GAME STORY 2023 Calder Cup Finals Game 7: Hershey - 3 at Coachella Valley - 2 (OT)

It was an instant-classic in Game 7 of the 2023 Calder Cup Finals Wednesday night as the Hershey Bears overcame a 2-0 deficit to the Coachella Valley Firebirds late in the second period before pulling out the miraculous comeback in overtime to secure the franchise's 12th championship.

Mike Vecchione played the role of hero, finishing off a play amidst a net-front scramble with 3:41 left in the first overtime period. Late in the second period, it was goals by Washington Capitals first rounders Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre that saw the Bears claw their way back into the contest.

Hunter Shepard stopped 45 of the 47 shots he faced in the win, claiming the Jack A Butterfield Trophy given annually to the most valuable player of the Calder Cup Playoffs. His save on a shorthanded breakaway attempt from Carsen Twarynski in the second period prevented Coachella Valley from taking a commanding 3-0 lead - one that likely would have had a different team hoisting the championship trophy.

Ryker Evans and Max McCormick tallied goals for the Firebirds early in the first and second periods, respectively, to get the home team off to a solid start, but it was ultimately not enough as Coachella Valley's inaugural season ends in heartbreak. Joey Daccord stopped 35 of 38 in the loss.

GAME RECAP

While the Bears got off to a hot start in Game 6, it was the Firebirds striking first in Game 7.

Andrew Poturalski wrapped a puck around the net and as he came out to the side of the net he spotted Evans creeping in from his left point position, sending a pass up to the top of the circle where Evans finished it off banking it off the post and in for his fifth goal of the playoffs to put Coachella Valley ahead 1-0 just 4:41 into the contest. Jesper Froden added a secondary assist on the play.

The Firebirds had the early edge in play, out-shooting Hershey 11-5 in the opening 15 minutes of the hockey game, but some sharp saves from Shepard kept it a one-goal game heading into the middle frame.

Entering the middle frame in a one-goal had to feel like a win to Hershey considering how things went in the opening 20 minutes, but Coachella Valley kept their foot on the gas and extended their lead to 2-0 on the opening shift of the second period.

Evans cleared a puck out of the defensive zone high up into the air and to the far blue line where Kole Lind picked it up and skated down the right wing, pulling up as McCormick went to the net from the left wing and sending a crisp pass for a quick shot from the Firebirds' captain that beat a sliding Shepard 24 seconds into the stanza.

Hershey had an early 2nd period power play, and a chance to make it a one-goal game, but the best chance during those two minutes was a Carsen Twarynski shorthanded breakaway chance that Shepard made a big right pad save.

But the Bears stuck with it.

They got some stellar saves from Shepard to keep it close, and made the most of their next power play opportunity when it came with just over seven minutes left before the second intermission.

After having trouble getting things set up in the opening half of the man advantage, the Bears' five-forward power play unit got things settled down and set up with Joe Snively eventually getting the puck to Mason Morelli at the net front before Morelli made a smart play to send it across the top of the crease to an open McMichael for a tap-in with 6:08 left in the period.

Just over three minutes later, it was Aliaksei Protas stealing an attempted clear out of the zone from Daccord and getting the puck to the right point for a big shot from Vincent Iorio that Lapierre was able to tip home to tie the game at 2-2 with 2:51 left in the middle frame.

Much as you would expect in a 2-2 game in Game 7 of the Finals, the intensity ramped up and play got hectic in the middle of the third period - with both teams searching for a cup-clinching goal.

The Bears had two glorious opportunities to break the tie in the third period on a pair of power plays, but credit Daccord and the Firebirds penalty killers for getting the job done.

The two teams played with pace in overtime with the Calder Cup on the line, as both teams had their chances in the overtime period before history was made with just under four minutes left in the fourth period.

Hershey got the puck to the net-front for a scramble in the crease, and it was Henrik Borgstrom sliding one across the top of the crease for Vecchione on a play similar to McMichael's goal in the second period. Vecchione slammed it home and threw off his helmet and gloves with excitement as he jumped into the cornerboards a Calder Cup champion.

Hershey Bears Lineup Notes

Hunter Shepard remained the starter in net for Game 7 despite being pulled early in the third period of Game 6 after allowing five goals on 22 shots. Zach Fucale, who already has a contract overseas secured for next season, served as the team's backup.

Same 12 forwards, and the same six defenseman for Hershey as they had in Game 6.

Bears Scratches: Garin Bjorklund, Clay Stevenson, Jake Massie, Shane Gersich, Alexander Suzdalev, Julian Napravnik, Bogdan Trineyev, Mike Sgarbossa, Benton Maass, Michael Kim, Ludwig Persson, Bobby Nardella, Henrik Rybinski and Matt Strome

Lines/Pairings:

Mike Vecchione - Henrik Borgstrom - Ethen Frank Joe Snively - Connor McMichael - Garrett Pilon Aliaksei Protas - Hendrix Lapierre - Sam Anas Beck Malenstyn - Riley Sutter - Mason Morelli

Aaron Ness - Logan Day Gabriel Carlsson - Dylan McIlrath Lucas Johansen - Vincent Iorio

Hunter Shepard - Zach Fucale

Coachella Valley Firebirds

Joey Daccord remained the starter in net for Game 7. Chris Driedger served as the Firebirds' backup goaltender.

One lineup change for the Firebirds, as Jeremy McKenna returned to the lineup in place of Austin Poganski up front.

Firebirds Scratches:

Lines/Pairings:

Max McCormick - Alex True - Kole Lind Cameron Hughes - Andrew Poturalski - Jesper Froden Tye Kartye - Ville Petman - John Hayden Carsen Twarynski - Shane Wright - Jeremy McKenna

Gustav Olofsson - Matt Tennyson Ryker Evans - Brogan Rafferty Eddie Wittchow - Jimmy Schuldt

Joey Daccord - Chris Driedger

GAME SUMMARY

1st Period

4:41: CV - Evans (5) - Poturalski, Froden 15:42: HER - (PP) Pilon, minor (high-sticking)

2nd Period

0:24: CV - McCormick (14) - Lind, Evans 5:20: CV - (PP) McKenna, minor (slashing) 12:42: CV - (PP) McCormick, minor (tripping) 13:52: HER - PPG McMichael (6) - Morelli, Snively 17:09: HER - Lapierre (3) - Iorio, Protas

3rd Period

1:20: CV - (PP) Froden, minor (high-sticking) 10:56: CV - (PP) Rafferty, minor (tripping)

Overtime

1:18: HER - (PP) Frank, minor (tripping) 16:19: HER - Vecchione (5) - Borgstrom, Frank

BOXSCORE

Hershey Bears 0 - 2 - 0 - 1 = 3 Coachella Valley 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 = 2

Shots

Hershey Bears 12 - 7 - 9 - 10  = 38 Coachella Valley 17 - 13 - 13 = 47

Goalies

HER: Hunter Shepard (45 saves - 47 shots) CV: Joey Daccord (35 saves - 38 shots)

Power Play

HER: 1-for-4 CV: 0-for-2

Penalty Kill

HER: 2-for-2 CV: 3-for-4