BY WARREN KOZIRESKI —
Hershey scored once on the power play and one even strength goal while hiolding Rochester 0-for-2 on the power play and scoreless for the second time in this year’s playoffs in a 2-0 victory to even their best-of-seven conference final series 1-1.
“They played a great game, so we need to make a few adjustments and play better in our own zone,” Rochester captain Michael Mersch said.
“I don’t think our D moved the puck fast enough tonight…but I think we probably created as many chances tonight as in game one, but Hunter Shepard was great tonight,” Rochester head coach Seth Appert said.
Hershey opened the scoring after a scoreless first period with a goal over the glove of goaltender Malcolm Subban at 16:35 and got an insurance tally in the final minute of the stanza.
Buffalo Sabres 2022 first round draft pick Matt Savoie made his professional debut playing on the fourth line on the wing with Brendan Warren and Kevin Olischefski.
“It was good to get my first game under my belt and get a little more comfortable out there,” Savoie said. “They did a good job keeping us out of their zone, but I was happy with the chemistry I had with my teammates going back to playing together a bit back in training camp.”
The series shifts to Rochester for games three and four Saturday and Monday. Saturday’s game is already a sellout, while Monday is a 6pm start.
