HERSHEY, PA – For the second straight game Hershey Bears goaltender Michal Neuvirth shutout the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, this time in the deciding Game 7 of the East Division Finals by a score of 3-0. The whitewash allowed the Bears to get back to the Eastern Conference finals after a one-year hiatus.
Hershey last played in the Conference finals in 2006. They defeated the Manchester Monarchs in four games in that round before eventually losing the to Hamilton Bulldogs in the Calder Cup finals. This is also their third trip to the Conference finals in the last four years.
Keith Aucoin gave Hershey a 1-0 lead just 50 seconds into the game and set the tone for the rest of the game. The Bears scored on goal in each of the three periods. Chris Bourque made it 2-0 at the 4:54 mark of the second period tipping home a shot from Alexandre Giroux’s one-timer. Rookie Steve Pinizzotto finished off the scoring on the night by going in on a two-on-one rush, but used his wingman as a decoy and put a shot past Penguins goaltender Adam Berkhoel for a 3-0 lead and essentially put the game and the series away.
Neuvirth stopped all 24 Penguin shots. Hershey outshot the Penguins 35-24 for the game and by a 26-14 margin through the first two periods. The Bears were 1-6 on the power play while the Penguins were scoreless in two tries.
Interestingly the home team in the series won every game on home ice. The Bears improved their home playoff record to 7-0 and will host either the Providence Bruins or the Worcester Sharks once their series is done.
Hershey will have home ice advantage in the series and will be home for Games 1 and 2 this Saturday and Sunday at the Giant Center. The Bruins currently hold a 3-2 series lead over the Sharks in the Atlantic Division finals. Game 6 is on Wednesday evening in Worcester. If a Game 7 is necessary, it will be held on Thursday in Providence.
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com
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