Photo: Joe Noyes/NoVa Caps
The Hershey Bears fell to the Coachella Valley Firebirds by a score of 4-3 Friday night at Giant Center in Game 1 of the 2024 Calder Cup Finals. The Firebirds now lead 1-0 in the best-of-seven series.
The Lineup
Joe Snively-Hendrix Lapierre-Ethen Frank
Alex Limoges-Jimmy Huntington-Pierrick Dube
Ivan Miroshnichenko-Garrett Roe-Mike Vecchione
Bogdan Trineyev-Riley Sutter-Henrik Rybinski
Hardy Häman Aktell-Dylan McIlrath
Jake Massie-Chase Priskie
Dmitry Osipov-Logan Day
Shepard
Clay Stevenson
Injuries: Defensemen Lucas Johansen, Vincent Iorio, Aaron Ness, and Jon McDonald
First Period
Just 1:15 into the opening frame, Snively (3) got the Bears on the board for an early 1-0 lead. Frank (4) and Lapierre (12) assisted.
They don’t ask how, just how many! Snives gets his third of the playoffs with some help ⛸️
🍎Frank
🍏Lapierre https://t.co/3oGlpFlF7H pic.twitter.com/W6DSZe5SNH— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) June 14, 2024
At the 6:34 mark, the Firebirds would tie it up, 1-1, with a shorthanded goal from forward John Hayden.
TIED GAME 1-1 pic.twitter.com/1Ov5FG0fZD
— y – Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) June 14, 2024
Forward Ryan Winterton would make it a 2-1 game for Coachella at the 13:52 mark.
Birds take the lead 2-1 🔥 5:37 left in the 1st period pic.twitter.com/ONDBAXH9L8
— y – Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) June 14, 2024
At the end of the first, shots on goal were 10-9 in favor of Hershey.
Second Period
Winterton would pot his second of the night to extend the Firebirds’ lead to 3-1 midway through.
firebirds up 3-1 pic.twitter.com/pERhTrgFIU
— y – Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) June 15, 2024
Häman Aktell (2) would pull Hershey within one at the 12:51 mark, making it a 3-2 game.
Second of the playoffs for Hardy!
🍎Huntington
🍏Sutter https://t.co/JgZCFOJcyB pic.twitter.com/8A3YCZpkWb— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) June 15, 2024
The Firebirds’ lead would be extended, 4-2, with Hayden’s second goal of the game with less than five minutes left.
— y – Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) June 15, 2024
After forty minutes, the Firebirds led on shots, 20-14.
Third Period
With less than two minutes to go, Lapierre (5) would make it a 4-3 game on a power play.
Clutch goal to pull us to within one!
🍎Snively
🍏Frank https://t.co/TEpP7DO6Vv pic.twitter.com/xWYGcdph3N— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) June 15, 2024
The Firebirds would hold out for a 4-3 victory and a 1-0 series lead.
Coachella Valley led on total shots, 23-19.
The Bears look to tie the series in Game 2 on Sunday at Giant Center. Monumental Sports Network, NHL Network, and AHL TV will have the coverage beginning at 5 PM ET.
By Della Young
