Former Penguin Zach Sill recorded three points, including scoring the game-winning shorthanded goal early in the third period, to lift the Hershey Bears to a 5-3 win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in Game 5 of the Atlantic Division Finals on Wednesday night at Giant Center.
Game 6 will be Friday night in Wilkes-Barre (7:05 p.m. ET, AHL Live), with the Bears looking to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Bears got on the board first with 5:45 gone in the opening period, as Carter Camper corralled the puck behind the net and beat Tristan Jarry on a wraparound for his third goal of the postseason.
Jakub Vrana made it 2-0 with a power-play goal at 17:40 as the Bears struck during a two-man advantage. Sill took a pass from Camper entering the zone and found Vrana alone in front.
The Bears extended their lead to 3-0 with 9:05 elapsed in the second period, as Aaron Ness’s shot deflected off a throng of bodies in front and got past Jarry. Sean Collins was credited with his third goal of the postseason.
Wilkes-Barre got one back on the next shift, as captain Tom Kostopoulos followed up Jake Guentzel’s shot and banged home his fourth goal of the playoffs to cut the deficit to 3-1.
The Penguins made a goaltending change after their goal at 9:44, with Casey DeSmith replacing Jarry.
Wilkes-Barre then pulled to within 3-2 at 14:38 as Josh Archibald’s backhander hit off a Bears defender in front and fooled Justin Peters.
Tom Sestito silenced the Giant Center crowd at 3:53, tying the game at 3-3 off a feed from Teddy Blueger on an odd-man rush, but Sill put the Bears back in front for good just over two minutes later with a shorthanded breakaway goal, beating DeSmith (4-3) between the pads.
Ryan Bourque iced the victory with an empty-net goal at 18:59 of the third.
Peters (6-3) allowed more than two goals for just the second time this postseason but earned the win with 29 saves.
Atlantic Division Finals – Series “I” (best-of-7)
A1-Hershey Bears vs. A3-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Game 1 – Wed., May 4 – W-B/Scranton 4, HERSHEY 0
Game 2 – Fri., May 6 – HERSHEY 2, W-B/Scranton 0
Game 3 – Sat., May 7 – Hershey 5, W-B/SCRANTON 2
Game 4 – Mon., May 9 – W-B/SCRANTON 2, Hershey 1 (OT)
Game 5 – Wed., May 11 – HERSHEY 5, W-B/Scranton 3
Game 6 – Fri., May 13 – Hershey at W-B/Scranton, 7:05
*Game 7 – Sun., May 15 – W-B/Scranton at Hershey, 5:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern
