Hershey Bears at Bridgeport Sound Tigers

WHAT: Games 1 and 2, Atlantic Division Semifinals (bestof-5)

WHEN: Friday/Saturday, 7 p.m.

WHERE: Webster Bank Arena, Bridgeport

SERIES: Best-of-5

WEBCAST: www.soundtigers.com

SEASON SERIES: The teams split six games.

LAST MEETING: Hershey won 2-1 in a shootout March 31 at Bridgeport, the only game beyond regulation in the series.

ABOUT THE BEARS: Hershey was 15-20-0-2 on the morning of Jan. 12. The Bears’ next regulation loss was Feb. 24 at Bridgeport. They went 28-5-4-2 over the last 39 games to finish one point behind Bridgeport . ... D Aaron Ness, the former Sound Tigers captain, was 5-50-55 to lead AHL defensemen in scoring and assists . ... Washington called up G Vitek Vanecek to serve as a third goalie in the playoffs . ... C Mike Sgarbossa led the team at 30-35-65 . ... LW Liam O’Brien is suspended for Game 1 . ... Former Yale LW Joe Snively is 2-5-7 in nine games.

ABOUT THE SOUND TIGERS: Bridgeport made the playoffs for the first time in three years and earned home-ice advantage in a playoff series for the first time since 2012 . ... The Sound Tigers are seeking their first playoff series win since 2003 . ... Likely G Christopher Gibson was 22-11-5 in the regular season with a .902 save percentage and 2.84 GAA. Since Dec. 22, those averages are .909 and 2.62 . ... LW Chris Bourque led the Sound Tigers at 15-39-54. He is Hershey’s all-time leader in playoff games (106) and points (86).

UP NEXT: Tuesday, Game 3 at Hershey, 7 p.m.