The Hershey Bears won a thriller in overtime thanks to Garrett Pilon midway through the extra session to score the game’s first and only goal. The 1-0 Bears win over the Coachella Valley Firebirds puts them up in the Calder Cup Finals three games to two and one win away from the AHL’s ultimate prize.
Saturday night was a sellout crowd at Giant Center as 10,869 of the Bears faithful showed up. They came back to Hershey earlier in the week not only down two games to none but unable to even buy a goal in California.
Now the Bears leave Chocolatetown and head back to Coachella Valley up in the series and just one win away from their 12th Calder Cup in franchise history and first since 2010.
The game was scoreless in the first three periods. Well duh. But Hershey did have some chances. Sam Anas had a shot that hit the outside post on the Bears first power play of the night.
The Bears outshot the Firebirds 21-13 through two periods. The scoreless tie was the first time in the series that both teams couldn’t score in the game’s first 40 minutes.
In the third period Coachella Valley outshot Hershey 7-3. Bears goalie Hunter Shepard played outstanding, turning everything away.
In the sudden death overtime, Pilon’s goal came at 10:01. Logan Day started the play and found Mason Morelli who then cycled the puck to Pilon along the left wall. Pilon then unleashed a wrist shot for his fourth goal of the playoffs.
This game marked the 10th time in Calder Cup Finals history that the outcome was decided by a 1-0 score and the fifth to be decided 1-0 in overtime.
The Bears outshot the Firebirds 31-21. Shepard stopped all 21 shots he faced for his 13th victory of the postseason and third shutout of the spring.
Game 6 is Monday night at 10 p.m. from Acrisure Arena and you can catch the game on NBC Sports Washington and NHL Network.