Alexandre Giroux ended a wild Game 5 with a goal 4:58 into overtime, giving Hershey a 7-6 victory over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and sending the Bears to the Eastern Conference Final for the second straight season.
Tomas Fleischmann tied a franchise playoff record with five points (1g, 4a) and Scott Barney had a hat trick plus an assist for Hershey, which will face either Manchester or Providence for the right to play for the Calder Cup.
The teams combined for nine power-play goals and two shorthanded tallies on the night. Giroux’s game-winner was his second overtime goal of the series, and the Bears’ third 5-on-3 power-play goal of Game 5.
Kyle Wilson and Dave Steckel also scored as Hershey wrapped up its sixth consecutive series triumph.
Marc-Antoine Pouliot had two goals and an assist and Micki DuPont recorded three assists for the Penguins, while Joe Jensen and Robert Nilsson chipped in with a goal and an assist each.
East Division Final – Series "J" (best-of-7)
E1-Hershey Bears vs. E2-W-B/Scranton Penguins || Preview
Game 1 – Wed., May 2 – HERSHEY 4, W-B/Scranton 3
Game 2 – Fri., May 4 – HERSHEY 4, W-B/Scranton 3 (2OT)
Game 3 – Sat., May 5 – Hershey 2, W-B/SCRANTON 0
Game 4 – Wed., May 9 – W-B/SCRANTON 3, Hershey 2 (OT)
Game 5 – Fri., May 11 – HERSHEY 7, W-B/Scranton 6 (OT)
