Atlantic Division Semifinal Game 1: Portland Pirates 6, Hershey Bears 4 (Portland leads 1-0) (4/22/16)

Box Score

(A1) Hershey at (A4) Portland

Cross Insurance Arena: Portland, ME

Goalies: Ellis (25-12-5, 2.38) vs. McKenna (33-17-5, 2.45)

1st Period
Scoring
6:11- POR Goal: Rau (1), Grimaldi
18:04- POR Goal: Schremp (1), MacKenzie & Knight
19:46- HER Goal: Stanton (1), C. Bourque

Penalties
9:58- POR Penalty: Knight for Boarding (2:00)
13:07- POR Penalty: MacKenzie for Tripping (2:00)
15:39- POR Penalty: Bench Minor for Too Many Men (Served by Schremp) (2:00)
18:18- POR Penalty: Brickley for Cross-Checking (2:00)
18:45- HER Penalty: Walker for Unsportsmanlike Conduct (2:00)
19:51- HER Penalty: Barber for High-Sticking (2:00)

2nd Period
Scoring
14:08- POR Goal: Olson (1), Flick & Regner
15:49- HER Goal: Vrana (1), Boyd & Djoos

Penalties
0:46- HER Penalty: Sill for Cross-Checking (2:00)
3:00- HER Penalty: Bowey for Hooking (2:00)

3rd Period
Scoring
3:12- POR Goal: Harper (1), Regner & Grimaldi
3:23- POR Goal: Schremp (2), Knight & Simpson
7:49- HER Goal: Lewington (1), Stephenson & C. Bourque
15:14- HER Goal: Lewington (2), Ness & Boyd
19:50- POR Goal (PPG): Harper (2), Rau & Grimaldi

Penalties
5:37- HER Penalty: Djoos for Slashing (2:00)
10:53- HER Penalty: C. Bourque for Roughing (2:00)
10:53- POR Penalty: Megan for Roughing (2:00)
19:05- HER Penalty: C. Bourque for Slashing (2:00)

Shots
HER: 8-9-15=32
POR: 11-12-9=32

Recap

That was almost an amazing comeback. However, this 2-3 format could become a scary situation depending on what happens in the next game. Portland dominated the 1st period, and even though they took penalties, their penalty kill was very strong. Dan Ellis could only do so much, and 6:11 into the game, the Pirates took the 1-0 lead. Kyle Rau scored his 1st of the playoffs, from Rocco Grimaldi. After a few power play chances that the Bears couldn't take advantage of, the Pirates would increase their lead to two. Rob Schremp scored his 1st of the playoffs, from Matt MacKenzie & Corban Knight. With 14 seconds left in the period, the Bears got one on the board. Ryan Stanton scored his 1st of the playoffs, from Chris Bourque. After the 1st, the Pirates had the 11-8 shot advantage.

The 2nd period was much more even than the 1st was. Hershey's penalty kill was strong in this game, and it showed in the beginning of the period. Later in the period, Portland would get that two-goal lead back. Brett Olson scored his 1st of the playoffs, from Rob Flick & Brent Regner. Less than two minutes later, the lead was back to one. Jakub Vrana scored his 1st of the playoffs, from Travis Boyd & Christian Djoos. After the 2nd, the Pirates had the 23-17 shot advantage.

The 3rd period would continue the trend of turnovers costing the Bears. 3:12 into the period, the Pirates made it a two-goal lead again. Shane Harper scored his 1st of the playoffs, from Brent Regner & Rocco Grimaldi (both 2nd assists of night). 11 seconds later, it was 5-2. Rob Schremp scored his 2nd of the night, from Corban Knight (2nd assist of night) & Wayne Simpson. The Bears would wake up a little bit after this goal, and at the 7:49 mark, they would make it 5-3. Tyler Lewington scored his 1st of the playoffs, from Chandler Stephenson & Chris Bourque (2nd assist of night). Later on in the period, the lead would only be one. Tyler Lewington scored once again, from Aaron Ness & Travis Boyd (2nd assist of night). They would have multiple chances after to tie it, but a penalty with 55 seconds left would lead to a power play goal for the Pirates to seal the win. Shane Harper scored his 2nd of the night, from Kyle Rau (2nd point of night) & Rocco Grimaldi (3rd assist of night). The shots would finish tied at 32.

Game Two: Tomorrow at Portland, 7:00