Hershey Bears Week Preview: Worcester Game 3

Cameron Schilling and Erik Burgdoerfer where the best d-pairing in Game 2 each ended with a +3 rating in a 3-1 win over the Worcester Sharks. Photo Credit: Tori Hartman

We’ll start with a recap of how the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs has gone so far:

EAST:

Hershey Bears vs Worcester Sharks: 2-0 HER
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs Syracuse Crunch: 2-0 WBS
Manchester Monarchs vs Portland Pirates: 2-1 MCH
Providence Bruins vs Hartford Wolf Pack: 2-1 PRO

WEST:

Utica Comets vs Chicago Wolves: 1-1 tie

San Antonio Rampage vs Oklahoma City Barons: 2-0 OKC

Rockford Ice Hogs vs Texas Stars: 2-0 RFD

Grand Rapids Griffins vs Toronto Marlies: 2-0 TOR

Hershey Bears vs Worcester Sharks

Hershey Bears lead series: 2-0

Game 1 – W: 4-1 (Gamesheet)

-The Sharks controlled most of the play for the first game. Check out the highlights below, it’s basically a Pheonix Copley save show. Worcester pretty much lost the game on a 5 minute major penalty to Jeremy Langlois towards the end of the third. The Hershey Bears capitalized on the power play three times to end with the final score of 4-1. (Full Recap)

Game 2 – W: 3-1 (Gamesheet)

-The Hershey Bears clicked in the second period of this game for three goals. The second period was pretty great for the Hershey Bears, and they finally outshot the Worcester Sharks for the first time that period. The Sharks didn’t seem like the same team that played in Game 1, but the Bears held strong in the third with great work from Pheonix Copley and won 3-1. (Full Recap)

Goal Totals: 7-2 HER

Shot Totals: 76-53 WOR

Goaltender Matchup:

Aaron Dell – 3.06 GAA, .885 SAV%, 46 saves in 2 GP
Pheonix Copley – 1.00 GAA, .974 SAV%, 74 saves in 2 GP <– everyone check out those stats. whoa buddy

I’d imagine the Worcester coaches are thinking about starting Troy Grosenick (2.63 GAA, .906 SAV%) in Game 3. Sometimes a goalie change can spark a team and that may be what they need. I don’t think Aaron Dell was terrible though. In Game 1, the Hershey Bears had 3 PPG only a really dumb 5 minute major. For Game 2, it probably wasn’t his best performance, but Hershey came hard, and the bottom line is Dell needed to be huge for his team. As far as Hershey’s goalie goes, I’d say it’s business as usual with Pheonix Copley.

Worcester Sharks’ Players to Watch:

The Sharks only had two goals in two games, but they really like to shoot the puck on net. Their first line of Tarasov–Tierney–Goodrow combined for 17 SOG over the two games. Barclay Goodrow had 9 alone.
The third line, Haley–Carpenter–Hayes, was the only line to actually contribute any goal scoring though; Hayes (1G), Haley (1G).

Notable Hershey Bears:

13 different players had points in the first two games and three players have multiple point weekends: Cameron Schilling (1G, 1A), Tim Kennedy (2A), Liam O’Brien (2A)
Cameron Schilling– Schilling was in a three way tie for the most points against the Sharks during their four regular season match ups. Schilling had 2 goals and 1 assist in the regular season and added another goal and assist in Game 1 and 2. Schilling is also a +4 in the two post season games.
Liam O’Brien– Liam had nice game on Saturday. He had a goal reviewed and had a nice power move to set up Schilling’s goal. Over the two games, he picked up two assists, had five shots on goal, and was a +2.

Injuries:

–Steven Oleksy– Steven was hit by Jeremy Langlois in Game 1 and didn’t return to play afterwards. Scott Stuccio later tweeted that Oleksy had an upper body injury, was under medical observation, and was to be re-evaluated the next day. Oleksy wasn’t at practice Monday morning. Tim Leone of PennLive reported that Oleksy is listed as day-to-day and was having some more tests performed on Monday.

Leone also said that Coach Mann filed for supplementary discipline on Langlois’ hit that earned him a 5 minute major and 10 minute misconduct penalty, but the league decided it was a clean hit. I’m sure the Hershey Bears’ fans will have quite the warm welcome for Langlois. I hope all is well with Oleksy, and he is able to finish captaining this team to the cup.

Recalls:

–Philipp Grubauer– Grubi is still on recall with the Capitals. The Capitals took Game 7 and will move onto the second round. Whether the Caps keep Grubi seems to be up in the air. Alex Prewitt tweeted a few days ago that Barry Trotz isn’t concerned about sending Grubauer back and doesn’t feel any pressure to do so. He also said that since Grubauer had the Game 2 win that he thinks he deserves to finish the series.

If Grubi is sent back, it will be interesting to see if they start Pheonix or Grubi on Wednesday against the Sharks. Grubauer was in goal for the Hershey Bears’ two wins against the Sharks during the regular season, but given Pheonix’s recent wins in the post season it’s a tough call. I would go with Copley since he knows what to expect from the team and can clearly get the job done not that I doubt Grubi can handle it, obviously. I guess we will have to see how things play out here with the Capitals.

What to expect in Game 3:

I think for Game 3, the Hershey Bears will need to keep doing what they are doing especially what they did in Game 2. With an injury to Steven Oleksy, the defensemen stepped up and held off the high shot total Worcester Sharks to only 34 SOG. They will need to have another strong game for sure because Worcester certainly isn’t going to sit back and be swept. Worcester will have even more motivation for their fans who possibly saw their last home game on Saturday with this Sharks’ squad relocating out West next season. I’m anxious to see if the Sharks will play like they did on Friday as opposed to the team they were on Saturday.

Undoubtedly, all eyes will be on Pheonix Copley to put up another great performance on Wednesday. The rookie made a fantastic 74 saves in the first two games. Pretty impressive. What poise the young goalie has to handle the pressure situation the playoffs can bring and to come into his own in the wake of a Philipp Grubauer recall.

If the Hershey Bears lose Game 3, Game 4 and 5 will be at home on Friday and Sunday. I hope the Bears will be onto the next round before the weekend hits, but you never know. Let’s focus on Game 3 and rooting for the boys on Wednesday. See you all at the Giant Center! Go Bears!

Game Highlights:

Game One

Game Two

NOTES:

-ECHL Affiliate: The South Carolina Stingrays are also in the post season. They have a tough first round matchup against the Reading Royals. The Stingrays currently have a 3-2 series lead and will hopefully continue onto the next round on Tuesday.

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