Bruins, Bears all square after Hershey victory

Andrew Joudrey’s first career playoff goal broke a scoreless tie 3:21 into the third period and Michal Neuvirth made 25 saves as Hershey evened up the Eastern Conference finals with a 2-1 win over Providence in Game 2 at Giant Center on Sunday evening.

Alexandre Giroux extended his point-scoring streak to four games with his sixth goal of the postseason to help the Bears finally break through on Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask, who had stopped all 26 Hershey shots through two periods.

Joudrey had just six assists to show for his first 27 career playoff games before giving the Bears their first lead of the series. Giroux’s power-play marker came less than three minutes later and Neuvirth made it stand up, allowing only a Brad Marchand goal on a 6-on-4 Providence advantage inside the final minute of regulation.

Rask finished with 37 saves on the night.

With the series tied at 1-1, the teams head to Rhode Island for three contests next weekend, beginning with Game 3 on Friday night.



Eastern Conference Finals – Series “M” (best-of-7)
E1-Hershey Bears vs. A2-Providence Bruins
Game 1 – Sat., May 16 – Providence 3, HERSHEY 2
Game 2 – Sun., May 17 – HERSHEY 2, Providence 1
Game 3 – Fri., May 22 – Hershey at Providence, 7:05
Game 4 – Sun., May 24 – Hershey at Providence, 7:05
Game 5 – Mon., May 25 – Hershey at Providence, 4:05
*Game 6 – Wed., May 27 – Providence at Hershey, 7:00
*Game 7 – Thu., May 28 – Providence at Hershey, 7:00