P-Bruins return home with series even at 1 win apiece

HERSHEY, Pa. — The Providence Bruins fell to Hershey Sunday night 3-2 as the Bears were able to tie Atlantic Division Finals at a game apiece. The PBruins got two goals from Wayne Simpson while Zane McIntyre earned the start between the pipes.

The Bears had a 10-4 shot advantage in the opening period, but the PBruins had the better scoring chance when Colton Hargrove hit the post after a Hershey turnover. That was as close as either side got to finding the back of the net as the teams headed to the first intermission scoreless. The Bears finally broke through at 5:01 of the second, as a blast from the left blue line by Madison Bowey found its way through everyone and in to give Hershey a 1-0 lead.

The period then became the Wayne Simpson show, as he took over to give eventually give Providence the lead. At 8:45, Linus Arnesson chipped the puck out of the corner to Danton Heinen up the left boards. The puck got out to Simpson who split two defenders and went forehand-backhand to beat Pheonix Copley and tie the game 11. Simpson struck again at 15:14 for his third goal of the playoffs and second of the night.

Heinen chipped the puck out to him up the left side and Simpson won the race to the puck. He went around the net and sent a shot on goal that Copley initially saved, but he put home his own rebound to send Providence to break up 2-1.

Providence held that lead much of the final period, but Christian Djoos spoiled the Bruin fun with 2:30 left in the third.

While on the power play, he ripped a slap shot from the top of the right circle for his second goal of the postseason and the teams headed to overtime tied 2-2.

The Bears rode the momentum they built in the third into the overtime, and 5:44 in they sealed their comeback win. Stanislav Galiev took the puck behind the net and sent a centering pass out to Travis Boyd between the hash marks. He ripped a one-timer by for the game winner and Hershey took game two by a 3-2 final.

McIntyre stopped 25 of 28 shots while Copley stopped 25 of 27. Providence was 0-3 on the power play and 2-3 on the penalty kill.

The best-of-seven series now moves to Providence for the next three games with game three coming Thursday night at 7:05 p.m.