Will iron man Travis Boyd, who played has played in every Hershey game including the playoffs dating back to the beginning of last season, find his offensive game in this series?
If Boyd, who failed to score and registered only 2 shots in the Lehigh Valley series, both in game three, finds his offensive game in this series, that certainly bolsters the Bears' chances of conquering the Bruins. However, there is certainly a bit of cause for concern, when considering the fatigue factor, and the fact the Boyd has not found the score sheet in eight games dating back to the regular season. A check back to last seasons Calder Cup Playoff stats for the Minnesota native reveals that he only put 22 pucks on net in 21 outings and only lit the lamp twice, but both of his markers were game winners, including the OT goal in game seven against the pesky Penguins from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the second round that propelled the Bears on to the next series.
When will Jakub Vrana return to the lineup, and will he be effective when he ultimately does?
There is no doubt that Vrana, a former 1st round pick of the Capitals who played in 21 regular seasons with the Caps this season in addition to the 49 games he appeared in with the Bears, is a prized prospect who possesses superior talent and has the ability to be a game changer, even in the post-season. Last spring with the Bears in 21 contests, he finished with 14 points, which tied him 5th in league scoring, and his 8 goals led the club, but his inconsistent play, which was also a factor in the regular season leading to a couple of occasions where he was a healthy scratch, resurfaced in the first 3 games against Lehigh Valley, earning him a spot in the press box as a healthy scratch for the final 2 games of the series.
Which team will win the special teams battle?
The Bruins led the league in the first round in power play goals (6) and power play efficiency (27.3%) in their opening round duel with the baby Pens, but in 6 regular season outings against the Bears that consisted of 16 chances, they were able to strike only once on the power play.
On the other hand, the Bears' late regular season power outage, which saw them register only 3 goals on 31 opportunities in the final 10 games (9.7%), continued in their opening round win over the Lehigh Valley as the unit failed to put a charge into Phantoms' penalty kill during their 13 chances.
It should be noted however, that the Bears' post-season success is not totally dependent on a successful power play. During last years quest for the Calder Cup, which consisted of 21 games and saw them advance to the finals only to be slayed by the Lake Erie Monsters, the Chocolate and White netted only 10 extra man goals and never netted more than one in any game.
Which Stan Galiev will show up?
Galiev, a gifted goal scorer, finished the regular season with 21 goals, but also finished it in quite the scoring slump, failing to light the red light in his last 14 outings and collecting only 4 assists in the process . However, 5 of Galiev's 21 goals were scored at the expense of the Bruins, including a pair of multi-goal efforts, and he led the Bears in scoring against the P-Bruins in the regular season by posting 7 points (5+2).
Once the post-season started, the regular season woes have become nothing but a memory for the native of Russia. He paced the Bears' conquest of the Phantoms with a team leading 5 points, including the secondary assist on Nathan Walker's overtime winner in the series opener, and has potted a goal in 3 separate games, and each of his markers have been the Bears' first of the game.
Who will come out on top in the goaltending match-up between two of the AHL's top goaltenders, Providence's Zane McIntyre and Hershey's Pheonix Copley?
During the regular season, each of the net-minders registered 20+ wins, with McIntyre managing 21 wins in 31 apperances, and Copley coming out on top in 26 of his 41 appearances, including one victory at the expense of the Bruins in his only outing against them. Each of the keepers also finished in the top ten in save percentage with McIntyre's .930 leading the league, and Copley compiling a combined .924 with Chicago and Hershey.
In their clubs' opening round victories, both McIntyre and Copley continued their stellar work between the pipes. Both have played 306-plus minutes, and once again McIntyre's (.936) save percentage tops Copley's (.933), but Copley can boast of owning the only shutout between his goaltending counterpart, and he has also allowed one less goal against.
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Chris Bourque's Playoff Conquests
List of goalies Chris Bourque has scored on in his AHL playoff career:
1- **Philipp Grubauer- 6 Hershey
2- **Justin Peters- 4 Albany
3- **Jonathan Bernier- 3 Manchester
4- **John Curry- 2 WBS
5- Casey DeSmith- 2 WBS
6- **Tuukka Rask- 2 Providence
7- **Jeff Zatkoff- 2 WBS
8- **Adam Berkhoel- 1 WBS
9- **Antoine Bibeau- 1 Toronto
10- Alex Lyon- 1 Lehigh Valley
11- **Mike McKenna- 1 Portland
12- Martin Ouellette- 1 Lehigh Valley
13- **Carey Price- 1 Hamilton
14- **Cory Schneider- 1 Manitoba
15- **Jeremy Smith- 1 Providence
16- **Tyler Weiman- 1 Albany
Empty Net- 1
**=Played in NHL
1- **Philipp Grubauer- 6 Hershey
2- **Justin Peters- 4 Albany
3- **Jonathan Bernier- 3 Manchester
4- **John Curry- 2 WBS
5- Casey DeSmith- 2 WBS
6- **Tuukka Rask- 2 Providence
7- **Jeff Zatkoff- 2 WBS
8- **Adam Berkhoel- 1 WBS
9- **Antoine Bibeau- 1 Toronto
10- Alex Lyon- 1 Lehigh Valley
11- **Mike McKenna- 1 Portland
12- Martin Ouellette- 1 Lehigh Valley
13- **Carey Price- 1 Hamilton
14- **Cory Schneider- 1 Manitoba
15- **Jeremy Smith- 1 Providence
16- **Tyler Weiman- 1 Albany
Empty Net- 1
**=Played in NHL
Friday, April 21, 2017
Gilbert's Guile A Definite Plus for Bears
By: John Sparenberg
When defenseman Tom Gilbert joined the Washington Capitals organization in a February trade from the Los Angeles Kings organization for future considerations, the move was viewed as a depth move down the road for the Capitals, who were looking to add to their roster for the playoffs should an emergency situation arise that called for a veteran like Gilbert, who has skated in more then 700 games a pro, including 655 in the National Hockey League.
But the move brought immediate relief to the Hershey Bears' blueline when Gilbert was immediately assigned to the club, adding a solid defensive presence, with an offensive touch to their young, weary defensive corps. At time of the deal, the Bears sported an impressive 25-14-8-3 record, yet a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs was anything but solidified, as the defense/goaltending began to buckle, in part due to the loss of minutes eating defenseman Madison Bowey to injury on December 28th. In the 20 games after Bowey went down, the Bears went a respectable 8-8-3-1, but at one point won only once in 10 outings, getting outscored 47-24 in the process.
"It was a good opportunity for me out in LA, but it just didn’t work out. When things don’t work out, just getting out there is probably the best thing any player can do. Landing a spot in this organization, and Washington is obviously number one in the league, and Hershey was I think 6th in this league (at the time of the trade). To get a chance to maybe get an opportunity to play up there, or play down here for a minor league team that was doing really well was really a no-brainer for me, and the trade worked out really well", said Gilbert.
Bears bench boss Troy Mann, who has been around the game a long time, is fully aware that the needs of his club have to be in line with the needs of the parent Caps before they pull the trigger on a trade, had to be breathing a huge sigh of relief when he learned that they heard his concerns and eventually closed the deal that brought Gilbert to central Pennsylvania.
“Two of the biggest areas I was hoping we could improve on in the second half was to acquire a top-four defenseman to replace Bowey’s minutes, said Bears' bench boss, Troy Mann, earlier this month. "It’s difficult to replace a 20-25 minute defenseman on a long-term basis. You can do it on a short-term basis, but to replace a guy like that is impossible. We were hoping the Caps could address that, and they did. It took some time because it’s difficult to make trades nowadays. It’s not easy to find the right guy", said Mann, of Gilbert an 11-year pro who, prior to this season, had not played in the AHL since his rookie campaign with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the 2006-2007 season.
Mann continued, “We preferred a right-handed shot to replace Bowey (who is also a right shot). Gilbert gives us a veteran presence back there. He’s a puck mover, and that fits into how we play. He enjoys the style of hockey that we play, and he’s been great in the room with the young guys. He’s giving us some quality hockey, and he’s a real good fit.”
A new team and a new organization always brings on a learning curve, and that's true of any player, even one possessing the abundance of experience of Gilbert.
In his first six games with the Bears, the club went 3-3 and Gilbert sported a solid +/- rating of +2, but he was only able to chip in a single assist on the offensive side. However, starting with the Bears' win at Syracuse on March 3rd, a game in which he scored the first goal of the game, and continuing through the end of the regular season, in 19 games, the Minnesota native was +10, and registered 12 points (3g, 9a), as he fit smoothly into what he confirmed is unique to him, the Bears' system.
"They are very much about puck possession in every single zone, especially in the offensive zone. If we get outshot in a game it’s not a big deal, and this is the first time that I’ve been on a team like that, where they’re not forcing shots on you and for a great reason too", said Gilbert, whose last two goals of the regular season where both scored at precisely the same time, 4:49 into the scond period.
Gilbert continued, "They want us to have the puck and wear teams down and they want us to have great shots in good spots on the ice. That’s been the biggest thing, the biggest chance since I got here, and obviously as an offensive guy like me it’s great. You’re allowed to lug the puck and it gives you a better feel for the game. Yeah, there are a lot of times you could probably shoot the puck, especially coming down the stretch and this playoff run and in the playoffs, you can watch it on TV now and goals are going in from everywhere and everyone’s shooting. But, you still have to have that mentality of just holding onto the puck and trying to wear teams down."
A lot has changed in the game of hockey since Gilbert's rookie season with the baby Pens, where he was actually property of the Edmonton Oilers at the time, as the Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins shared an affilaition, and Gilbert gives a unique observation on what changes his eyes see in the AHL now, 10 years later.
"Both in the AHL in the NHL, you just see better players. I think the game has gotten faster first of all and you can see that down here. There’s plenty of guys that given the opportunity to go play up top would fit right in. The skillset down here is great, there are guys that make the exact same plays that you see up in the NHL..".
As the Bears prepare to take on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs, there will be few surprises for either team, thanks to the clubs clashing 12 times in the regular season, and although Gilbert only played in the last three of those dozen duels, he was lightning quick offering up an answer as to what the Bears have to guard against in the series.
"That’s an easy one, it’s their transition game. They are a very offensive team and they just kind of wait for their moments. When they get it, they are fast and they know how to score goals. For us, it’s going to be about how we control the puck and where we are positionally. We can’t be just flying around the ice because this team is just waiting for a turnover and they are gone.."
When defenseman Tom Gilbert joined the Washington Capitals organization in a February trade from the Los Angeles Kings organization for future considerations, the move was viewed as a depth move down the road for the Capitals, who were looking to add to their roster for the playoffs should an emergency situation arise that called for a veteran like Gilbert, who has skated in more then 700 games a pro, including 655 in the National Hockey League.
But the move brought immediate relief to the Hershey Bears' blueline when Gilbert was immediately assigned to the club, adding a solid defensive presence, with an offensive touch to their young, weary defensive corps. At time of the deal, the Bears sported an impressive 25-14-8-3 record, yet a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs was anything but solidified, as the defense/goaltending began to buckle, in part due to the loss of minutes eating defenseman Madison Bowey to injury on December 28th. In the 20 games after Bowey went down, the Bears went a respectable 8-8-3-1, but at one point won only once in 10 outings, getting outscored 47-24 in the process.
"It was a good opportunity for me out in LA, but it just didn’t work out. When things don’t work out, just getting out there is probably the best thing any player can do. Landing a spot in this organization, and Washington is obviously number one in the league, and Hershey was I think 6th in this league (at the time of the trade). To get a chance to maybe get an opportunity to play up there, or play down here for a minor league team that was doing really well was really a no-brainer for me, and the trade worked out really well", said Gilbert.
Bears bench boss Troy Mann, who has been around the game a long time, is fully aware that the needs of his club have to be in line with the needs of the parent Caps before they pull the trigger on a trade, had to be breathing a huge sigh of relief when he learned that they heard his concerns and eventually closed the deal that brought Gilbert to central Pennsylvania.
“Two of the biggest areas I was hoping we could improve on in the second half was to acquire a top-four defenseman to replace Bowey’s minutes, said Bears' bench boss, Troy Mann, earlier this month. "It’s difficult to replace a 20-25 minute defenseman on a long-term basis. You can do it on a short-term basis, but to replace a guy like that is impossible. We were hoping the Caps could address that, and they did. It took some time because it’s difficult to make trades nowadays. It’s not easy to find the right guy", said Mann, of Gilbert an 11-year pro who, prior to this season, had not played in the AHL since his rookie campaign with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the 2006-2007 season.
Mann continued, “We preferred a right-handed shot to replace Bowey (who is also a right shot). Gilbert gives us a veteran presence back there. He’s a puck mover, and that fits into how we play. He enjoys the style of hockey that we play, and he’s been great in the room with the young guys. He’s giving us some quality hockey, and he’s a real good fit.”
A new team and a new organization always brings on a learning curve, and that's true of any player, even one possessing the abundance of experience of Gilbert.
In his first six games with the Bears, the club went 3-3 and Gilbert sported a solid +/- rating of +2, but he was only able to chip in a single assist on the offensive side. However, starting with the Bears' win at Syracuse on March 3rd, a game in which he scored the first goal of the game, and continuing through the end of the regular season, in 19 games, the Minnesota native was +10, and registered 12 points (3g, 9a), as he fit smoothly into what he confirmed is unique to him, the Bears' system.
"They are very much about puck possession in every single zone, especially in the offensive zone. If we get outshot in a game it’s not a big deal, and this is the first time that I’ve been on a team like that, where they’re not forcing shots on you and for a great reason too", said Gilbert, whose last two goals of the regular season where both scored at precisely the same time, 4:49 into the scond period.
Gilbert continued, "They want us to have the puck and wear teams down and they want us to have great shots in good spots on the ice. That’s been the biggest thing, the biggest chance since I got here, and obviously as an offensive guy like me it’s great. You’re allowed to lug the puck and it gives you a better feel for the game. Yeah, there are a lot of times you could probably shoot the puck, especially coming down the stretch and this playoff run and in the playoffs, you can watch it on TV now and goals are going in from everywhere and everyone’s shooting. But, you still have to have that mentality of just holding onto the puck and trying to wear teams down."
A lot has changed in the game of hockey since Gilbert's rookie season with the baby Pens, where he was actually property of the Edmonton Oilers at the time, as the Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins shared an affilaition, and Gilbert gives a unique observation on what changes his eyes see in the AHL now, 10 years later.
"Both in the AHL in the NHL, you just see better players. I think the game has gotten faster first of all and you can see that down here. There’s plenty of guys that given the opportunity to go play up top would fit right in. The skillset down here is great, there are guys that make the exact same plays that you see up in the NHL..".
As the Bears prepare to take on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs, there will be few surprises for either team, thanks to the clubs clashing 12 times in the regular season, and although Gilbert only played in the last three of those dozen duels, he was lightning quick offering up an answer as to what the Bears have to guard against in the series.
"That’s an easy one, it’s their transition game. They are a very offensive team and they just kind of wait for their moments. When they get it, they are fast and they know how to score goals. For us, it’s going to be about how we control the puck and where we are positionally. We can’t be just flying around the ice because this team is just waiting for a turnover and they are gone.."
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
BEARS COUNTING ON COPLEY
By John Sparenberg
As the calendar year of 2016 closed out, the Hershey Bears seemingly had little to worry about in securing a spot in the 2017 Calder Cup Playoffs. Entering their New Year's Eve outing at Giant Center against the Providence Bruins, the Bears sported a spiffy 18-6-5-2 after collecting points in eight of their previous ten outings, scoring 40 goals in the process, while their goaltending duo of veteran Joe Cannata, and rookie Vitek Vanecek, allowed a very respectable 26 goals against during that ten-game span.
But the Bruins bested Vanecek and the Bears in that outing, 4-1, and that started a disturbing ten-game spiral. Including the Providence game, and during the ensuing nine contests, the Bears’ offense sputtered as they registered but 24 lamp lightings, but more concerning were the struggles of the goaltenders, who combined to be beaten 47 times in the span..
Cannata, whose save percentage was never spectacular all season long, but whose win total was inflated by an abundance of offense during most of his earlier starts, started to stop making the big saves when the club needed them most, and Vanecek, who had pretty much battled Cannata for the number one goaltending slot up until this point, started to finally experience the typical rookie struggles that were to be expected of him as he grew up in the league. All totaled, the Bears managed just one regulation win during the ten tilts and suffered six regulation losses, including a combined five costly setbacks at the hands of division foes.
With the Bears fortunes having seen their seeding in the standings head south, and their record in their last ten one-goal outings in January and February resulting in just two regulation victories in the close encounters, the winds of change began blowing with a light breeze from the South. This resulted in journeyman netminder Parker Milner, who was having an outstanding season with the Bears' ECHL affiliate, the South Carolina Stingrays, being summoned to Hershey as the organization attempted to alleviate the goaltending ailments from within. But after a strong start that saw Milner allow a combined six goals in his first three starts, all wins, he allowed five goals in his next two outings, a relief stint that saw him allow only one goal, but one that turned out to be the game winner, and an abbreviated start that saw him allow 4 goals in 21 minutes of action in a game the Bears eventually dropped 4-3.
So with the search renewed for a reliable netminder who could be counted on to come through and make the big save in the pivotal remaining games in this season, the light breeze became a prevailing wind, emanating from the westerly direction, specifically the "Windy City,” and the "Gateway to the West" as the Bears/Capitals reacquired former Bear, Pheonix Copley, who was playing for the Chicago Wolves and was property of the St. Louis Blues at the trading deadline.
Bears' head coach, Troy Mann, who has to be elated that the Caps answered the signs of distress from his club down on the farm as far as their goaltending situation was concerned, said he has "no inputs in trades, the organization takes care of that.”
"There’s no doubt that the communication has been wide open with the Caps. They were trying to upgrade their #3 hole, not only for us to compete in our division, but also in case of injury up top. They were talking to four or five teams, I believe, trying to get an upgrade at that position. Just happened that St. Louis was one of those teams, and that’s where he came from. As far as my input, certainly no, but I knew they were trying to upgrade the position.”
Copley, 25, is a native of North Pole, Alaska, but was born in Fairbanks for a very good reason-- there were no hospitals in North Pole, which is just outside of Fairbanks. He began his career with the Bears in the 2014-2015 season, which was also Mann's first season behind the Bears' bench as their head coach. During his strong rookie campaign in which he appeared in 26 games, probably a few more than he was intended to, he accumulated 17 victories, including posting three shutouts, and was first in the league among rookie goaltenders in save percentage and goals against average while helping the Bears to a first place finish in the East Division.
"We had Philip Grubauer that year, too, and we wanted to manage Copley’s game. We wanted to manage him and wanted him to work with Scott Murray (Hershey’s goaltending coach) as much as he could. We were going to pick his games strategically in terms of who he was going to play against, and we were able to do that for the most part. Grubauer had spent some time up in Washington, especially the second half, when they didn’t have quite the confidence in Justin Peters."
Mann continued, "So, Copley started to get a lot more game action in that second half, and he even started in the first two games of the playoffs against Worcester. We certainly had a plan of attack when the season started in October in terms of how we were going to handle him, but things ultimately changed. We were trying to do that same thing with Vanecek this year, but it just didn’t work out that way in terms of being able to manage his games the way we had hoped prior to when the season started."
During his two seasons away from the Bears, Copley primarily patrolled the pipes for the Blues' top affiliate the Chicago Wolves, but made two appearances with the Blues, including his NHL debut, a period-plus relief effort against the Nashville Predators on February 27, 2016.
The Wolves, who were the Bears' opponents in the first ever playoff game contested at Giant Center during the 2003 Calder Cup Playoffs, have had a strong Hershey flavor in their front office for years with Wendell Young, who backstopped the Bears to a perfect 12-0 post-season record when they captured the Calder Cup in 1988, continuing to serve as the clubs General Manager, and Gene Ubriaco, a Hershey legend, also continuing to serve in his longtime role as the teams Senior Advisor/Director of Hockey Operations.
However, this season that Hershey flavor became a little more intense; well, actually way more intense. when Craig Berube, who started his professional career with the Bears in the 1986-87 season, when he accumulated a career high 325 minutes in penalty minutes, which by today's standards is a career total for many players, but wasn't even enough to lead the AHL back in that era that season, took over behind the Wolves' bench as their head coach. Under Berube's watch, Copley compiled an impressive 15-6-3-1 record, which is impressive in itself, but a closer look into his numbers is even more impressive, as he allowed one goal or less in five outings, and two goals or less in 16 contests
In addition to his time spent "tending the twine" for the Wolves, Copley finally made his NHL starting debut against the Winnipeg Jets four days before his 25th birthday, and although it was in a losing effort in which he allowed five goals, he did make 24 saves, and three of his best came against former Bear Mathieu Perreault. He shouldered away a slapshot by "Perry" in the first period, used every inch of his 6'4” torso to fully extend his left pad and deny Perreault from the doorstep in the second period, and finished up the game in fine form by making a late third period glittering glove save on Perreault, who was captured on video looking into the rafters in disbelief after being denied.
"It was unfortunate we didn’t get the win, but St. Louis gave me good opportunities there, and it was a dream come true to get a start in the NHL. I’m going to build off of that and work for the next one."
As good as he has been in his AHL career, Copley has given up his shares of goals against and has the occasional bad game, but those are occupational hazards for any 'keeper, regardless of their abilities, but to his credit, he has honed his ability to put the last goal quickly behind him, at least until the next video session, and focus on preventing the next puck he sees in the game lighting the red lamp behind him.
“When you give up a goal, you really don’t want to think about it. You have to have a short memory, and realize it happened, but forget about it for the rest of the game. After the games can see what happened and see what you may have done differently and what you can improve on and you can work on that in practice. But in the heat of the game, you again have to have that short memory and move past the goals right away.”
Since coming back to the Bears, Copley has for the most part, been predictably stellar. He allowed only a single goal against in his return to the lineup in Syracuse, but, did not finish the game, leaving in the third period after going down awkwardly, apparently injured, and then being helped off the ice. That scene undoubtedly caused a lot of angst for both the Bears' organization as well as their fans, but thankfully, it turned out to not be an injury, but something that was easily explained and subsequently remedied.
"It was just a little dehydration, probably due to I think, all the travel lately. I just needed to make sure I was eating and drinking a lot of fluids. After the game that night, I just made sure I started eating fruit and veggies and regrouped."
After the Syracuse game, Copley and his new teammates boarded the team bus and travelled through the night, arriving back in Hershey in the wee hours of the morning, with a date with their bitter rivals the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on the schedule later that night. There was suspense in the air, with the question being would Copley be well enough to play in his return to Giant Center, and that question was answered with a resound yes. Copley not only played, but played exceptionally well, limiting the visitors to only a goal as the Bears triumphed 2-1 in a game that had the feel of a playoff game, which it essentially what it was for the Bears in their pursuit of a playoff spot.
"I had no doubt,” said Copley, as to whether he had any that he would not play. "The support these fans give us every night is unbelievable. I’m glad to be back here, and to win tonight made it even sweeter.”
Heading down the stretch there is little room for error, and a one-goal game whether it be a win or a loss, could have a profound effect on whether or not the Bears make the post-season. Copley will undoubtedly carry the bulk of the workload, but it's important for Mann and his staff not to overwork him, and that is going to be a delicate balance that will depend upon the standings and the balance of the schedule.
"Copley gives us the ability to win the lowest-scoring close games. When we beat Wilkes-Barre 2-1 (in Copley's first home start), that was the first time we won a 2-1 game all season, and their goalie, (Tristan) Jarry, was unbelievable. To compete in our division, we have to have solid goaltending, because when you start looking at the goalies, you see they’ve got Jarry and Casey DeSmith, who I think is also a number one with Wilkes, you’ve got Zane (McIntyre) and (Malcolm) Subban in Providence, Jaroslav Halak in Bridgeport, and (Anthony) Stolarz and Lyon in Lehigh. Those are pretty tough goal-tending match-ups for us. We play most of our games against our division, so now I think we have a very good tandem against most of those teams, and we are going to need that down the stretch.”
Mann continued, "He’s definitely going to play the majority of the games. Obviously in the three-in-three ticket, it’s very difficult to play the same goalie in all three of the games, and it’s not really the smart thing to do either,” said Mann. "Vanecek had a very good season as a first-year player that was 20 years old when the season started. He’s had a good year, and the comparison for me is Alex Lyon in Lehigh. He’s had a really solid rookie year. He’ll get some starts down the stretch here, certainly with the three-in-three. As a coaching staff, we haven’t really talked about the weeks when we don’t play three-in-three quite yet. I think it’ll all depend where we are in the standings."
As for Copley himself, asked minutes after the final buzzer of his return to Giant Center, how he looks at his current situation with the Bears, where he is unquestionably going to be the number one guy the rest of the season, and is being counted on to backstop the club to the post-season, as opposed to when he was last in Chocolatetown when he was in more of a supporting role, with limited expectations, which he ultimately surpassed.
"I’m just trying to give the guys a chance to win every time I get the nod, and I try not to think about games played or being the number one goalie. I just try to go in there and work hard and give them a chance to win."
By John Sparenberg
As the calendar year of 2016 closed out, the Hershey Bears seemingly had little to worry about in securing a spot in the 2017 Calder Cup Playoffs. Entering their New Year's Eve outing at Giant Center against the Providence Bruins, the Bears sported a spiffy 18-6-5-2 after collecting points in eight of their previous ten outings, scoring 40 goals in the process, while their goaltending duo of veteran Joe Cannata, and rookie Vitek Vanecek, allowed a very respectable 26 goals against during that ten-game span.
But the Bruins bested Vanecek and the Bears in that outing, 4-1, and that started a disturbing ten-game spiral. Including the Providence game, and during the ensuing nine contests, the Bears’ offense sputtered as they registered but 24 lamp lightings, but more concerning were the struggles of the goaltenders, who combined to be beaten 47 times in the span..
Cannata, whose save percentage was never spectacular all season long, but whose win total was inflated by an abundance of offense during most of his earlier starts, started to stop making the big saves when the club needed them most, and Vanecek, who had pretty much battled Cannata for the number one goaltending slot up until this point, started to finally experience the typical rookie struggles that were to be expected of him as he grew up in the league. All totaled, the Bears managed just one regulation win during the ten tilts and suffered six regulation losses, including a combined five costly setbacks at the hands of division foes.
With the Bears fortunes having seen their seeding in the standings head south, and their record in their last ten one-goal outings in January and February resulting in just two regulation victories in the close encounters, the winds of change began blowing with a light breeze from the South. This resulted in journeyman netminder Parker Milner, who was having an outstanding season with the Bears' ECHL affiliate, the South Carolina Stingrays, being summoned to Hershey as the organization attempted to alleviate the goaltending ailments from within. But after a strong start that saw Milner allow a combined six goals in his first three starts, all wins, he allowed five goals in his next two outings, a relief stint that saw him allow only one goal, but one that turned out to be the game winner, and an abbreviated start that saw him allow 4 goals in 21 minutes of action in a game the Bears eventually dropped 4-3.
So with the search renewed for a reliable netminder who could be counted on to come through and make the big save in the pivotal remaining games in this season, the light breeze became a prevailing wind, emanating from the westerly direction, specifically the "Windy City,” and the "Gateway to the West" as the Bears/Capitals reacquired former Bear, Pheonix Copley, who was playing for the Chicago Wolves and was property of the St. Louis Blues at the trading deadline.
Bears' head coach, Troy Mann, who has to be elated that the Caps answered the signs of distress from his club down on the farm as far as their goaltending situation was concerned, said he has "no inputs in trades, the organization takes care of that.”
"There’s no doubt that the communication has been wide open with the Caps. They were trying to upgrade their #3 hole, not only for us to compete in our division, but also in case of injury up top. They were talking to four or five teams, I believe, trying to get an upgrade at that position. Just happened that St. Louis was one of those teams, and that’s where he came from. As far as my input, certainly no, but I knew they were trying to upgrade the position.”
Copley, 25, is a native of North Pole, Alaska, but was born in Fairbanks for a very good reason-- there were no hospitals in North Pole, which is just outside of Fairbanks. He began his career with the Bears in the 2014-2015 season, which was also Mann's first season behind the Bears' bench as their head coach. During his strong rookie campaign in which he appeared in 26 games, probably a few more than he was intended to, he accumulated 17 victories, including posting three shutouts, and was first in the league among rookie goaltenders in save percentage and goals against average while helping the Bears to a first place finish in the East Division.
"We had Philip Grubauer that year, too, and we wanted to manage Copley’s game. We wanted to manage him and wanted him to work with Scott Murray (Hershey’s goaltending coach) as much as he could. We were going to pick his games strategically in terms of who he was going to play against, and we were able to do that for the most part. Grubauer had spent some time up in Washington, especially the second half, when they didn’t have quite the confidence in Justin Peters."
Mann continued, "So, Copley started to get a lot more game action in that second half, and he even started in the first two games of the playoffs against Worcester. We certainly had a plan of attack when the season started in October in terms of how we were going to handle him, but things ultimately changed. We were trying to do that same thing with Vanecek this year, but it just didn’t work out that way in terms of being able to manage his games the way we had hoped prior to when the season started."
During his two seasons away from the Bears, Copley primarily patrolled the pipes for the Blues' top affiliate the Chicago Wolves, but made two appearances with the Blues, including his NHL debut, a period-plus relief effort against the Nashville Predators on February 27, 2016.
The Wolves, who were the Bears' opponents in the first ever playoff game contested at Giant Center during the 2003 Calder Cup Playoffs, have had a strong Hershey flavor in their front office for years with Wendell Young, who backstopped the Bears to a perfect 12-0 post-season record when they captured the Calder Cup in 1988, continuing to serve as the clubs General Manager, and Gene Ubriaco, a Hershey legend, also continuing to serve in his longtime role as the teams Senior Advisor/Director of Hockey Operations.
However, this season that Hershey flavor became a little more intense; well, actually way more intense. when Craig Berube, who started his professional career with the Bears in the 1986-87 season, when he accumulated a career high 325 minutes in penalty minutes, which by today's standards is a career total for many players, but wasn't even enough to lead the AHL back in that era that season, took over behind the Wolves' bench as their head coach. Under Berube's watch, Copley compiled an impressive 15-6-3-1 record, which is impressive in itself, but a closer look into his numbers is even more impressive, as he allowed one goal or less in five outings, and two goals or less in 16 contests
In addition to his time spent "tending the twine" for the Wolves, Copley finally made his NHL starting debut against the Winnipeg Jets four days before his 25th birthday, and although it was in a losing effort in which he allowed five goals, he did make 24 saves, and three of his best came against former Bear Mathieu Perreault. He shouldered away a slapshot by "Perry" in the first period, used every inch of his 6'4” torso to fully extend his left pad and deny Perreault from the doorstep in the second period, and finished up the game in fine form by making a late third period glittering glove save on Perreault, who was captured on video looking into the rafters in disbelief after being denied.
"It was unfortunate we didn’t get the win, but St. Louis gave me good opportunities there, and it was a dream come true to get a start in the NHL. I’m going to build off of that and work for the next one."
As good as he has been in his AHL career, Copley has given up his shares of goals against and has the occasional bad game, but those are occupational hazards for any 'keeper, regardless of their abilities, but to his credit, he has honed his ability to put the last goal quickly behind him, at least until the next video session, and focus on preventing the next puck he sees in the game lighting the red lamp behind him.
“When you give up a goal, you really don’t want to think about it. You have to have a short memory, and realize it happened, but forget about it for the rest of the game. After the games can see what happened and see what you may have done differently and what you can improve on and you can work on that in practice. But in the heat of the game, you again have to have that short memory and move past the goals right away.”
Since coming back to the Bears, Copley has for the most part, been predictably stellar. He allowed only a single goal against in his return to the lineup in Syracuse, but, did not finish the game, leaving in the third period after going down awkwardly, apparently injured, and then being helped off the ice. That scene undoubtedly caused a lot of angst for both the Bears' organization as well as their fans, but thankfully, it turned out to not be an injury, but something that was easily explained and subsequently remedied.
"It was just a little dehydration, probably due to I think, all the travel lately. I just needed to make sure I was eating and drinking a lot of fluids. After the game that night, I just made sure I started eating fruit and veggies and regrouped."
After the Syracuse game, Copley and his new teammates boarded the team bus and travelled through the night, arriving back in Hershey in the wee hours of the morning, with a date with their bitter rivals the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on the schedule later that night. There was suspense in the air, with the question being would Copley be well enough to play in his return to Giant Center, and that question was answered with a resound yes. Copley not only played, but played exceptionally well, limiting the visitors to only a goal as the Bears triumphed 2-1 in a game that had the feel of a playoff game, which it essentially what it was for the Bears in their pursuit of a playoff spot.
"I had no doubt,” said Copley, as to whether he had any that he would not play. "The support these fans give us every night is unbelievable. I’m glad to be back here, and to win tonight made it even sweeter.”
Heading down the stretch there is little room for error, and a one-goal game whether it be a win or a loss, could have a profound effect on whether or not the Bears make the post-season. Copley will undoubtedly carry the bulk of the workload, but it's important for Mann and his staff not to overwork him, and that is going to be a delicate balance that will depend upon the standings and the balance of the schedule.
"Copley gives us the ability to win the lowest-scoring close games. When we beat Wilkes-Barre 2-1 (in Copley's first home start), that was the first time we won a 2-1 game all season, and their goalie, (Tristan) Jarry, was unbelievable. To compete in our division, we have to have solid goaltending, because when you start looking at the goalies, you see they’ve got Jarry and Casey DeSmith, who I think is also a number one with Wilkes, you’ve got Zane (McIntyre) and (Malcolm) Subban in Providence, Jaroslav Halak in Bridgeport, and (Anthony) Stolarz and Lyon in Lehigh. Those are pretty tough goal-tending match-ups for us. We play most of our games against our division, so now I think we have a very good tandem against most of those teams, and we are going to need that down the stretch.”
Mann continued, "He’s definitely going to play the majority of the games. Obviously in the three-in-three ticket, it’s very difficult to play the same goalie in all three of the games, and it’s not really the smart thing to do either,” said Mann. "Vanecek had a very good season as a first-year player that was 20 years old when the season started. He’s had a good year, and the comparison for me is Alex Lyon in Lehigh. He’s had a really solid rookie year. He’ll get some starts down the stretch here, certainly with the three-in-three. As a coaching staff, we haven’t really talked about the weeks when we don’t play three-in-three quite yet. I think it’ll all depend where we are in the standings."
As for Copley himself, asked minutes after the final buzzer of his return to Giant Center, how he looks at his current situation with the Bears, where he is unquestionably going to be the number one guy the rest of the season, and is being counted on to backstop the club to the post-season, as opposed to when he was last in Chocolatetown when he was in more of a supporting role, with limited expectations, which he ultimately surpassed.
"I’m just trying to give the guys a chance to win every time I get the nod, and I try not to think about games played or being the number one goalie. I just try to go in there and work hard and give them a chance to win."
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Boyd Keeps Bringing It Every Night
By; John Sparenberg
In the corporate world as an employee, it is vitally important to meet the expectations set out by your bosses. Doing so will not only strengthen your current job security, but will also ensure the possibility of moving up the organizational ladder in the future.
In the hockey world, it’s much the same. If you are Travis Boyd, the Hershey Bears’ sensational centerman who last year surpassed what was expected of him by his immediate supervisor, Bears’ bench boss Troy Mann, your future in the organization, in this case the Washington Capitals, is boundless.
“You just never know what these young kids are going to bring to the table,” said Mann of Boyd, a 6th round pick of the Caps in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. “He was a later round pick, and when you’re putting together a lineup during the summer and knowing who’s turning pro, you’re not sure. Can he be a fourth line guy, can he be a fill-in to start the year? Does he have to start the year in the ECHL? Those are all questions you ask. He got better and better as the year went on, and at the end of the day, he was probably our number one center down the stretch and in the playoffs. He certainly exceeded my and the organization’s expectations.”
Before coming to the Bears last season, Boyd played four seasons at the University of Minnesota where he was a business and marketing education major. He missed only seven games, all in succession, as the result of a broken foot in his final three seasons with the Golden Gophers.
“Being in the lineup every night is something I definitely take pride in. It’s just part of being a professional, making sure you’re ready for each game and making sure you perform to the best of your capabilities. Whether you’re 80% or 100%, you still have to find a way to go out there and give all you’ve got to help the team get a win,” said Boyd at the all-star break last season.
While it’s anybody’s guess as to what the expectations of Mann and the Capitals actually were going into last season, if one had to guess, it’s a safe bet that one of them was that he would be in the lineup every night. Boyd didn’t disappoint. He appeared in all 97 Bears’ games last season, and was the only player on the club to accomplish that impressive feat in spite of one particular, painful period in which anyone other than a hockey player probably would have taken a day or more off from their job.
“The toughest thing was when I broke my jaw in a Thursday morning practice, and we had a game Friday night in Rochester. I ended up getting a lot of dental work done, and then I hopped on a flight Friday morning and ended up playing three straight games on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. That was definitely the time where it was the most questionable that I’d be in the lineup. Sometimes, you get into the dog days of the season in January and February where it’s tough getting up for practices and games, but at the end of the day, it’s your job and that’s how to be a good pro,” said Boyd.
Watching Boyd perform and perfect his craft over the last three seasons-- two at the University of Minnesota and last year in Chocolatetown--one word comes to mind more than any other, and that is consistency, with the stats doing the talking for the 23-year-old native of Edina, Minnesota.
In his final two seasons with the Golden Gophers, Boyd was a point-per-game player; in fact he was precisely a point-per-game performer. He posted 73 points on 28 goals and 45 assists in 73 outings, and that offensive output didn’t come at the expense of his defensive game, as he posted those solid numbers while also managing to stay on the plus side of the ledger in the plus/minus category.
Last season with the Bears, despite the transition and “weighty” challenge of going from the college game where the game schedule is much lighter, and the players are as well, to the pro game, where the schedule and players are much heavier, the consistency continued for the 5’11” 191 -pound Boyd.
“There are so many big, strong, experienced men in the American League, which is obviously a big and drastic difference from the guys you play against in college,” Boyd said at the Capitals’ Development Camp in July.
He led the club’s rookies in game-winning goals, finished second in assists to only Chris Bourque, the league’s leading scorer and Most Valuable Player, tied for second along with fellow rookie Riley Barber in power-play goals and power-play assists, finished behind only Bourque and Barber in goals, and finished on the plus side with a plus-6 rating in addition to winning the Kenny Smith Memorial Award for most “Player of the Game” nominations.
In addition to the consistency, there were some “streaky stretches”, but they were all good streaks. There was one three-game-goal scoring streak, a stretch of 24 games in the second half of the season where he registered at least a point in 19 of those contests and collected 25 points during the run on 13 goals and 12 helpers. Again, all of this offensive output was not put up at the expense of his defense, as evidenced by the fact that he finished the season with a plus-6 rating, and was a season “high” minus-2 on only two occasions, but finished with a plus or even rating in 58 games.
Establishing a new career high in goals (21), assists (32), and points (53), last season, eclipsing his previous high of 19, 22, and 41 in the respective categories while a Gopher, Boyd funneled most of his offensive wrath toward the Phantoms, the Bears’ Keystone State neighbors. Against the Phantoms, the club he played his first professional game against and scored his first professional goal against at the end of the 2104-15 season, he found his name on the scoresheet in 10-of-12 contests, notching eight goals, including his first professional hat trick, and six assists.
The onset of the 2016 playoffs meant that Boyd, as well as a host of his fellow rookie teammates, would be experiencing playoff hockey for the first time in their careers. As anyone who has ever witnessed professional playoff hockey, whether a fan, media member, or player can surely attest that the post-season intensity and physicality is unlike any other sport with the physical and mental toll that the players endure.
In the regular season, a mistake may lead to a conversation with the coach, possibly a benching for a shift or two, or in extreme cases a seat in the press box for a spell, and then you shake it off and move on in the schedule. In the playoffs, with the weak links or eliminated teams already on the golf course and the pressure rising to a new high, each shift carries the potential of your club gaining momentum if it’s a positive one, or changing the tide of the series if it’s a bad one.
“For a lot of those guys (rookies), it was eye-opening, the caliber of play in the playoffs and how it’s not easy to score,” said Mann recently.
In the playoffs, Boyd found out firsthand just how true his coach’s words were as he was able to find the back of the net twice in 21 games, but both of his goals proved to be big ones.
The Portland Pirates, against whom he scored his first point of the regular season by assisting on a Barber goal, were first up on the Bears’ playoff docket. In the series opener, despite Boyd’s two assists, the Bears suffered their first setback of the postseason. The Bears prevailed in game two in Portland, but when the series shifted back to Giant Center for game three, they suffered a devastating defeat in triple overtime and faced elimination in game four. Midway through the first period in game four, Boyd struck for his first professional playoff goal, and the marker proved to be the game-winning goal as the Bears staved off elimination and eventually plundered the Pirates to move on.
Next up for the Bears was their bitter I-81 rivals, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, who were the unfortunate victims of Boyd’s first professional game-winning goal in the regular season. After being held off the scoresheet in the first four games of the series, Boyd collected an assist in each of the next two games, and the series was tied at three, with a pivotal game seven set for Giant Center.
In game seven, a victor could not be established after sixty minutes of play, and the teams headed into overtime locked in a 2-2 stalemate.
Midway through the first overtime, the baby Pens were reeling after a couple of consecutive icing calls during which they were forbidden to make any changes to the personnel they had on the ice. The Bears were presented a faceoff in the WBS defensive zone, with Boyd taking, and winning the draw against the veteran Dustin Jeffrey.
After Boyd’s win in the dot, each of the other four Bears on the ice, forwards Dustin Gazley and Liam O’Brien, and defensemen Madison Bowen and Ryan Stanton, each touched the puck before Boyd gathered in a pass from O’Brien in the far corner, to the left of WBS goalie, Casey DeSmith. Once again, Boyd outdueled Jeffrey and escaped his attempted check with a quick spin move, after which he proceeded behind the WBS net, ultimately finding himself with the puck still in his possession to right of DeSmith along the goal line.
Now faced with the options of cycling the puck back behind the net to a teammate, sending a pass back to Bowey at the point, or launching a shot on net from the bottom of the faceoff circle, Boyd selected option “C” and sailed a shot over the left shoulder of DeSmith, sending the Giant Center crowd into a celebratory frenzy and forever etching his name into the history books as one of the few players in the Bears’ storied history to score the game-winning goal in a series finale in overtime fashion.
“He has a lot of composure with the puck, and he gained a lot of confidence in his ability to make plays during the season. I think that was one of his strengths, to not only find people, but to make the right decision at the right time in terms of using a linemate to make a play or do it himself to take the opportunity to score,” said Man. “He became a very good player beating guys one on one in the corner, and that goal exemplified that ability, beating a great player out of the corner, and having the poise to make the decision to throw it on net.”
Speaking at the Caps’ Development Camp nearly two months after the goal, Boyd still lit up like the goal light that signified his historic goal.
“It still brings a smile to my face, and I still have the memory pretty fresh in my mind. It’s the biggest goal I scored all season, and probably the biggest goal I’ve ever scored. It was so surreal to score a series-winning goal, especially in overtime in Game Seven.”
In the world of hockey, last year’s memories, whether they be dim, or as in Boyd’s case, bright, are just that--memories, and a new season brings new challenges. Mann, who has seen his share of rookies shine over the many years he has been involved in the game, first as a player and now as a coach, has a keen understanding on what his young charge needs to do to reach the goal of both himself and the organization, regular employment in the National Hockey League, and a couple of the words he uses are “C” words--consistency and confidence--two words that fit Boyd to a capital-T.
“I think like any young player, it’s consistency he needs, playing at both ends of the rink, making smart puck decisions and puck management. Sometimes when they come off a successful rookie season, they come in with a lot of confidence and believe they can do more. Sometimes less is more. You just have to stay composed in terms of the game and not try to overdo it in terms of puck handling and maybe trying to make the extra play. You still have to play the right way. We want players like him coming off their rookie season, to have confidence in their ability to perform at the AHL level, but we also want them to play the right way because they still have room to improve in a lot of areas if they want to ultimately get to Washington.”
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Another Banner Year for Helmer
Hershey Bears captain, Bryan Helmer, may never see his name and number hanging from the rafters of Giant Center like Mike Nykoluk and Ralph Keller, each of whom captained the Bears to a Calder Cup Championship; but in his two year tenure at the helm, Helmer has accomplished something that neither of them will ever accomplish: leading his club to back-to-back titles.With a strong cast from the 2009 Cup winning team returning for the 2009-10 season, the Bears were heavily favored to repeat, but Helmer said that he did not feel the heat to repeat, thanks to the returning players, and specifically to a player returning after a three-year absence, Boyd Kane.
“I didn’t feel the pressure at all," said Helmer. “When you bring in a guy like Kane, who is a proven winner, that obviously helps a whole bunch. Keith (Aucoin), Chris Bourque and Andrew Joudrey were all big helps too, because they are all good leaders in the dressing room. We had so many guys that stepped up as leaders and it made my job really easy.”
From the podium at Giant Center last week during Hershey’s championship celebration, Helmer also took the time to publicly thank some of his other helpers, the faithful fans who pack Giant Center every night, and who set another attendance record this
past season.
“One thing that we said all along every game is, ‘let’s do it for our fans’. Every single time we said that because you guys are unbelievable. Give yourselves a hand.”
Although he is the ultimate “team” player during the season, it didn’t take him long to snap into “selfish” mode after thanking the fans, repeating last year’s public lobbying to Bears President/GM Doug Yingst for another contract.
“Two years ago, Doug, I’m so glad you signed me," said Helmer. "I’m glad you signed me last year and I’d like to play here for one more year.”
The young-at-heart Helmer, who just completed his 17th professional season in fine fashion, finished the campaign with a +/- rating of +12, second in the league, but also finished the season with the warning light illuminated on his gas gauge.
“It’s funny, I was talking to Manner (Bears assistant coach, Troy Mann) on the bench there towards the end of the game of the game six. I told him I was very tired. I probably would have had enough energy left to play one more game, but I’m glad we got it over when we did.”
As a result of being involved in pro hockey for nearly two decades, Helmer has seen many changes on-ice with the advent of new equipment. Those changes also apply off of the ice, with new training methods always being sought by players looking to stay “a step ahead”, even those who will soon to be 38 years of age, like Helmer who will soon start training for what he hopes will be his 18th season in the pro ranks.
“When I was younger, I used to a lot of heavy lifting, and now I’m just trying to do a lot of quick feet stuff and keep myself going. I think as you get older, you tend to lose a step here and there, and I’m just trying to maintain it," he said. "I’ve been doing a skating treadmill for the past few years, and it’s helped me out a lot and I’ll do it again this summer.”
Retirement is in the not-too-distant future for Helmer, but if he has his way, he would like to postpone that thought for at least another year and pursue chance to attain a “three-peat” in the best city in the American Hockey League.
“It kinda hard to top that (back-to-back titles); maybe I should retire while I’m on top," joked Helmer. "But seriously, I’d love to play one more year and finish my career here. It’s a great hockey town. I’ve got some individual goals I’d like to reach and I’d love to have a chance to make it three in a row.”
**Photo courtesy of JUSTSPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY**
Monday, June 6, 2016
Questions As The Hershey Bears Take To The Road In Their Quest For The Calder Cup
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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