Bears roll over Monarchs for Game 1 win

Former Monarch Dave Steckel scored twice in the first period as Hershey raced out to an early lead and rolled to a 7-2 win over Manchester in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final on Saturday night.

Game 2 is Sunday evening back at the Giant Center.

Steckel’s two goals, including his third shorthanded marker of the postseason, sandwiched a goal by another former Monarch, Scott Barney, to help the Bears take a 3-0 lead by the 9:12 mark of the first period.

Kyle Wilson also scored a pair of goals, Tomas Fleischmann had three assists and Mike Green added a goal and an assist for Hershey, which improved to 25-7 in 32 playoff games over the last two postseasons.

Chris Bourque and Tyler Sloan each had two assists in the win, and Frederic Cassivi made 26 saves. Hershey was 3-for-6 on the power play, and is now 8-for-22 with the man advantage over its last three games.

Matt Moulson and Jeff Giuliano scored for the Monarchs. Jason LaBarbera allowed six goals on 33 shots before giving way to Barry Brust midway through the third period.

The seven goals were the most allowed in any game by Manchester since a 7-0 loss to Hartford in a first-round playoff contest on Apr. 23, 2006.

Attendance for Game 1 was 9,001.


Eastern Conference Final – Series "M" (best-of-7)
E1-Hershey Bears vs. A1-Manchester Monarchs

Game 1 – Sat., May 19 – HERSHEY 7, Manchester 2
Game 2 – Sun., May 20 – Manchester at Hershey, 6:00
Game 3 – Wed., May 23 – Hershey at Manchester, 7:05
Game 4 – Sat., May 26 – Hershey at Manchester, 7:35
*Game 5 – Sun., May 27 – Hershey at Manchester, 6:05
*Game 6 – Wed., May 30 – Manchester at Hershey, 7:00
*Game 7 – Thu., May 31 – Manchester at Hershey, 7:00

*if necessary… All times Eastern