Oscar Lindberg had a goal and two assists to help the Hartford Wolf Pack pull even in their Eastern Conference semifinal series with a 3-1 victory over the Hershey Bears in Game 4, played at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass., on Monday night.
With the best-of-seven series tied at two games apiece, the teams return to Hershey for Game 5 on Wednesday. Game 6 will be Friday at the XL Center in Hartford.
The Wolf Pack took a 1-0 lead at 16:11 of the first period when Lindberg’s wrist shot from the top of the right circle was deflected home by Joey Crabb for his third goal of the series and third of the postseason. Chris Bourque drew his first of two assists on the night.
Hartford doubled its lead six seconds into its fifth power play of the evening, as Lindberg one-timed a pass from Bourque at the right dot and beat Philipp Grubauer for his first career AHL playoff goal at 8:45 of the second period.
Just over four minutes later, Lindberg sprung Ryan Haggerty on a partial breakaway with a long outlet pass and Haggerty snapped a low shot past the glove side of Grubauer, his first postseason goal.
Hershey began to tilt momentum in their favor when Grubauer denied Crabb on a penalty shot at 10:25 of the third period, and the Bears got on the board at 12:02 as Chandler Stephenson found Jon Landry with a back-door pass and Landry scored for his first career Calder Cup Playoff point.
But time ran out on Hershey, as Yann Danis and the Wolf Pack held on for the victory. Danis (5-4) made 10 of his 22 saves in the third period.
Grubauer (2-2) finished with 29 saves for Hershey.
Eastern Conference Semifinals – Series “J” (best-of-7)
2-Hershey Bears vs. 3-Hartford Wolf Pack
Game 1 – Wed., May 6 – Hartford 2, HERSHEY 1 (OT)
Game 2 – Fri., May 8 – HERSHEY 6, Hartford 4
Game 3 – Sun., May 10 – Hershey 2, HARTFORD 1
Game 4 – Mon., May 11 – HARTFORD 3, Hershey 1
Game 5 – Wed., May 13 – Hartford at Hershey, 7:00
Game 6 – Fri., May 15 – Hershey at Hartford, 7:00
*Game 7 – Sun., May 17 – Hartford at Hershey, 5:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern
