PALM DESERT, Calif. — In the final Calder Cup contest in the desert, Game 5 was a back-and-forth affair that ended with the Hershey Bears taking the series lead 3-2 with a 3-2 victory over the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Saturday evening.
The matchup started evenly with the two teams tied in the shot column 2-2 after 10 minutes of play but the Firebirds drew blood first when Kole Lind shot a loose puck from the slot, found the back of the net and made it 1-0.
The Bears responded as time dwindled down in the first period. A quick break up-ice and a nice set-up pass from Pierrick Dubé left Jimmy Huntington alone with a clear path to the net. Huntington's first shot was stopped, but he buried the rebound to even the game 1-1 at the 1st intermission.
The second period was scoreless between the two teams but required a handful of big-time saves from Hunter Shepard. The Bears did not get their first shot of the period until 10 minutes into the frame and got outshot 15-4. The game remained tied 1-1 after 40 minutes of regulation.
However, five minutes into the 3rd period, a costly defensive zone turnover was capitalized on by the Firebirds that ended with a Ryan Winterton shot in the slot that beat Shepard that made it 2-1.
The Bears responded about four minutes later when Hardy Häman Aktell carried it from the Bears end, ripped a shot that beat Driedger top-shelf blocker side and tied the game back 2-2.
WIth under four minutes to play, Alex Limoges entered the offensive zone and fed Jimmy Huntington who found the back of the net for his second goal of the game. The goal gave the Bears their first lead of the game 3-2 and ended up being the game-winner.
The Hershey Bears have their first series lead in the Calder Cup Finals and return home for Game 6 on Monday June 24 with a chance to repeat the roar.
2024 Calder Cup Finals TV Schedule | Hershey vs. Coachella Valley
- Game 1 | Coachella Valley wins 4-3
- Game 2 | Hershey wins 5-2
- Game 3 | Coachella Valley wins 6-2
- Game 4 | Hershey wins 3-2
- Game 5 | Hershey wins 3-2
- Game 6 | Monday, June 24 | 7pm | Hershey, PA | FOX43.2 / MNMT
- Game 7* | Wednesday, June 26 | 7pm | Hershey, PA | FOX43.2 / NHL Network / MNMT