Congrats to the Hershey Bears

Washington Capitals AHL Affiliate Hershey Bears have clinched the Eastern Conference Championship last night with a 5-2 win over the Providence Bruins.  Hershey won the Eastern Conference finals 4 games to 1.  Hershey powered to win behind three 3rd period goals. 

The Bears and Bruins skated to a scoreless first period, even though the Bears out shot the Bruins 13-3.  Two minutes into the second period., Andrew Gordon started the scoring off, netting his 5th playoff goal and giving the Bears the 1-0 lead.  That lead lasted less than 3 minutes when Providence struck on Bears goalie Michal Neuvirth to tie the game at 1-1.  Alexander Giroux scored his 9th playoff goal deep in the second period to give the Bears a 2-1 lead at the end of the 2nd. 

It took less than 2 minutes in the third period for Providence to knot the game at 2-2.  From there on, it was all Bears, scoring three unanswered goals.  Chris Bourque scored the game winner on a short handed goal.  Darren Reid and Quintin Laing added 3rd period tallies to lead the Bears. 

Neuvirth stopped 27 of 29 shots to preserve the win for the Bears.  He has been nothing short of sensational in the AHL playoffs.  In 16 playoff games, Neuvirth is 12-4 with a 2.03 GAA and a save percentage of .929.  Top scorers for the Bears in the playoffs:  Alexandre Giroux is 2nd overall with 20 points, Chris Bourque is 4th with 18 points, and Keith Aucoin is tied for 5th with 16 points.

The Calder Cup finals are set.  Hershey will face off against the Manitoba Moose.  Here is the schedule . . .

Game 1: Saturday, May 30, at Manitoba, 8:30 p.m.
Game 2: Tuesday, June 2, at Manitoba, 8:30 p.m.
Game 3: Saturday, June 6, at Hershey, 7 p.m.
Game 4: Sunday, June 7, at Hershey, 5 p.m.
Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday, June 9, at Hershey, 7 p.m.
Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, June 12, at Manitoba, 8:30 p.m.
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, June 14, at Manitoba, 8:30 p.m. 

Manitoba ousted Hamilton yesterday to claim the Western Conference Championship.  The Moose are the AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks and boast a super hot goalie prospect, much like Hershey with Neuvirth, Cory Schneider.  Schneider was the AHL Goalie of the year this season.