The good news? Hershey is back home. The bad? Bears must win three in a row vs. Checkers

The 2-time defending Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears discover themselves in an uncommon place.

Hershey nonetheless has home-ice benefit in its best-of-five Atlantic Division Finals collection with Charlotte, which resumes tonight at Large Heart. Opening face-off is at 7 p.m.

However the Checkers, winners of the primary two video games at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, are one victory away from ending the Bears’ three-peat bid.

Hershey’s offense is struggling.

The Bears have scored three objectives in two video games and managed simply 37 whole photographs in opposition to a Charlotte facet that has precipitated Todd Nelson’s crew issues with its skill to create constant stress.

Ought to Hershey win tonight, the 2 groups play once more Thursday night time at Large Heart. A Recreation 5? Saturday night time in Hershey.

The Bears’ 3-2 loss in Recreation 1 will be the one which obtained away. Hershey gave up a shorthanded objective late within the third interval in a 2-2 recreation. The Bears have allowed 4 shorthanded objectives in seven playoff video games.

“The results weren’t in our favor,” Nelson stated Tuesday of Hershey’s expertise in Charlotte.

“Two tight games, two really good teams that are evenly matched, going after each other. There were positives in each game.

“Once again, it was a heartbreaker giving up that third goal in the first game, when we go on the power play.”

Hershey ahead Alex Limoges leads the crew in postseason factors with six and ahead Bogdan Trineyev has a team-high 4 objectives.

Ten totally different Bears have scored within the playoffs. Hendrix Lapierre, who produced 22 factors in Hershey’s postseason run final season, doesn’t have a objective. He has three assists and is minus-2.

“There’s certain guys that can step up and play better,” Nelson stated.

“We’ve spoken with them, and they understand it, too. It’s not necessarily their fault, they’re trying. I can’t question their effort.”

As for the dearth of photographs vs. the Checkers after two video games, Nelson and veteran ahead Riley Sutter acknowledged it is a matter.

“I think we’re trying to make a perfect play and not having a shot-first mentality,” stated Sutter, who scored twice within the Bears’ 4-2 overcome Lehigh Valley in a must-win Recreation 5 at Large Heart.

“This time of year, you gotta take as many shots as you can. I don’t think we’ve really tested this goalie as much as we would have liked, so I think we definitely gotta get more shots going towards the goalie.”

“The thing is, last game I thought we passed up on shots,” Nelson stated.

“We’re trying to see the whites of the goalie’s eyes. We’re trying to put it back door or we’re trying to be maybe too cute instead of maybe putting the puck on net with a purpose; not necessarily score a goal but to create a rebound or create some chaos. That’s what they’re doing, and they’re doing a good job at it.”

ATLANTIC DIVISION FINALS

(Charlotte leads best-of-five collection 2-0)

Recreation 3, tonight: Charlotte at Hershey, Large Heart, 7 p.m.

*Recreation 4, Might 22: Charlotte at Hershey, Large Heart, 7 p.m.

*Recreation 5, Might 24: Charlotte at Hershey, Large Heart, 7 p.m.

*If vital