey Information, SiriusXM NHL Community Radio and SLAM! Sports activities, and was most lately the co-host of The Hockey Information On The ‘A’ podcast. He was the recipient of the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for his excellent protection of the league in 2016.
