Hershey Bears Head To Round Three: Round 2, Game Five Takeaways

This is the third year in a row that Hershey advances to the Atlantic Division Finals. This year they will be facing off against the Charlotte Checkers, starting with two games in Charlotte at Bojangles Coliseum. This series will also be a best-of-five series, with three games needing to be won to move on. With last night’s win against Lehigh Valley, it gave the Bears their ninth consecutive playoff win.

Playing Hershey’s Game

Hershey is known for playing a skilled game and being a tough opponent. With players like Spencer Smallman opening the scoring with his second goal of the playoffs, and Riley Sutter netting two goals in the elimination game to give his team a fighting chance, there is no shortage of talent and skill throughout the entire Capitals organization.

Disicipline

Teams that play with discipline in hockey, adhere to their coach’s system, play within the limits of the rules, and focus and control their own game, even when in difficult situations. Players need to have self-control, both on an off the ice, to manage the workload that comes with playing professional hockey. Discipline is not only crucial for the players, but for a cohesive team as well. Hershey has done just that throughout the years and has shown they can play cohesively and disciplined underneath the helm of Head Coach Todd Nelson.

Coach Nelson made changes for the final two games of the series, that paid off in the wins and stated in the Hershey Bears Press Conference on Sunday evening: "The changes paid off. But I thought the guys last couple games came ready to play. I want to give credit where credit is due: Lehigh’s a hell of a team. It was a hell of a series. Their guys never quit. They’re well-coached, they did a great job, and we consider ourselves a pretty good hockey team, but that was a battle- that was a war.”

Talent

Lehigh Valley has many things to be proud of from their team. Not only do they have the talent that are right on the bubble to make the NHL, but they have a physical team that doesn’t quit. It doesn’t matter where a team falls to in the standings during regular season, but how they battle back to earn a spot and how they play in playoffs. Lehigh plays with the intensity that is needed, but unfortunately fell short and was eliminated in the second round for the second year in a row.

- Samantha Wismer/Olde City Sports Network

- Photo Credit: Hershey Bears