The Bears ‘tackle’ their way past Rochester for a 4-2 victory.
By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA / Pickinsplinters.com
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — After making it look so easy to score goals in the opening game of the Calder Cup Eastern Conference finals, the Rochester Americans suddenly find themselves trailing the best-of-seven series.
That’s because goals have suddenly become very difficult to produce.
The Hershey Bears opened a 2-0 lead in the first 26 minutes on Saturday night and then used what Seth Appert thought was a style more suited for the National Football League to prevent an Amerks rally, winning 4-2 at sold-out Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial.
Two nights after shutting out the Amerks 2-0 in Game 2, Bears goalie Hunter Shepard was again sharp. He made 31 saves as Hershey took a 2-1 series lead in front of 10,746 fans.
This is, by the way, the same Hunter Shepard who allowed four goals on 16 shots in Game 1 and watched the final 33 minutes from the bench.
But Bears coach Todd Nelson said he wasn’t worried about how his goalie would react after the 5-1 loss in Game 1.
“He’s been spectacular for us all year,” Nelson said. “The way he rebounded is indicative of a person who is committed and focused.”
Logan Day, Sam Anas, Connor McMichael and Allaksei Protas scored for the Bears, who built 2-0 and 3-1 leads. Zach Metsa and Sean Malone scored for the Amerks, who outshot Hershey 33-25.
But the Amerks haven’t been able to use their speed as effectively as they had against in earlier rounds against Syracuse and Toronto, or as they did in Game 1 against Hershey. The Bears have made sure of that by tweaking what they do offensively and defensively.
“That’s why it’s fun coaching in the playoffs,” said Nelson, who played defense for the Amerks in 2000-01. “Both coaches are looking at ways to expose the other team.”
The Amerks found a way to do so to the Bears in Game 1 with their speed, taking advantage of wide gaps between forwards and defensemen to stretch the ice and put defenders in vulnerable positions.
“Their transition game is exceptional and their speed caught us a little by surprise,” Nelson admitted. “We knew they played fast, but we didn’t expect that.”
So Hershey adjusted, dialing back on the zealousness on the forecheck to make sure they always have adequate numbers ready to retreat to slow Rochester’s transition game through the neutral zone.
“The last two games they’ve been committed to being above us with numbers, probably forechecking less aggressively to stay above,” Appert said, “and when they have that many numbers above, you have to be willing to drive it deep or chip it deep and go retrieve it.”
Thus, it’s now the Amerks’ turn to alter the way in which they enter the zone and create offense, because speedsters like Jiri Kulich, Isak Rosen and Linus Weissbach are finding far less open space.
“That is a bit of the chess match,” Appert said. “We’ve done that every game of the playoffs and our guys have done a really good job of being able to make those adjustments. Now we need to make them without practice time, which is harder to do for younger players.”
It’s actually a style they’ll need to play if the referees continue to allow a more 1990s/early-2000s-style of defending by the Bears to continue.
“Unless the officiating changes in terms of what is being called, that is how we’re going to have to score,” Appert said. “That’s fine, we’ll score that way.
“With the way the game’s being officiated, you’ve got to score the way we scored because it’s tackle football out there, so you just have to get to the net and get screens, tips, rebounds.”
The Amerks first goal came on a Metsa wrist shot from the right point that hit Bears defenseman Dylan McIlrath as Rosen and Kohen Olischefski barged into the deep slot.
The second goal, by Malone, was created as Brendan Warren won a puck battle on the right-wing half wall and moved it behind the net to Michael Mersch. While still behind the net, he fired a shot into the pads of Shepard and the puck caromed to the right of the crease and Malone roofed a backhander.
“One thing about playing with Mersch is he’s predictable; you know he’s always going to get the puck to the net,” Malone said. “I was actually calling for a pass but he found a different way to get it to me.”
What hasn’t been predictable is the officiating. Appert clearly wasn’t pleased with the work of Justin Kea and Morgan MacPhee on Saturday. Each team had just two power plays when there seemed to be far more fouls committed.
The fans certainly thought so, starting “Ref you (aren’t good) chants” and even tossing empty bottles and other trash onto the ice.
Appert was asked about the slashing penalty assessed to Weissbach at 5:14 of the second period, which led to a power-play goal by Anas 22 seconds later for a 2-0 Hershey lead.
“I don’t know what a penalty is, so I can’t answer that,” he said.