HERSHEY, PA — After a horror show in southern California, the Hershey Bears have officially made it a series against the Coachella Valley Firebirds. And they were led by their first-line players who have been mostly silent this postseason.
Mike Vecchione scored twice while fellow liney Ethen Frank chipped in another to give the Bears a huge 3-2 victory.
The Calder Cup Finals series is now tied at two games apiece. Game Four is on Saturday at Giant Center. Hershey is two wins away from their twelfth Calder Cup.
Mike Vecchione started the scoring in the first period with a power-play goal 4:27 into the period. Vecchione, in the bumper spot, found a loose puck and shoveled it past goaltender Joey Daccord to make it 1-0.
That one felt good 😤
🍎: Morelli & Snively pic.twitter.com/Afpo5DBVI1
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) June 15, 2023
His roar: epic.
*clears throat*
ROAR pic.twitter.com/orbgX1B1Ib
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) June 15, 2023
The Bears held the Firebirds to only one shot through the game’s first 10 minutes, but just like they did in Game Three, Coachella Valley answered back quickly. Austin Poganski took a beautiful pass from Shane Wright, the fourth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, to beat Hunter Shepard far-side to tie.
let’s go pogo!!! 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/74rGxuVZco
— x – Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) June 15, 2023
Mike Vecchione struck again early in the second period to give Hershey back the lead. The two tallies marked his first multi-goal game in the postseason and only his second multi-point performance.
Two goals in the playoffs before the Finals.
Two goals in the Finals.
Veccs is ROARING!🍎Day
🍏Borgstrom pic.twitter.com/9p0ygCAzmn— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) June 16, 2023
Ethen Frank followed that up with a beautiful bardown goal giving him goals in consecutive games. Literally no goaltender would have stopped this.
Goals in back-to-back games for Frankie!
🍎: Vecchione pic.twitter.com/zmUcDCWSUE
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) June 16, 2023
Frank had previous gone 11 consecutive games without scoring – his longest goal drought of the year – before finally breaking through in Game Three.
Coachella Valley forward Jesper Froden added a wraparound goal to make it 3-2, but Hershey, powered by several big blocks from Lucas Johansen and several big saves by goaltender Hunter Shepard, would hold onto the victory.
3-2 her leads pic.twitter.com/ZXV4nYeLtX
— x – Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) June 16, 2023
Tonight’s attendance was 10,687 – a sellout.
Chills. https://t.co/yAYS46DL12 pic.twitter.com/PwWWcKWAqD
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) June 16, 2023
Headline photo: Tori Hartman/Hershey Bears
