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Hershey looks to grab 2-0 lead over Hartford

The Bears could face a different Wolf Pack goaltender tonight

HERSHEY, Pa. — Editor's Note: The above video is from May 16, 2024.

The Hershey Bears are hoping to put the Hartford Wolf Pack on the brink of elimination tonight. With a Bears win, the team can pack their brooms and try to earn a 3-0 sweep in Hartford on Wednesday. 

It won't be an easy road to victory in game 2. Hartford is expecting some reinforcement in net. Before Thursday's game, goaltender Dylan Garand was recalled by the New York Rangers because of a possible injury to Louis Domingue. Olof Lindbom started in Garand's place, giving up 5 goals on 28 shots. He was injured and left the game after giving up the fifth goal. Talyn Boyko, in his first professional appearance, came on in relief. Boyko gave up a goal on his first shot faced.

All signs point to Garand being available for game 2. Ricky Milliner, who covers the Wolf Pack for Forever Blueshirts, reported that Garand made it to Giant Center for Hartford's morning skate. Garand had started all of the Wolf Pack's playoff games until Wednesday. He's 5-2 with a 2.32 goals against average and a 0.931 save percentage in the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs.

Hershey is hoping to repeat the game 1 performance. Six different players scored a goal for the team Thursday. They'll look for that scoring depth to continue. Center Hendrix Lapierre told John Walton of the Washington Capitals that the team wasn't satisfied with the round one performance against Lehigh Valley. Lapierre thought the team responded well in game 1.

In that first round series, the Bears blew out the Phantoms, 5-1, in game 2 to take a 2-0 lead. After game 1, Hershey Head Coach Todd Nelson said his team was junk the next game, which was a 2-0 loss. Nelson said, "we have to stay humble and just keep our heads straight and understand its not going to be like that every time. It's going to be a battle next game."

Projected Lineups

Both teams lines should look the same in game 2. 

For Hershey, Nelson said after game 1 that forward Matthew Phillips, who's been scratched the past 2 games, is dealing with a lower body injury. It also doesn't appear that forward Riley Sutter or defensemen Vincent Iorio and Logan Day are ready to return. 

Credit: WPMT
Credit: WPMT

For Hartford, the change will be in goal as Garand appears set for a return. There's no word on how serious the injury is to Lindbom. If he can't go as the backup, Boyko figures to be in that spot. Forward Riley Nash, who was hurt in the Wolf Pack's game 4 win over Providence, doesn't appear ready to go, so expect the same lines in game 2. 

Credit: WPMT
Credit: WPMT

Quick Notes

  • Bears defenseman Aaron Ness, who is Hershey's active leader for career playoff games (57), celebrates his 34th birthday today
  • Nelson got his 60th career Calder Cup Playoffs victory in game 1. He's now tied with legendary Bears coach and executive Frank Mathers for fourth in AHL history.
  • The Bears will recognize and celebrate the life of the late Steve Andrascik during tonight’s game. Andrascik was a member of the 1974 Calder Cup championship team and served as captain during the 1977-78 season.

Special Teams

HER PP - 20.0% (12th in AHL playoffs) | 2/4 in series

HER PK - 85.7% (7th in AHL playoffs)

HFD PP - 15.2% (15th in AHL playoffs) | 0/6 in series

HFD PK - 72.0% (19th in AHL playoffs)

Tonight's Officials

Referees: Cody Beach (45) & Liam Maaskant (62)

Linespersons: Mitchell Hunt (62) & Jeremy Faucher (85)

Broadcast Information

You can watch FOX43's Game 2 broadcast on Monumental Sports Network. The full Atlantic Division Finals schedule is listed below.

Atlantic Division Finals Schedule | Hartford vs. Hershey

  • Game 1 | Thursday, May 16 | Hershey wins 6-1
  • Game 2 | Saturday, May 18 | 7pm | Hershey, PA | Monumental Sports Network
  • Game 3 | Wednesday, May 22 | 7pm | Hartford, CT | FOX43.2 & MNMT
  • Game 4* | Friday, May 24 | 7pm | Hartford, CT | FOX43.2 & MNMT
  • Game 5* | Sunday, May 26 | 5pm | Hershey, PA | FOX43.2 & MNMT

*if necessary

The Voice of the Bears, Zack Fisch, will call the action along with analysis from AHL Hall of Famer Mitch Lamoureux, Jim Jones and FOX43 Sports Director Todd Sadowski.

FOX43.2 Antenna TV is found on channel 43.2 over-the-air, Xfinity Ch. 247 and 1178, Verizon FiOS Ch. 463, Blue Ridge Ephrata Ch. 91, and Blue Ridge Newberry/Duncannon Ch. 88.

Games on Monumental Sports Network will be available to DC area hockey fans both on linear tv (on MNMT or overflow station MNMT2) and via Monumental's digital streaming platform within the network's footprint. Fans can watch the games through their Pay TV subscription on linear tv, on monumentalsportsnetwork.com, or by downloading the Monumental streaming app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV and using an eligible TV Everywhere log-in. 

All Hershey Bears playoff broadcasts will be produced by FOX43's Ed Albert. Home broadcasts will be co-produced with Great Save Productions.

Download the FOX43 app here.

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