By virtue of their second straight loss on home ice against the Lake Erie Monsters on Friday night, the Hershey Bears are heading to Quicken Loans Arena in a 2-0 hole, and with a lot of questions facing the club’s coaching staff.
Icing the same personnel in the lineup as they did in game one, the forward lines were shuffled in game two, and the results were mixed as once again the club was limited to one even strength strike from a forward. Does that lack of even strength production mean that veteran Sean Collins finds his way back into the lineup? Riley Barber, who took Collins’ place in the lineup is scoreless in the series but has flung 8 shots on net at Forsberg in the previous 2 games, is one such potential player that Collins could replace, or a more seasoned forward may also be asked to step aside in order for Collins to be reinserted into the lineup.
The Bears’ defensive corps continues to chip in on the offensive side, with a rearguard showing up in the score sheet on all four of their goals in the series (1g, 3a), but they have also contributed costly turnovers in each game that directly led to goals (Ryan Stanton late in game one with the Bears only trailing by a goal at that time, and Erik Burgdoerfer early in the second period in game two that gave the Monsters a 2-0 lead at the time). Does that mean that veteran defenseman Mike Moore will make his first appearance of the playoffs as the Bears attempt to muzzle the Monsters’ potent attack that has seen them victimize the Bears for an empty net goal, in addition to their eight other lamp lighters?
Goaltender Justin Peters has been solid and often spectacular during his 18 consecutive starts for the Bears, but has allowed at least 1 goal of 5-of-the-6 periods in this series. The club’s defensive struggles, which have seen him face numerous breakaway and odd-man attempts in the series, have affected his play, and his numbers as well. Do the Bears dare to put Dan Ellis, who split the goaltending duties with Peters for most of the regular season, and actually opened the playoffs in goal for the club, back between the pipes?
The Bears played a penalty free game in game one, but allowed two power play goals in three opportunities to the Monsters in game two. One of the power play goals came on a questionable call against Aaron Ness in the early seconds of the third period, but the other resulted from a bit of over exuberance from Chris Bourque early in the first period. Can the Bears make an adjustment on their penalty kill, and can they keep their composure as the pressure to win mounts as they take to the road?
Which Anton Forsberg is the goaltender the Bears are facing? Is he the goaltender who looked virtually unbeatable as he shutout the Bears for over 73 consecutive minutes before a 5-on-3 power play goal by Zach Sill broke that streak in game 2? Or, is he the one who was victimized for three goals in game two, tying his post-season mark for most goals allowed in a game, including two glove side goals within two minutes late in the third period as the Bears applied persistent pressure?
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