Going into the Calder cup finals both Hershey and Milwaukee came in not quite knowing the team that would be their last opponent. By looking at paper both teams seemed equal with both have a 12-3 post season record. The only familiarity with the team for the Bears fans would be their coach Claude Noel and defenseman Rick Berry who both spent time in Hershey jerseys.
In game one Milwaukee came out with firing with thirteen shots being fired at Cassivi. Freddy held strong by only letting two of those thirteen shots pass him and giving Milwaukee a 2-0 lead. This lead continued until the third period when Hershey finally found the back of the net with a shot right off the face off by Lawrence Nycholat getting his first post season goal at 16:54 in the third. This gave Hershey a bit of light for tying the game and forcing overtime. For the rest of those four minutes Hershey tested Milwaukee’s goalie Pekka Rinne by was unable to pass him again. For the first time in the playoffs Hershey was down in a series 1-0.
The following night was game two brought the Hershey that we all love back to the ice. Once again Nycholat started the night with a power play goal at 7:32 in the first, with assists going to Fleischmann and Green. By the end of the period Hershey had a 3-0 lead after a goal from Kane, and Beech. Entering with the lead Hershey was still not safe from Milwaukee’s firing power. Coming out ready to go Milwaukee scored a power play goal at just 0:49 into the second. Hershey then responded with a power play goal at 9:18 into the second by Fleischmann. Yet Milwaukee still didn’t give up and scored a power play goal to make it 4-2 entering into the third. In the third Milwaukee came as close as possible to tying it up with a goal 1:24 into the third making it 4-3. Hershey refused to sit on the one goal lead and responded at 5:41 into the third by a goal by Fleischmann, and later by Mink at 18:03, giving Hershey the win with a score of 6-3.
Returning home with the series tied at one game a piece, Hershey is just getting use to the game that Milwaukee plays and is responding accordingly. In game two Fleischmann had a phenomenal performance with two goals and two assist earning him the number one star of the game. Nycholat once again shined with a goal and two assists earning him the number two star of the game. Now the team returns home for a week off before game three due to graduations in the Giant Center to play a three game stint at home.
