2024 Calder Cup Finals: Game 6, Coachella Valley - 4 at Hershey - 5 (OT) 6/24/24

HERSHEY, Pa. -  The Hershey Bears have done it again, capturing the franchise's 13th Calder Cup Championship Monday night after Matt Strome's tally 1:06 into overtime send a franchise record crowd of 11,013 fans at Giant Center into a frenzy.

The Coachella Valley Firebirds forced overtime after Cale Fleury's shot from center point found the back of the net with 2:55 left in regulation, but the Bears' fourth line stole the spotlight - highlighting Hershey's organizational depth as they helped the Bears to back-to-back championships.

Pierrick Dubé had a hat trick, while Hendrix Lapierre (goal, assist) and Alex Limoges (two assists) also had multi point nights in the win. Bears goalie Hunter Shepard stopped 17 of the 21 shots he faced.

Ryan Winterton tallied two goals, giving him six goals in the Calder Cup Finals, while Shane Wright and Cameron Hughes each recorded three assist performances in the Firebirds' season-ending loss. Chris Driedger stopped 17 of 22.

GAME STORY

The Bears had the home crowd behind them to start the game, but the Firebirds were able to get an early first period goal to take a 1-0 just 1:23 into the contest.

After some persistent work along the boards behind the Bears net from Wright and Hughes, Hughes was able to come away with the puck and feed it out in front for Winterton for a quick shot past Shepard to get the Firebirds on the board early.

Coachella Valley was unable to sustain much momentum from their opening goal, taking a penalty just over three minutes later - giving Hershey the game's first power play and a chance to even the game.

And that's exactly what the Bears did, buzzing from the start of the ensuing man advantage before eventually breaking through for a goal after a nice set-up from Lapierre.

After Joe Snively settled a puck down at the center point, he shuffled it to Lapierre inside the right-wing circle - with Lapierre sending a short but efficient pass to Dube atop the right-wing circle for a quick shot past Driedger to even the game at 1-1 with 14:09 remaining in the opening period.

The Bears seemed to take control after that power play, out-shooting the Firebirds by as much as an 8-3 count in the opening half of the period.

They were rewarded for their efforts in the final minute of the period, as Chase Priskie picked up a turnover at the right point and blasted one toward the net - getting an expert deflection from Lapierre to go past Driedger with 36 seconds left before the first intermission to give the Bears a 2-1 lead.

Credit due to Coachella Valley, who came out with purpose to begin the scond period - scoring an early period goal similar to the first frame when Studenic picked up a loose puck in the offensive zone with speed and took it to the net. Studenic beat Shepard to the far-side top corner to even the game back up at 2-2 just 1:51 into the middle frame.

From there, the Firebirds continued to stick with it and win puck battles - leading up to their go-ahead goal 7:59 into the middle frame on Winterton's second of the game.

The Hughes-Wright-Winterton trio continued to create offensive chances with regularity, as they kept a puck alive in the offensive zone for an extended shift on the attack - eventually leading to Winterton's rebound tally atop the Bears' crease.

Just as it appeared that Coachella Valley was gaining momentum, Hershey responded to tie the game back up with 6:08 left before the second intermission.

Alex Limoges went hard and heavy on a forecheck, separating the puck from a Firebirds' defender with a big hit behind the Coachella Valley net. That led to the Bears picking up possession of the puck in the offensive zone, with the biscuit quickly coming back to Limoges behind the net.

Limoges looked up and threaded the needle through four defenders into the slot for another quick shot from Dube that hit the back of the net for Dube's second of the game.

The intensity continued to build with every passing shift of the third period.

The Bears got an early power play chance in the period, and while they were unable to convert on the ensuing man advantage they took the lead moments later after another turnover picked up by Limoges ended up with a goal from Dube.

Limoges jumped in on the forecheck and pounced on a loose puck in the offensive zone, getting it to Dube in front of the net and Dube did the rest - going forehand to backhand and in to complete his hat trick with 11:04 left in regulation to give the Bears a 4-3 lead.

The Firebirds didn't quit, instead getting a game-tying goal with 2:55 left in regulation to force overtime.

After Driedger came up big on a mini-breakaway attempt from Lapierre at one end, Fleury got one to go in past Shepard from center point to even the game at 4-4.

Ultimately, Fleury's goal forced overtime - giving the Firebirds a chance to force a Game 7.

But it was the Bears' fourth line taking the spotlight on the second shift of overtime as Bogdan Trineyev and Riley Sutter combined to win a puck battle along the right wing wall just inside the Bears' offensive zone blue line.

Sutter eventually gained possession and sent it to the middle for Strome, who fired one off the post and in from between the circles to win Hershey the Calder Cup.

Coachella Valley Firebirds Lineup Notes

Chris Driedger got the start in net for Coachella Valley in Game 6 of the Calder Cup Finals Monday. Ales Stezka served as Driedger's backup.

Firebirds Scratches: Niklas Kokko, Peetro Seppala, Mitch Reinke, Jani Nyman, Ian McKinnon, Andrew Poturalski, Ty Nelson, Tucker Roberstson, Ville Petman and David Goyette

Lines/Pairings:

Max McCormick - Logan Morrison - Kole Lind Cameron Hughes - Shane Wright - Ryan Winterton Marian Studenic - Devin Shore - John Hayden Lleyton Roed - Luke Henman - Jacob Melanson

Gustav Olofsson - Cale Fleury Ryker Evans - Connor Carrick Jimmy Schuldt - Ville Ottavainen

Chris Driedger (Backup: Ales Stezka)

Hershey Bears Lineup Notes

Hunter Shepard got the start in net for Hershey Monday, while Clay Stevenson remained the Bears' backup goaltender.

It was the same lineup as the previous two games for Hershey in Game 6.

Bears Scratches: Garin Bjorklund, Mitch Gibson, Lucas Johansen (injured), Vincent Iorio (injured), Matthew Phillips, Tyson Empey, Ryan Hofer, Aaron Ness (injured), Dmitry Osipov, Kevin O'Neil, Jon McDonald (injured) and Garrett Roe (injured)

Lines/Pairings

Joe Snively - Hendrix Lapierre - Ethen Frank Alex Limoges - Jimmy Huntington - Pierrick Dube Ivan Miroschnichenko - Henrik Rybinski - Mike Vecchione Matt Strome - Riley Sutter - Bogdan Trineyev

Nicky Leivermann - Dylan McIlrath Jake Massie - Chase Priskie Hardy Haman Aktell - Logan Day

Hunter Shepard (Backup: Clay Stevenson)

GAME SUMMARY

1st Period

1:23: CV - Winterton (6) - Hughes, Wright 4:27: CV - (PP) Carrick, minor (interference) 5:51: HER - PPG Dube (5) - Lapierre, Snively 16:42: HER - (PP) Dube, minor (cross-checking) 19:24: HER - Lapierre (7) - Priskie 20:00: CV - Melanson, minor (cross-checking) 20:00: HER - Dube, minor (diving/embellishment)

2nd Period

1:51: CV - Studenic (4) - Shore, Schuldt 7:59: CV - Winterton (7) - Wright, Hughes 13:52: HER - Dube - Limoges, Huntington

3rd Period

5:39: CV - (PP) Hughes, minor (high-sticking) 8:56: HER - Dube (8) - Limoges 17:05: CV - Fleury (5) - Wright, Hughes

Overtime

1:06: HER - Strome (2) - Sutter, Trineyev

BOXSCORE

Coachella Valley  1 - 2 - 1 - 0 = 4 Hershey Bears   2 - 1 - 1 - 1 = 5

Shots

Coachella Valley  7 - 5 - 8 - 1 = 21 Hershey Bears   10 - 6 - 5 - 1 = 22

Goalies

CV: Chris Driedger (17 saves - 22 shots) HER: Hunter Shepard (17 saves - 21 shots)

Power Play

CV: 0-for-1 HER: 1-for-2

Penalty Kill

CV: 1-for-2 HER: 1-for-1