Bruins advance with Game 7 win in Hershey

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Jordan Szwarz scored twice and the Providence Bruins made AHL history on Wednesday night, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals with a 4-2 win over Hershey in Game 7 at Giant Center.

Providence became the first AHL team ever to win four elimination games on the road in the same postseason.

Wayne Simpson scored what proved to be the game-winning goal and also had two assists in the contest to help the Bruins reach the conference finals for the first time since 2009. Danton Heinen and Alex Grant each recorded two assists and Zane McIntyre finished with 15 saves as Providence held the Bears under 20 shots on goal for the fourth time in the last five games.

Riley Barber and Chandler Stephenson scored and Vitek Vanecek turned aside 23 of 26 shots for Hershey, which fell short in its attempt to repeat as Eastern Conference champions.

Atlantic Division Finals – Series “I” (best-of-7)
A3-Hershey Bears vs. A4-Providence Bruins
Game 1 – Sat., May 6 – Providence 3, HERSHEY 1
Game 2 – Sun., May 7 – HERSHEY 3, Providence 2 (OT)
Game 3 – Thu., May 11 – Hershey 2, PROVIDENCE 1 (OT)
Game 4 – Fri., May 12 – PROVIDENCE 2, Hershey 1
Game 5 – Sun., May 14 – Hershey 3, PROVIDENCE 2 (OT)
Game 6 – Tue., May 16 – Providence 4, HERSHEY 2
Game 7 – Wed., May 17 – Providence 4, HERSHEY 2