Bourque, 26, is tied with Michel Harvey for No. 14 on Hershey's all-time points list (393). He ranks ninth in all-time Hershey assists (262).

A magical May for Chris Bourque that began with the birth of his son may be ending with a hockey return to his hometown.

Hershey BearsChris Bourque

The Washington Capitals traded the Hershey Bears winger, slated to
become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, to the Boston Bruins
Saturday in exchange for centerman Zach Hamill.

ON TWITTER: @timleone

Bourque is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Hamill, now a candidate for the Hershey Bears' 2012-13 roster, is a restricted free agent.

The Washington Capitals acquired centerman Zach Hamill from the Boston Bruins in exchange for left winger Chris Bourque, the Caps announced Saturday.

Hershey BearsChris Bourque

Bourque, the son of Bruins legend Ray Bourque, is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and wasn’t expected to re-sign with the Washington organization.

“The trade gives Boston the rights to negotiate a contract with him [before July 1],” Hershey Bears President-GM Doug Yingst said.

Hamill, now a candidate for Hershey’s 2012-13 roster, is a restricted free agent. Thus, Washington will have to make him a qualifying contract offer to retain his rights.

“We end up getting an asset out of it,” Yingst said.

“Chris left us know that he wanted to play in the National Hockey League. He wasn’t interested in coming back to the organization. He wants one more shot at the NHL. We wish him the best of luck. If it doesn’t work out, I’m sure we’ll try to negotiate in the future.”

The 23-year-old Hamill, a 5-11, 180-pounder, had eight goals and 13 assists in 41 games in 2011-12 with the Providence Bruins. Hamill, the eighth overall pick in the 2007 NHL entry draft, also had two assists in 16 games with Boston.

His best AHL season was in 2009-10 (14-30-44 in 75 games). He has played 20 career NHL games.

Bourque, 26, is tied with Michel Harvey for No. 14 on Hershey’s all-time points list (393). He ranks ninth in all-time Hershey assists (262).

Hamill produced a goal and two assists for the P-Bruins in the 2008-09 Eastern Conference finals against Hershey. The Bears won the series in five games en route to the Calder Cup.

“He’s a smart player, steady, plays both ends of the ice very well, defensively responsible,” Yingst said. “He’s more of a passer than a shooter.”

Hamill (276 games) will be an exempt veteran in 2012-13 (more than 260, less than 321). But, since Patrick McNeill (278) also is an exempt veteran, Hershey won’t necessarily have roster room to dress five additional veterans.

On Twitter: @timleone

Mark French, who has averaged 48 wins per season, is 37 wins from tying No. 4 John Paddock (181) on Hershey’s all-time list.

After a first-round playoff exit in 2011-12, the Hershey Bears headed into the offseason with question marks about their coaching staff and their affiliation with the Washington Capitals.

Both questions were answered on Wednesday.

Hershey BearsMark French

Along with an extension of the Washington affiliation, head coach Mark French and assistant coach Troy Mann will return for 2012-13, Bears President-GM Doug Yingst said.

The affiliation extension is locked in for next season and includes an option to continue it in 2013-14.

The 2012-13 season will be Hershey’s 75th anniversary AHL season. The Bears will host an outdoor game at Hersheypark Stadium and also play a game at Washington’s Verizon Center.

“It shows stability for us as we’re preparing for multiple events during the 75th anniversary season,” Yingst said. “The success that our coaches have had and the success of the affiliation, we’re hoping it moves right on towards a very successful 75th anniversary season.”

The highly successful Hershey-Washington affiliation, which began in 2005-06, produced Calder Cups in 2005-06, 2008-09 and 2009-10. The Bears also advanced to the Calder Cup finals in 2006-07.

“It’s been a relationship that’s served both parties very well,” French said.

French, who ranks No. 5 in all-time Hershey coaching wins (144) after three seasons, was head coach of the 2009-10 club, which also won an AHL-record 60 games during the regular season, and assistant coach of the 2008-09 club. Mann has served as his assistant the past three seasons.

“I think, to a degree, we’ve become a bit of a package deal,” French said. “It makes sense to keep it together. Speaking for me, I think we work very well together and we complement each other, and our friendship probably adds to that as well.

“I’m happy for myself and Troy. I think we’ve done a good job. I think we’ve been treated very well by Washington and by Hershey. There’s certainly no other place at the American League level that you’d want to coach.”

Hershey’s club-record run of six straight 40-plus-win seasons ended in 2011-12 (38 wins), and it was eliminated in the opening round of the Calder Cup playoffs by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. In 2010-11, the Charlotte Checkers eliminated Hershey in the first round.

“I think the body of work that Frenchy and I have done over the three years has been good,” Mann said.

“There’s certainly guys that are moving on and playing roles up there [in Washington].”

Nineteen players with Hershey ties played for the Caps in 2011-12.

French, who has averaged 48 wins per season, is 37 wins from tying No. 4 John Paddock (181) on Hershey’s all-time list.

“I think each team’s different,” French said. “I think you have to be flexible as a coach. But at the same time, as a coach, you certainly have certain things that you want to see and you want to stand for something.

“And that’s not going to change depending on the talent and the team you coach. I think flexibility is an important thing, especially coaching at this level.”

The Caps currently are searching for a new head coach to replace Dale Hunter. French said he didn’t know whether he and Mann would have to take a larger role at Washington’s July development camp should the head coaching position still be vacant at that time.

“I think it will be a very interesting development camp,” French said. “I think both myself and Troy are eager for it.”

NOTEBOOK

Graham Mink’s wife, Cristina, gave birth to a baby girl, Livia, on Wednesday.

Former Bears defenseman Danny Richmond signed to play with Pelicans in Finland next season, according to EliteProspects.com.

ON TWITTER: @timleone

News is rolling in fast here this week.  Just a few minutes after I wrote up the posts you saw about an hour ago, I saw that item #2 on the Bears offseason to-do list was crossed off.

Coaches Mark French and Troy Mann will be returning behind the bench in Hershey for 2012-13. 

I honestly thought the organization would try to better align their coaching strategies this offseason.  Apparently that wasn’t their biggest concern.  And considering how well recent Bear ‘graduates’ have played in the NHL, maybe it shouldn’t be.

Personally I am not thrilled with this move, but I am not really upset either.  It doesn’t shock me, that’s for sure. 

Considering that the past two springs have seen a bunch of injuries and call-ups, I am guessing that the organization wanted to give French and Mann a chance to see what they can do with a full roster at the key time.  It has been hard to put a consistent, balanced roster together the last two springs. 

And in all honesty, considering what happens in most sports, it is nice to see an organization remain patient with a set of coaches and not dismiss them at the first sign of trouble.

Item #1 on the Bears offseason to-do list has been crossed off.  I think we all expected this to happen, but everyone knows what happens when you assume.

The Capitals and Bears announced today that they have extended their affiliation agreement through the 2013-14 season.  This is good news for all parties involved I think.  With the teams close together it makes it easier on the players.  And there are obviously plenty of Caps fans in Hershey who enjoy seeing the ‘future’ Caps before they jump to the NHL.

As a fan watching the players move up it is special.  Watching Braden Holtby become the star of the playoffs was pretty cool.  (I wish he could have been that steady and superb here in Hershey as well…but that’s a post for a different time.)

Jay Beagle, Mathieu Perreault, John Carlson, Karl Alzner, Jeff Schultz, Brooks Laich, Michael Neuvirth, Cody Eakin, Dmitry Orlov, and (indirectly) Matt Hendricks…they all had playoff success in Hershey before having playoff success in Washington. 

And then there was Keith Aucoin.  He has spent the past 4 years in Hershey, scoring goals and assisting on tons more.  He is arguably one of the best players in the AHL every single year.  To see him get a legitimate look in the NHL and actually play meaningful minutes in meaningful playoff games…that was pretty awesome.  Everyone Bears fan who has seen him the last 4 years know that he can play and it’s great to see him get the chance to prove that he can do it on at the highest level.

As much as I wanted to see Coiner (and the rest of them that were eligible) return to Hershey for the Bears run, I was absolutely fine with seeing it not happen as well.  I was really hoping that Keith would have gotten his name on the Stanley Cup after putting in his dues in the AHL for so long.  It wasn’t meant to be…this year…but I am sure he wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Sorry, kind of went off in a different direction there.

The Caps/Bears affiliation has obviously been successful…7 years, 7 playoff appearances, 4 Calder Cup finals appearances, and 3 Calder Cups. 

Pretty sure ANY franchise in ANY sport would take that kind of success and run with it. 

The past couple of years has seen a lesser influx of talent within the Washington Capitals organization and more in the way of free agent signings.  This trend is not likely to end anytime soon.  Currently the Capitals organizational ranking when it comes to prospects is in the 25-30 range of the NHL.  Meaning they are one of the thinnest franchises in regards to prospect talent.

The nice thing about the affiliation is that the Caps don’t look at Hershey and say too bad.  They assist in signing players (Kyle Greentree, Alexandre Giroux, Jacob Micflikier, Brian Fahey, Dany Sabourin) that will help the Bears be a winning team. 

And it doesn’t appear that there is much ‘influence’ on the Bears on who to dress and who not to dress.  If there was then guys like Aucoin and Chris Bourque would see their minutes diminish in favor of players like Eakin or Garrett Mitchell. 

Overall it is a good affiliation that will no doubt continue to assist both teams toward their yearly goals of hoisting a championship trophy. 

After their game seven loss to the New York Rangers on May 12 in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, it is time for the Washington Capitals to hang up their hockey jerseys, store their goalie gloves and face what promises to be a tumultuous off-season.

Numerous players, including Alex Semin, Dennis Wideman, Mike Knuble, Tomas Vokoun, Jeff Halpern, and Keith Aucoin are unrestricted free agents.

Rumor has it that Semin is going to move on, as he should.

Wideman will likely be too expensive considering the Caps will likely have eight defenseman (including Tom Poti) on the roster heading into next season. (I fully expect the Caps to tender offers and likely keep their restricted free agents which include John Carlson and Mike Green.)

Vokoun has already said his stay in Washington was only supposed to be for a year and with the emergence of Braden Holtby there likely wasn’t room even if he wanted to come back.

Halpern’s role was taken by Jay Beagle late in the season and during the playoffs. Assuming the Caps resign the restricted free agent Beagle, I would imagine that the role will be his next season as well.

That leaves Knuble and Aucoin as the only two legitimate options for the Caps to resign. And I could see both happening…assuming the players understand their roles. Knuble would be converted into a 4th line grinder with limited ice time and Aucoin would likely report back to Hershey and be an emergency call up option again.

Who knows what happens but I don’t see too many teams looking at Coiner and giving him a one-way NHL deal so the question for him is would I rather play in Hershey or another AHL city. I suspect he will be back.

The coaching element of this is also intriguing. As in…there is no coach. Coach Dale Hunter has already announced that will be returning to his role as owner and coach of the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League. And GM George McPhee has already said that the team will take it’s time in finding a coach.

This influences multiple things for both the Caps and the Bears. In Washington it obviously means that you don’t know what system will be in place, therefore, you might not know exactly which free agents to target. Do you want to bring in an offensive force that costs a lot of money just to end up in a system like Hunter’s again with limited offensive output? It’s a question the Caps need to figure out.

It also affects Hershey though. Will the Capitals be looking for a similar coach to mold their prospects better for the big club? If I was running the team I would definitely want a coach with a similar strategy coaching my prospects and preparing them for the NHL. That way when they make the jump to the NHL they are at least prepared to play with their teammates even if they aren’t quite physically ready to handle the pounding.

Coach Mark French’s contract also expired this season I believe so now is the time to make a change if you want to.

My guess…expect a new coach in Hershey for the 2012-13 season.

There are plenty of questions to be answered heading into the offseason, probably more than usual. But with the Caps relative success this spring, expectations next year are sure to be high again.

As for expectations in Hershey…well, one only has to look to the Giant Center rafters to understand.

The affiliation has produced three Calder Cups since it began in 2005-06.

The Hershey Bears-Washington Capitals affiliation, which has produced three Calder Cups since beginning in 2005-06, has been extended through the 2013-14 season, the clubs announced on Wednesday.

Here is a link to Washington’s release.

More to come.

Partnership enters eighth season in 2012-2013

The past two seasons Larsen served as Springfield's assistant coach to Rob Riley, who wasn't retained after the 2011-12 season.

Former Hershey Bears captain Brad Larsen was
named head coach of the Springfield Falcons Monday by the parent
Columbus Blue Jackets.

#10: Mike Carman gets two points in three nights against WBS…#9 up next week!

For Hunter, family obligations, including a farm business and ownership of the lucrative London Knights OHL franchise, trumped the NHL as he stepped down as Washington’s head coach after a pinch-hitting stint.

At Monday’s 2011-12 season wrap-up press conference, which was dominated by Dale Hunter’s departure, Washington Capitals GM George McPhee was asked how many men in demand to be an NHL head coach voluntarily walk away from being an NHL head coach.

Washington Capitals head hockey coach Dale Hunter, rear, looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, in Sunrise, Fla. Hunter is finished as coach of the Washington Capitals after less than one full season, telling the team he wants to return to his family in Canada. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

“One,” replied McPhee in an answer recorded at WashingtonCapitals.com.

In the world of big-money sports, with player contracts routinely awarded in double-digit millions and franchise sales routinely made in triple-digit millions, it’s not often we get exposed to priorities that lead someone away from a major-league situation.

For Hunter, family obligations, including a farm business and ownership of the lucrative London Knights OHL franchise, trumped the NHL as he stepped down as Washington’s head coach after a pinch-hitting stint.

“I’m going home,” Hunter said, “to the farm and the team and family.”

One spin is that, unlike most NHL coaches, he doesn’t really need the money or the aggravation.

Money also can be used to apply an opposite spin. Here is a guy in position to indulge a pursuit of the Stanley Cup, which eluded him during a playing career that elevated him to Caps icon status, and he still took a hike.

“They need him at home,” McPhee said.

Hunter’s approach was sometimes unorthodox. But he was able to inspire a high level of selflessness from the Caps, whom he led with stoic farmer earnestness.

Whether Washington was truly better equipped than the high-flying teams of recent vintage to make its first Stanley Cup finals appearance since 1997-98 is in the eye of the beholder.

Were the Caps closer this season with a one-goal loss to the New York Rangers in Game 7 of the second round? Or were they closer when they had an overtime chance to go up 3-0 on eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh in the second round in 2008-09?

The Caps displayed commendable playoff grit while eliminating the Boston Bruins and pushing the Rangers to the limit. They also displayed resilience in digging out of a 3-1 hole to Philadelphia in 2007-08, a series lost in seven, and a 3-1 hole against the Rangers in 2008-09, a series won in seven.

Under Hunter, the Caps delivered a laudable postseason run in a tournament typically decided by achingly close margins. Washington’s management and players say they would have welcomed him to stay to continue to cultivate the process in 2012-13.

At the least, Hunter’s visage will continue to hang from a large banner at Kettler Capitals IcePlex, the club’s headquarters in Arlington, Va.

Though he has returned to Ontario, the Caps will still have to look Dale Hunter in the eye.

ON TWITTER: @timleone

The Rangers, dazed amid a closeout opportunity, didn’t score until a deflected 6-on-5 goal with 50.5 seconds left that spoiled Braden Holtby’s bid for his first pro playoff shutout.

WASHINGTON — My first rule of hockey playoffs is to never read too much from one game into another.

Hershey BearsBraden Holtby

Each contest is its own organic thing. Two 20-man rosters combining with the random orbit of a puck.

No matter how commanding a win or devastating a loss, the next opening faceoff resets all the variables into an uncharted course.

The resilient Washington Capitals, yet to lose two straight games in the 2011-12 Stanley Cup playoffs, are proving to be a splendid example of the rule.

Two overtime losses to the Boston Bruins in the first round were answered by two bounce-back wins in a series the Caps won in Game 7 OT.

The setbacks have been even more brutal in the second round against the New York Rangers.

A triple-overtime loss in Game 3 was answered by a Game 4 win. And in the wake of the devastating Game 5 OT defeat, where Washington was seconds from taking a 3-2 series lead, the Caps responded yet again Wednesday night at Verizon Center with a triumph in Game 6 that improved them to 2-0 in elimination games and forced a deciding Game 7.

Wails of angst and woe, the product of historic franchise fatalism, echoed in the wake of the Game 5 meltdown. Instead of dismay, the Caps delivered another dose of determination from the get-go in one of the most lopsided 2-1 games you’ll ever see.

“It just shows the character that we’ve got,” Caps forward Matt Hendricks said. “Every guy in this room’s got character. You don’t sense a feeling of giving up at all from anyone. We expect to win hockey games. That’s what we show up to do.”

There was Alex Ovechkin’s early power-play goal, constantly buzzing Jason Chimera’s second-period tally and goalie Braden Holtby’s near shutout. But the most poetic part came midway through the second with Washington riding a 2-0 lead.

Jeff Halpern, in the lineup for injured Jay Beagle, took a double minor for high-sticking John Mitchell in an eerie echo of Joel Ward’s late double minor for high-sticking in Game 5 that set the stage for two power-play goals in New York’s miracle comeback.

But the Caps, putting in a strong penalty killing effort despite Beagle’s absence, snuffed both ends this time.

“We got the momentum back on our side,” Hendricks said, “and it continued for the rest of the game.”

The Rangers, dazed amid a closeout opportunity, didn’t score until a deflected 6-on-5 goal with 50.5 seconds left that spoiled Holtby’s bid for his first pro playoff shutout.

The Caps’ Game 6 performance eradicated the disappointment cloud from Game 5. It is now clear that Washington has been in control of the series since the second period of Game 5.

The Rangers haven’t scored a true even-strength goal for a span of 110:51. Pretty much all they’ve got to show since the first period in Game 5 is the double whammy of power-play goals that shockingly flipped the result.

On the positive side for the Caps, that didn’t send them into a terminal slide. On the negative side, take away that blip and the Caps already have an Eastern Conference finals appointment with the New Jersey Devils.

But Saturday’s Game 7, though at Madison Square Garden, is a grenade the Rangers never wanted to handle.

“It’s a battle for wins right now,” Holtby said. “We did a good job and we got rewarded.”

Despite the spotlight on the reduction of his playing time, these have been among the best times of Ovechkin’s captaincy. He has led with on-ice effort and bench demeanor.

It is a different deal than his high-flying days. Those days also led to a Game 7 in the second round in 2008-09 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Washington lost that Game 7 and Pittsburgh went on to win the Stanley Cup.

A win in this Game 7 will move Ovechkin and the playoff-mature Young Guns into uncharted positive territory. A loss will leave them with the same high-water mark they had during their high-octane era.

Remember, Game 7 will be its own thing.

ON TWITTER: @timleone

If the Devils are looking for a good omen for the rounds to come, they should note that teams that eliminated the Flyers have won the past three Stanley Cups.

PHILADELPHIA — It used to be that the New Jersey Devils administered acute playoff pain to the Philadelphia Flyers in the form of Claude Lemieux from the blue line or Scott Stevens from the blindside.

Philadelphia Flyers’ Danny Briere (48) cannot get a shot past New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur (30) as Adam Larsson (5), of Sweden, defends during the second period of Game 5 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Tuesday, May 8, 2012, in Philadelphia.

This time the pain was chronic, coming in the form of a relentlessly choreographed, Rockettes-on-skates forecheck that dismantled Philly’s 2011-12 postseason.

Ironically in Game 5 Tuesday night at Wells Fargo Center, located in the City of Brotherly Suspensions, the Flyers did an improved job at short-circuiting New Jersey’s cycling show.

The stretches of Devil domination were reduced and the shot clock didn’t have a lopsided look (30-28). But the 3-1 hole dug by previous damage left the Flyers little margin for error, and goalie Ilya Bryzgalov made a whopper.

Bryzgalov, stablemates with former Hershey Bears goalie Frederic Cassivi on the 2004-05 Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, had kept the Flyers from suffering decisive routs in previous games. But he delivered an Achilles’ moment in the first period of a contest that had begun well for the Flyers.

His ill-fated clear attempt turned into a de facto pass that on-rushing Devils forward David Clarkson converted for a stunning goal that broke a 1-1 tie.

And, of course, it stood as the game-winner in a 3-1 defeat.

On Darryl Dawkins’ Planet Lovetron, it might have been a textbook move for HBO spaceman Bryzgalov to make. On this planet, it basically ended the Flyers’ season.

“Bryz made big saves in there, I thought,” Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette said. “The second goal is a tough bounce. We’re in possession and we try to move the puck and it ends up in the back of our net.

“That goal stung, it hurt. I thought our guys were playing really well, playing hard at the beginning of the game. It seemed like we were skating and [had] physical play. That’s more of an unfortunate bounce than anything else.”

The Flyers, feeding off a big early hit on New Jersey’s Anton Volchenkov by Zac Rinaldo, in for suspended Claude Giroux, had a 1-0 lead on a Maxime Talbot goal. Though a tough-deflection Bryce Salvador goal had tied it 1-1, the overall Philly energy still seemed good until Bad Bryz surfaced.

Plenty of Good Bryz moments followed, but the damage was done. Another Ilya, New Jersey’s Ilya Kovalchuk, took the final life out of the building and the season with a third-period, power-play goal.

“Proud of how we stuck to the game plan,” said New Jersey head coach Peter DeBoer, whose club took just one penalty in Game 5. “Proud of how we turned the other cheek. Proud of how hard we competed against a very hard-working, competitive team.”

If the Devils are looking for a good omen for the rounds to come, they should note that teams that eliminated the Flyers have won the past three Stanley Cups.

“I think you’ve got to give New Jersey credit for the way they played defense and the way they forechecked,” Laviolette said. “It kept it from being the game that we wanted, and we could never seem to get down that road.”

Speaking of Dawkins, did anybody really expect the Sixers’ season to last longer than the Flyers’ season?

There was no doubt New Jersey was the better team against Philadelphia. A series that lasted just five games could have been a sweep were it not for Philly’s OT victory in Game 1.

It turns out the ballyhooed Flyers-Pittsburgh Penguins first-round wrestlemania wasn’t the real Eastern Conference finals. It was a dead end.

The Los Angeles Kings, featuring ex-Flyers Mike Richards and Jeff Carter (and assistant coach John Stevens), will play the Phoenix Coyotes in the Western Conference finals. The sixth-seeded Devils await the winner of the New York Rangers-Washington Capitals series in the Eastern Conference.

It has been an acutely unpredictable NHL postseason.

ON TWITTER: @timleone

Caps head to another decisive Game 7 after Wednesday night win in Washington

Hershey familiarity — and mutual affection — partly explains why Braden Holtby has been able to seamlessly parachute into prime time.

WASHINGTON — In a critical Game 4 for the Washington Capitals, Karl Alzner, Jay Beagle and John Carlson were on the ice in front of goalie Braden Holtby for the first shift.

Hershey BearsBraden Holtby

And for the last shift, too, in a 6-on-5 situation while protecting a one-goal lead against the New York Rangers Saturday at Verizon Center.

“It’s probably more with Karl and John that you knew they were going to be here,” Holtby joked about the two first-round defensemen. “I’m just the one that’s kind of catching along, riding on their coattails.”

In 2008-09, Alzner, Carlson and Beagle all played significant roles during the Hershey Bears’ run to the Calder Cup.

Holtby, who joined the club as a junior eligible, watched while Michal Neuvirth won 16 playoff games.

However, that was the start of strong bonds being formed between Alzner, Carlson, Beagle and Holtby, bonds that are benefiting the Caps during this season’s dramatic and tightly contested playoff run.

Alzner: “It helps a lot because you personally know the style of play, you know how they play. You can expect them to do everything that it takes to get the puck out or block the shot.”

Beagle: “There’s a huge trust factor, and I also can kind of read off them with playing with them so much kind of what they’re going to do with the puck before they kind of do it. Saying that, we’re all pretty tight. We’ve got a tight group in here.”

The Caps indeed fended off the Rangers late for a 3-2 victory that was offensively sparked by goals from an older, wiser trio of Young Guns.

Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green all scored in a contest that was scarier than it needed to be due to defensive gaffes that allowed New York to enter the third period tied 2-2 despite being outplayed.

“Our top players when they’re playing like that, it gives you energy,” Beagle said. “For them to score big goals like that is huge. It’s what we need if we want to keep winning.”

There are other guns involved in a postseason run that has seen the Caps dispatch the Boston Bruins, defending Stanley Cup champions, and pull even at 2-2 against New York after a crushing Game 3 loss in triple overtime.

Alzner-Carlson are the top D-pair. The surpassing defensive and penalty killing skills forward Beagle showcased in the AHL continue to evolve into a similar NHL utility.

And Holtby, elevated from Hershey this season, has become the spotlight story of the Stanley Cup playoffs (as Neuvirth now watches). The opposition’s goalies have been two of the best in the game: Tim Thomas and Henrik Lundqvist.

“I don’t think that he thinks about who’s in net across,” Carlson said. “I think he’s thinking about the players in front of him and the team. It shows. He’s a battler. He’s been working so hard. I’m real happy for him and we all know his potential.”

The Hershey familiarity — and mutual affection — partly explains why Holtby has been able to seamlessly parachute into prime time.

“It’s probably a credit to why we’ve had better communication with not as many games played together this year,” Holtby said.

“You know they’re always going to do the right thing, so I never have to ever second-guess them.”

They’ve become a go-to grouping.

“It’s nice,” Alzner said. “We all went through the same process and we’ve won some big things [in the AHL] and we know what it takes to be successful. So having us all out there together and going though this, after what we’ve gone through in years before, it’s a good feeling. It’s a comfortable feeling.”

From start to finish.

ON TWITTER: @timleone

What do you think was the reason for Hershey's end-of-the-season nosedive and early playoff exit? Are you willing to blame NHL recalls and injuries?

This season, the Hershey Bears played much of the season without Keith Aucoin and failed to reach second round of Calder Cup. Coincidence?
PAUL CHAPLIN, The Patriot-News, 2010

The Hershey Bears‘ 2011-12 season came to an early end last weekend after dropping a 2-1 Game 5, first-round series decider against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

It was a disappointing finish for the AHL’s premier franchise.

In his Hershey Bears’ season review, The Patriot-News’ Tim Leone cites injuries and NHL call-ups as the primary reason for Hershey’s premature demise. PennLive.com reader hockeylar isn’t as forgiving. He writes:

“Injuries and call-ups are part of the AHL. You should plan for them.

Yes, the Bears might have done better in the play-off series if they had some of the injured players and some who were on recall to Washington. But injuries and recalls don’t totally explain the lackluster performance which led to the losing streak at the end of the regular season. The Bears played teams that also had injuries and players called-up, yet they did not win.

The Bears end of the season and total play-off performance will be remembered more than the two play-off games they won. The last two seasons have had disappointing endings, because the skill was better than the result.”

What do you think was the reason for Hershey’s end-of-the-season nosedive and early playoff exit? Are you willing to blame NHL recalls and injuries?

Or do you think those are bogus excuses? Is there a deeper reason for the Bears’ disappointing season? Tell us what you think below.

The Caps, down 2-1 to Boston after three games, summoned a Game 4 win. In the wake of the drama and fatigue of Game 3, they’re in the same spot against the New York Rangers.

“Magic/Bird,” better on parquet than on Broadway, is closing May 12 after a short run.

New York Rangers’ Ryan Callahan, right, celebrates a hat trick with Artem Anisimov against the Philadelphia Flyers. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

But there is still John Tortorella.

The New York Rangers head coach continues to entertain in his ongoing, Tony-caliber portrayal of Stanley Kowalski at press conferences while in pursuit of the Stanley Cup.

Torts and the Rangers joined with the Washington Capitals for spellbinding Game 3 national theater at Verizon Center.

Fueled by a chemical concoction of adrenaline and lactic acid by the time it had nearly become the second full game of a doubleheader, physically sapped players on both clubs were stripped down to elemental desire.

The box score shows that Marian Gaborik ended a contest that began Wednesday evening and concluded early Thursday morning with a goal at 14:41 of the third overtime, giving the Rangers a 2-1 victory and a 2-1 series lead.

The real tally was written in blood on jerseys, welts on bodies and gashes on faces. New York’s Dan Girardi and Washington’s Mike Knuble looked like bad stretches of Washington Metro red line rail repair work.

There were no discount fares in this one.

It would have been nice if hockey justice had delivered a game-winner by inexhaustible Rangers captain Ryan Callahan or indefatigable Caps forward Matt Hendricks.

Hendricks, running pedal to the metal on an ice autobahn, totaled New York’s Ryan McDonagh on one hit. Without benefit of seatbelts or an air bag, McDonagh repaired his bent chassis and put an astounding, game-high 53:17 of playing time on the odometer.

Now it is Washington’s turn to recover. Originally, the schedule called for two full days off before Saturday’s Game 4, but due to triple-OT that time will be somewhat shorter.

It is fascinating how the Caps have been able to morph from preseason NHL favorites — see: The Hockey News — into endearing underdogs during a fitful 2011-12.

They indeed have produced an inspiring postseason run, going toe-to-toe with the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins and the Rangers, top-seeded in the Eastern Conference.

But, rewinding to the anticipation of October, shouldn’t that have been expected?

(In the AHL, the Connecticut Whale, the Rangers’ affiliate, are showing signs of becoming the Cinderella team of the Calder Cup playoffs. Connecticut, which swept the third-seeded Bridgeport Sound Tigers 3-0 in the first round, are up 1-0 on the top-seeded Norfolk Admirals in the second round).

The Caps, down 2-1 to Boston after three games, summoned a Game 4 win. In the wake of the drama and fatigue of Game 3, they’re in the same spot against New York.

Game 4 is again showtime if they want a run that doesn’t end in May.

ON TWITTER: @timleone

It’s been a few days now since 7 seconds in the 2nd period ultimately ended the Bears 2011-12 season.  The Baby Pens scored 2 goals in 7 seconds, the 2nd on a freak bounce that went Wilkes-Barre’s way, to take a 2-0 lead in the deciding game 5 of the series.  Hershey would respond well in the 3rd period and make it 2-1, but they never got the tying goal.

So a season that started out with high aspirations ends in the first round of the playoffs.  Tim Leone’s piece says that the Bears lost 162 man games to injury this season and used 42 different players during the season.  Considering a typical roster consists of 23-25 players, 42 is a lot.  But considering the constant fluctuation of AHL rosters it isn’t really that much.

Unfortunately for the Bears the players that were missed to injury and recall were critical pieces to the team puzzle. 

But at the end of the day it doesn’t matter.  The season is over and whatever reason you want to give, it doesn’t change any of it.

The focus shifts to the 2012-13 season which brings immediate uncertainty as the current affiliation with the Capitals is set to expire this summer.  I think the general opinion is that the affiliation will be extended as it makes sense for both parties…but until the paperwork is completed and signed, you never know.

In addition, the contracts for the Bears coaching staff, Mark French and Troy Mann, have expired.  Here is where I think you need to make a change.  I am not a fan of French’s and think that his strategic skills could use some improving. 

But at the same time he has won a lot of games the past 2 seasons despite dealing with a bunch of injuries and recalls in each season.  So maybe he deserves another chance.  When he had a fully healthy team he won 60 games and a Calder Cup. 

Still, I won’t be upset if they go a different way…but I can definitely see his contract being extended. 

This decision is not made by Doug Yingst exclusively though.  I am sure he gets a say, but the Capitals are also involved in this decision and they may desire to bring in a coach with a similar coaching style to whomever is behind the bench in Washington. 

We will find out sometime after the Caps postseason run is over…which hopefully doesn’t end until June!

As for the players that will be and won’t be back for 2012-13…below are a few lists detailing some information.  Keep in mind that any player under contract with Washington will not be in Hershey next season should the affiliation not be extended.

Players Under Contract With Washington for 2012-13:
Ryan Potulny
Cody Eakin
Garrett Mitchell
Mattias Sjogren
Patrick McNeill
Cameran Schilling
Brett Flemming
Tomas Kundratek
Philipp Grubauer
Brandon Anderson

Players Under Contract With Hershey for 2012-13:
David Civitarese
Barry Almeida
TJ Syner
Matt Pope
Julian Brouillette
Patrick Wellar

Washington Capitals Restricted Free Agents:
Mike Carman
Kevin Marshall

Not included on the above lists but also under contract for 2012-13 are Braden Holtby and Dmitry Orlov. I really doubt either player spends a minute in Hershey next season so for the purposes of this post I don’t feel it is necessary to talk about them.

Let’s assume that the Caps and Bears extend their affiliation agreement.  If that happens I think all of the players listed above will be in Hershey’s training camp come September.  I don’t see the Caps not tendering offers to Carman and Marshall and every other player is already under contract.

Now, you will notice that there are some big names not listed there.  Keith Aucoin, Chris Bourque, Jacob Micflikier, Boyd Kane, Dany Sabourin, and plenty more. 

I fully expect the Bears to sign a few of either these guys or players like them.  Hershey is always willing to spend some money of free agents and I don’t expect the 75th anniversary season to be any different.

Aucoin, to me, is a lock to return.  The question is…does he go to Washington or Hershey?  Based on the minutes that Dale Hunter is giving him in the playoffs right now it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him spend at least parts of the season in Washington. 

The Bears will generally pay 1 or 2 players a decent amount of money to play in Hershey.  The advantage this year is that Ryan Potulny’s contract is a 1-way deal meaning the Caps will pay him to play in Hershey should he be reassigned during the season.  That will free up some money for the Bears to spend on additional free agents.

I could obviously speculate for hours on what players the Bears will bring back or look at, but there would not be a science to any of it and it would all just be speculation and rumor starting.  I will say two things though…

1.  The defense is pretty much set.  With McNeill, Schilling, Kundratek, Wellar, Brouillette, and Flemming back and Marshall likely to be back you have your top 7 defensemen.  Patty McNeill will be considered a veteran exempt next season as well so you have a veteran presence already on the roster.  Don’t expect too many signings along the blueline.

2.  They need a scorer.  One of the biggest problems this entire season was that there were too many passers on the roster and not enough shooters.  Guys were always looking to make the extra pass instead of taking an open shot.  Not saying guys couldn’t shoot or score, but most of the guys were more interested in setting up their linemates than shooting themselves…or at least that’s how it felt.  Maybe rookie Stanislav Galiev will help in that regard, but I think the Bears will go looking for a proven goal scorer in free agency.  Someone you look to in big games to come up with the big goals…such as a huge overtime goal in game 5 of the Calder Cup Finals.  Hypothetically speaking of course. 

For the second season in a row the offseason is going to be long.  Few answers about the roster will be resolved before July and actual hockey won’t be back until October.  5 full months. 

I agree that we are spoiled as Bears fans…4 Calder Cup Finals in 5 years…but these long summers suck and I am okay with being spoiled.  Hopefully the roster put together for next season will allow us to enjoy Bears hockey well into June 2013.

It’s been a few days now since 7 seconds in the 2nd period ultimately ended the Bears 2011-12 season.  The Baby Pens scored 2 goals in 7 seconds, the 2nd on a freak bounce that went Wilkes-Barre’s way, to take a 2-0 lead in the deciding game 5 of the series.  Hershey would respond well in the 3rd period and make it 2-1, but they never got the tying goal.

So a season that started out with high aspirations ends in the first round of the playoffs.  Tim Leone’s piece says that the Bears lost 162 man games to injury this season and used 42 different players during the season.  Considering a typical roster consists of 23-25 players, 42 is a lot.  But considering the constant fluctuation of AHL rosters it isn’t really that much.

Unfortunately for the Bears the players that were missed to injury and recall were critical pieces to the team puzzle. 

But at the end of the day it doesn’t matter.  The season is over and whatever reason you want to give, it doesn’t change any of it.

The focus shifts to the 2012-13 season which brings immediate uncertainty as the current affiliation with the Capitals is set to expire this summer.  I think the general opinion is that the affiliation will be extended as it makes sense for both parties…but until the paperwork is completed and signed, you never know.

In addition, the contracts for the Bears coaching staff, Mark French and Troy Mann, have expired.  Here is where I think you need to make a change.  I am not a fan of French’s and think that his strategic skills could use some improving. 

But at the same time he has won a lot of games the past 2 seasons despite dealing with a bunch of injuries and recalls in each season.  So maybe he deserves another chance.  When he had a fully healthy team he won 60 games and a Calder Cup. 

Still, I won’t be upset if they go a different way…but I can definitely see his contract being extended. 

This decision is not made by Doug Yingst exclusively though.  I am sure he gets a say, but the Capitals are also involved in this decision and they may desire to bring in a coach with a similar coaching style to whomever is behind the bench in Washington. 

We will find out sometime after the Caps postseason run is over…which hopefully doesn’t end until June!

As for the players that will be and won’t be back for 2012-13…below are a few lists detailing some information.  Keep in mind that any player under contract with Washington will not be in Hershey next season should the affiliation not be extended.

Players Under Contract With Washington for 2012-13:
Ryan Potulny
Cody Eakin
Garrett Mitchell
Mattias Sjogren
Patrick McNeill
Cameran Schilling
Brett Flemming
Tomas Kundratek
Philipp Grubauer
Brandon Anderson

Players Under Contract With Hershey for 2012-13:
David Civitarese
Barry Almeida
TJ Syner
Matt Pope
Julian Brouillette
Patrick Wellar

Washington Capitals Restricted Free Agents:
Mike Carman
Kevin Marshall

Not included on the above lists but also under contract for 2012-13 are Braden Holtby and Dmitry Orlov. I really doubt either player spends a minute in Hershey next season so for the purposes of this post I don’t feel it is necessary to talk about them.

Let’s assume that the Caps and Bears extend their affiliation agreement.  If that happens I think all of the players listed above will be in Hershey’s training camp come September.  I don’t see the Caps not tendering offers to Carman and Marshall and every other player is already under contract.

Now, you will notice that there are some big names not listed there.  Keith Aucoin, Chris Bourque, Jacob Micflikier, Boyd Kane, Dany Sabourin, and plenty more. 

I fully expect the Bears to sign a few of either these guys or players like them.  Hershey is always willing to spend some money of free agents and I don’t expect the 75th anniversary season to be any different.

Aucoin, to me, is a lock to return.  The question is…does he go to Washington or Hershey?  Based on the minutes that Dale Hunter is giving him in the playoffs right now it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him spend at least parts of the season in Washington. 

The Bears will generally pay 1 or 2 players a decent amount of money to play in Hershey.  The advantage this year is that Ryan Potulny’s contract is a 1-way deal meaning the Caps will pay him to play in Hershey should he be reassigned during the season.  That will free up some money for the Bears to spend on additional free agents.

I could obviously speculate for hours on what players the Bears will bring back or look at, but there would not be a science to any of it and it would all just be speculation and rumor starting.  I will say two things though…

1.  The defense is pretty much set.  With McNeill, Schilling, Kundratek, Wellar, Brouillette, and Flemming back and Marshall likely to be back you have your top 7 defensemen.  Patty McNeill will be considered a veteran exempt next season as well so you have a veteran presence already on the roster.  Don’t expect too many signings along the blueline.

2.  They need a scorer.  One of the biggest problems this entire season was that there were too many passers on the roster and not enough shooters.  Guys were always looking to make the extra pass instead of taking an open shot.  Not saying guys couldn’t shoot or score, but most of the guys were more interested in setting up their linemates than shooting themselves…or at least that’s how it felt.  Maybe rookie Stanislav Galiev will help in that regard, but I think the Bears will go looking for a proven goal scorer in free agency.  Someone you look to in big games to come up with the big goals…such as a huge overtime goal in game 5 of the Calder Cup Finals.  Hypothetically speaking of course. 

For the second season in a row the offseason is going to be long.  Few answers about the roster will be resolved before July and actual hockey won’t be back until October.  5 full months. 

I agree that we are spoiled as Bears fans…4 Calder Cup Finals in 5 years…but these long summers suck and I am okay with being spoiled.  Hopefully the roster put together for next season will allow us to enjoy Bears hockey well into June 2013.

Two club records set during 2011-12 campaign

Roster flux helps account for the streaky nature of 2011-12, which reached apogee with a 24-8-4-3 record on Jan. 14. Hershey had hot stretches in October, December and March and cold stretches in November and January-February.

With a premier cast of forwards and a strong goaltending tandem, the Hershey Bears entered the 2011-12 season with aspirations of increasing their Calder Cup total to a dozen.

The Hershey Bears played much of the 2011-12 season without Keith Aucoin, left.
CHRIS KNIGHT/The Patriot-News

An up-and-down campaign that ended with a first-round playoff exit ultimately was defined by a number other than 12: 162.

That is the number of man games Hershey lost to injuries in the 76-game regular season. It is the equivalent of a major-league baseball season.

“You try to fill those holes as much as you can, but that’s what you build your team around in the summertime,” forward Jacob Micflikier said. “That’s what we’re supposed to be set on. Losing that many man games with some of us, it was tough to fill and tough to kind of get yourself into a positive streak for a while.

“You’re jumping around with the lineup and things like that. It makes it difficult. That’s not the way you write it up when you plan things.”

The Bears used 42 players during the course of the season, a number within normal parameters of AHL attrition. But they lost premium players for large chunks of time.

There was some locker room dissonance in the first half of the season when veteran playing time had to be rationed because the Bears were over the veteran roster limit. Trades, recalls and injuries eventually eliminated that situation.

In addition, Hershey only had Keith Aucoin, expected to be the No. 1 forward, for 43 games and Dmitry Orlov, expected to be the No. 1 defenseman, for 15 games.

Aucoin, on pace to set an AHL single-season assists record, enjoyed a storybook recall to the Washington Capitals. Orlov was summoned full-time to the Caps sooner than expected.

“The team changed a lot, you know,” goalie Dany Sabourin said. “Everybody was talking, ‘Oh, we have a great team, an all-star team.’ But it can change so quickly. But I think we did a good job about that, being professional.

“That’s what it is — AHL. You have callups. Plus the injured guys you have guys that you lose because they have to go in Washington. You just have to play your game and guys have to step up.”

Roster flux helps account for the streaky nature of 2011-12, which reached apogee with a 24-8-4-3 record on Jan. 14. Hershey had hot stretches in October, December and March and cold stretches in November and January-February.

And, with April lineups with a heavy ECHL and college flavor, the Bears finished the regular season with an eight-game winless streak.

That lack of momentum carried into the first two games of the playoffs against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and proved too deep a hole by the time the club regained traction for the final three games of the first round.

“There always seemed to be something that stopped us from developing a real identity,” Bears head coach Mark French said. “And I thought that the closest that we came was probably in March when we maybe settled into a roster to a degree.

“We won seven games in a row, but I thought we found ourselves a little bit in the [grinding] way that group needed to play to be successful, which was quite a bit different than maybe what it was earlier on during the year. Unfortunately in the playoffs, we found that same type of identity, but it was absent in Game 1 and Game 2.”

It would have been a towering disappointment had Hershey’s theoretical roster won 38 regular-season games and suffered an early postseason demise. In reality, that roster seldom materialized on ice.

Come the playoffs, the Bears did dress a talented and deep lineup that certainly was capable of beating WBS and buying more time for potential reinforcements from Washington. But the Baby Pens were higher seeded and got their own reinforcements when the Pittsburgh Penguins were ousted from the Stanley Cup playoffs.

“If we could have gotten by that first round, then you go into St. John’s and you always believe you can win,” Bears assistant coach Troy Mann said.

“It would have been a very gratifying win against Wilkes-Barre from a coaching perspective, based on they were as deep as you could get. I think that’s as deep as we played them all year.”

Sabourin capably covered for the Washington recall of Braden Holtby. The Bears likely would have needed Aucoin and Orlov to be championship caliber.

“The roster at the end was not as good as the roster at the beginning,” Bears President-GM Doug Yingst said. “I don’t think there’s any question about that. But we felt there was enough depth to go farther than what we did.

“The outcome wasn’t one that we expected or desired. You look at the depth chart and the roster put together back in the beginning of the season, it was one that we thought would certainly challenge for the Calder Cup. I think the results at the end are disappointing. The effort was outstanding, but the expectation was to go farther than what we did, so it was disappointing.”

The trade addition of Tomas Kundratek and the signing of collegian Cameron Schilling helped ameliorate Orlov’s absence. Aucoin’s departure, coupled with the injury loss of Christian Hanson, critically wounded Hershey’s depth and production at center.

“Keith was a hard one, but we weren’t playing our best hockey when Keith was here,” French said. “At the end of the day, I can’t help but think that Keith would have helped us, being how impactful he was as a player.

“There was a little bit more adversity, but I’m proud of a lot of the guys and the way they fought through the adversity.”

As the team was constructed, a high-powered forward group was expected to reduce pressure on an unsung defense corps.

Ironically, even amid playoff injuries to Kundratek and Patrick McNeill, the blue line rose to the occasion and showcased depth and reliability and helped Sabourin limit WBS to three goals in the final two games of the series.

“We knew that with the cast of forwards that we had this year, that if things didn’t go well it was probably going to be pinned on us,” defenseman Sean Collins said. “I think all of us back there handled it pretty well. We battled hard and we got better throughout the season.

“Guys came and worked hard every day. We wanted to win and, unfortunately, the season ended like it did. I’d like to still be playing. Wilkes was a good team. The way we started out that series, you never want to get swept, you don’t want to lose a playoff series. But I’m real proud of how we fought back.”

Now the club turns its focus to 2012-13, which will be its 75th anniversary season in the AHL.

“I thought we were a great team,” Hanson said. “When you look at when we were healthy and had everybody going in the middle of December, we were on a roll.

“You’re kind of at the discretion of injuries and what your parent club needs. I think this is just one of those years where a couple guys went up and we ran into some injuries. Guys gave it all but just kind of fell a little short.”

ON TWITTER: @timleone

Trio will join Caps as practice squad

The status of Hershey’s affiliation with the Washington Capitals and the status of head coach Mark French and assistant coach Troy Mann for 2012-13 are at the forefront of the questions.

While the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins were preparing for the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs, Monday was breakup day for the Hershey Bears.

Hershey BearsMark French

The Bears, eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for a second straight year, had season-ending exit interviews and medical checkups at Giant Center.

“It’s weird,” Bears winger Joel Rechlicz said. “It comes to an end now. Just go in the summer and work hard and come back and brand new year next year.”

With a number of mainstays poised to become free agents, the Bears head into an offseason full of questions.

The status of Hershey’s affiliation with the Washington Capitals and the status of head coach Mark French and assistant coach Troy Mann for 2012-13 are at the forefront of the questions.

Bears President-GM Doug Yingst said a deal to extend the highly successful Washington affiliation, which began in 2005-06, beyond 2011-12 is “still in negotiation.”

The French-Mann team, employed by Washington, led Hershey to an AHL-record 60 wins and the Calder Cup in 2009-10. The Caps are still involved in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

“The coaches’ contracts have to be renewed,” Yingst said, “and will be discussed at the conclusion of the playoffs.”

French ranks No. 5 on Hershey’s all-time coaching wins list (144-69-7-16).

“I’m sure everything will be talked about,” French said. “It’s really out of our control right now.

“I certainly enjoy working for this organization and feel every day privileged to work for this organization.”

Hershey forced a deciding Game 5 against higher seeded WBS after losing the first two games of the series. A freak carom led to the winning goal for the Baby Pens in Game 5.

“If it was a best-of-seven, things might have been different,” Mann said. “But there’s no room for error. That winning goal … That’s what happens when there’s no room for error. The first two games really cost us.”

Patrick McNeill (upper body) and Tomas Kundratek (hand) were sidelined by injuries during the series. French said no other Bears were playing through significant injuries against WBS.

“There was bumps and bruises throughout,” he said, “but nothing that was notable.”

Had the Bears advanced to the second round, Christian Hanson (wrist surgery) was poised to return to the lineup. The forward said he got medical clearance Monday morning.

“I saw the doctor at 10:15 and he cleared me completely,” Hanson said.

“It’s bittersweet. It’s nice to be cleared. But I kind of looked at him and said, ‘Oh, it would have been great to have this last week.’ It is what it is. Just tough timing with the injury. With an injury like that, you can’t rush the recovery. As soon as you try to rush it, there’s a fear that the tendon could rupture again and set me back another three months.”

Dany Sabourin, Cody Eakin, Sean Collins and Cameron Schilling are slated to join the Caps, Yingst said.

“We’re going for practicing and to be ready if they need us,” Sabourin said.

“It’s always nice to go and be part of the Stanley Cup playoffs. It’s what you always dream for as a kid, winning the Stanley Cup.”

Rechlicz is one of the pending free agents.

“We’ve talked about me coming back here next year,” Rechlicz said. “I told Doug I love it here. I love playing here. I love the fans and the atmosphere and the staff’s great. There’s nowhere else I’d really rather be.”

ON TWITTER: @timleone

Washington Capitals unrestricted free agents: Keith Aucoin, Dany Sabourin, D.J. King, Joel Rechlicz, Sean Collins, Christian Hanson, Chris Bourque, Zach Miskovic, Jacob Micflikier, Kyle Greentree.

Contract status in 2012-13 of players who dressed for the Hershey Bears in 2011-12 (lists don’t include players who were released or traded):

Hershey BearsSean Collins

Washington Capitals under contract: Cody Eakin, Dmitry Orlov, Braden Holtby, Cameron Schilling, Mattias Sjogren, Tomas Kundratek, Philipp Grubauer, Garrett Mitchell, Brett Flemming, Brandon Anderson, Ryan Potulny, Patrick McNeill.

Washington Capitals unrestricted free agents: Keith Aucoin, Dany Sabourin, D.J. King, Joel Rechlicz, Sean Collins, Christian Hanson, Chris Bourque, Zach Miskovic, Jacob Micflikier, Kyle Greentree.

Washington Capitals restricted free agents: Mike Carman, Kevin Marshall.

Hershey Bears under contract: Barry Almeida, Julien Brouillette, David Civitarese, Matt Pope, T.J. Syner, Patrick Wellar.

Hershey Bears free agents: Andrew Carroll, Scott Greenham, Boyd Kane, Maxime Lacroix, Daren Machesney, Graham Mink, Phil Oreskovic.

Some player quotes on pending free agency:

Christian Hanson: “It’s just going to be one of those things where we’re going to take some time and see what’s out there. We’ll talk to Washington. I loved it here. They’re definitely one of the top teams. We’re going to see who comes back, who doesn’t come back and just what’s out there with other teams, and then make a decision on whether it’s here or somewhere else.”

Sean Collins: “It’s exciting. Whether I’ll be back here or somewhere else, it’s kind of a new chapter, I guess.”

Jacob Micflikier: “I’ve enjoyed my time here. Coming back would be an option. That’s something that obviously we’d discuss.”

Dany Sabourin: “I would love to be back with Washington. This is not in my hands. I’ve been saying that to them and everybody.

“I love Hershey. I love the organization. I love Washington, how they treated me. I love the goalie coaches. I love the coaches. My family loves it. It’s like a home away from home.”

Plus, Bears fans are upset about the loss, and our Sunday front page.

PENN STATE

-PENN STATE TICKET SALES sagging? Could it be because people can’t afford the exorbitant donations required for tickets in the new STEP program? Bad decision in our economy.

View full sizeHershey Bears fans would have much rather seen this picture on the cover of Sunday’s sports section. JOHN C. WHITEHEAD/The Patriot-News

BEARS

-THIS IS TO THANK THE Hershey Bears for a pretty good season, all things considered. I also want to wish them luck in wherever their careers take them.

-I OPENED UP THE PAPER and saw “Mighty Pens” and thought this was the Wilkes-Barre paper for a second.

-WHAT A DISGUSTING PICTURE and headline on the front page of the sports section. They’re far from the “Mighty Pens.” I’m canceling my subscription.

PHILLIES

-GOOD PITCHING IS A terrible thing to waste, and Charlie Manuel has proven that he can waste it with the best of them.

-I’M WONDERING HOW many .300 hitters the Phillies have had during Charlie Manuel’s tenure. I bet not many. Seven, to be exact.

-WHY DID CHARLIE Manuel wait so long to put Jimmy Rollins in the leadoff role? Brain cramp perhaps?

NFL

-I KEEP HEARING EVERYONE say how good the Eagles’ draft was. The only way it could be that great is if they drafted a new head coach.

OTHER

-IT’S A SHAME FOR DERRICK ROSE, but the Sixers will take advantage of the situation and beat the Bulls in six.

-I WATCHED BRYCE HARPER’s Major League debut Saturday night and what a clown. Maybe he needs to go back to the minors to get a hair cut.

-WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT the Big Ten that it’s defensive player of the year wasn’t picked until the second round?

COVERAGE

-I REMEMBER THE GOOD OLD days when Bob Hafer wrote the bowling column every week. Emphasis on every.

WBS evened the series ledger between the clubs 3-3 by claiming this season’s best-of-five, first-round matchup 3-2.

Each club earned a four-game sweep the first two times the Hershey Bears and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins met in the playoffs.

Julien Brouillette #29 of the Bears clears the puck from in front of the goal as Brian Gibbons #9 of the Penguins crashes into goalie Dany Sabourin during the first period of a game Saturday. Don Carey Times Leader Photo

Three of the last four collisions, though, have provided prime postseason theater.

Hershey won 4-1 in the 2006-07 East Division finals, which featured one double-overtime game and two overtime games, and 4-3 in the 2008-09 East Division finals.

WBS evened the series ledger between the clubs 3-3 by claiming this season’s best-of-five, first-round matchup 3-2.

“It turned into a great series,” Bears winger Chris Bourque said. “I bet a lot of people would have thought we would have gave up after [losing] the first two.

“We showed a lot of pride coming back in the series and again [in Game 5], getting a goal in the third to make it more interesting. We fought the whole game.”

A best-of-five series provides an incomplete playoff measure. But when a deciding Game 5 arises, it has the desperation of a Game 7 with teams that are fresher and less physically damaged.

Saturday night’s 2-1 series-decider was a thrilling, empty-the-tank effort by both clubs.

“We laid everything out there,” Bears winger Kyle Greentree said, “and, unfortunately, we were one goal short.”

Zach Sill’s score late in the second, set up by a carom off the back wall, stood as the game-winner.

“It was a hard series,” Bears forward Ryan Potulny said. “Both teams battled hard. We knew it was going to be tight.

“It just so happened they got the bounce there off the wall. That’s hockey, I guess.”

Hershey was whistled for 100 penalty minutes in the series compared to 53 for WBS. Thus, WBS had a 29-17 advantage in power-play opportunities.

The Baby Pens improved their power-play conversion rate, which was 18.8 percent in the regular season, to 24.1 against Hershey, which had an 84.4 penalty kill percentage in the regular season. They converted at a 35.7 rate at Mohegan Sun Arena, where they scored five of their seven extra-man goals, in a series where the home team won every game.

Hershey, outscored 10-3 in the first two games, outscored WBS 9-6 in the final three.

“Disappointed with the way we played the first two with the way the series turned out,” Bears head coach Mark French said. “At the same time, proud that we got them turned around and proud that a lot of guys responded in the way that they would because they’re high-character guys.

“From our part, the first two games weren’t where you want the intensity to be. But from our level, the last three games certainly were good playoff hockey.”

The winner of the previous five Hershey-WBS playoff matchups has advanced to the Calder Cup finals.

The Baby Pens are scheduled to begin the Eastern Conference semifinals Tuesday against the St. John’s IceCaps. The Bears now head into exit interviews and the offseason.

“I’m proud of every guy in that locker room,” Potulny said. “We didn’t give up. It could have been easy to give up when you’re down 2-0 in the series, but we didn’t do that. We wanted to battle right to the end.

“I’d go to battle with the same guys any day again.”

NOTEBOOK

Hershey has gone 15-15 in all-time playoff games against WBS.

WBS forward Jason Williams (1-7-8) led the series in points and Colin McDonald (4-2-6) led it in goals. Potulny (2-2-4), Bourque (1-3-4) and Tomas Kundratek (0-4-4) tied for the Hershey points lead.

Hershey, which had won eight straight playoff series en route to back-to-back Calder Cups in 2008-09 and 2009-10, has lost two straight series. The Bears were eliminated in the first round in 2010-11 by the Charlotte Checkers.

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The Baby Pens won the best-of-five series 3-2 and advanced to play the St. John's IceCaps in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

WILKES-BARRE — More than 300 minutes were played during five games in the first-round playoff series between the Hershey Bears-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Ultimately, seven seconds decided it.

View full sizeJulien Brouillette of Hershey clears the puck as Brian Gibbons of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton crashes into goalie Dany Sabourin during the first period. (Don Carey/The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre)

Striking for both of its goals in a seven-second span of the second period at Mohegan Sun Arena, WBS won 2-1 Saturday night in a fierce and compelling Game 5 to end Hershey’s 2011-12 season.

The Baby Pens won the best-of-five series 3-2 and advanced to play the St. John’s IceCaps in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

“That’s our biggest rivalry over there,” Bears winger Chris Bourque said. “I think I’ve probably played them over 100 times in my career, it feels like. To end it like this, Game 5 in the playoffs, it isn’t easy to swallow.

“As I said, it was a hard-fought battle. You’ve got to give them credit. They came up on top. It seems like they deserved to win.”

Hard-hitting. Breathtaking. Scintillating.

Game 5 was all those things, from a big-checking start to a pulsating end.

Along with intensity, the Bears summoned their least-penalized game of the series. Except for a double-minor call on Kyle Greentree at 15:08 of the second period of a scoreless game for high-sticking Joey Mormina that set the stage for the series-swinging goals.

“I didn’t even think my stick was close,” Greentree said.

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t kill it off. It’s frustrating.”

The infraction drew Mormina’s blood.

“That takes the official off the hook and it’s an automatic call,” Bears head coach Mark French said. “It’s unfortunate on our part, but that’s the call that needs to be made.”

Hershey killed off the front end but not the back end as Cal O’Reilly notched a power-play goal at 17:31 to give WBS a 1-0 lead.

Off the ensuing faceoff, a rim-in by Baby Pens defenseman Brian Strait took an odd carom off the backwall to Zach Sill, who fired a scoring shot at 17:38 that may have deflected off Bears defenseman Cameron Schilling.

“That was our secret play that we had in store for them,” Sill said.

“It took a good bounce off the Zamboni door. I just tried to go stick-on-puck and I really still don’t know how it went in. I think it just ricocheted off their D-man’s stick or something.”

It was a devastating sequence for Hershey.

In a metaphor for a series in which the Bears revived after trailing 2-0 in games, they made a zealous third-period effort to rally from a 2-0 deficit.

“We weren’t ready to be done,” Bears forward Ryan Potulny said. “That’s when certain guys have to step up and try to lead on the ice.”

Potulny said he and fellow first-liners Bourque and Boyd Kane put the onus on themselves to get things going. And they did as Potulny, swooping across the high slot, scored 23 seconds into the third to draw Hershey within one.

“Tried to get a big lift there that first shift early, but just fell a little short,” Potulny said. “I think we gave a good push at the end. Someone’s got to come out on the losing end. Unfortunately, it was us. But I thought the effort was there and guys worked hard right to the end.”

The Baby Pens and goalie Brad Thiessen weren’t safe until the final second ticked off with the puck deep in their zone. Thiessen (18 saves) and Bears goalie Dany Sabourin (26 saves) staged a high-performance duel of their own.

“I thought it was a great game by both [teams],” WBS head coach John Hynes said. “The first period, the tempo and intensity that both teams played with, was probably the best I’ve seen all year long, maybe in the three years I’ve been here. It was up-tempo. Both teams came to play and competed.”

French echoed a similar sentiment: “Both teams put it on the line. Unfortunately, that two-minute span really hurt.”

NOTEBOOK

Defenseman Tomas Kundratek was sidelined by a hand injury suffered in Game 4. Julien Brouillette replaced him in the lineup.

Hershey has lost 10 straight playoff games at WBS and has gone 3-12 overall.

The home team won every game in the series.

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Ryan Potulny scores lone BEARS goal in 2-1 setback

Tonight's winner advances to the Eastern Conference Semifinals

The iconic trio from “Slap Shot,” wearing their trademark Charlestown Chiefs jerseys and thick-rimmed glasses, delivered a pump-up talk.

Before departing Giant Center for Saturday night’s deciding Game 5 against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the Hershey Bears got a surprise locker room visit from the Hanson Brothers.

Hershey BearsChristian Hanson

The iconic trio from “Slap Shot,” wearing their trademark Charlestown Chiefs jerseys and thick-rimmed glasses, delivered a pump-up talk.

“The message was this is gut-check time and go out there and play some old-time hockey like Eddie Shore,” said Dave Hanson, father of injured Bears forward Christian Hanson.

“They were pumped. We’ve all been through this. Some of those kids haven’t. It’s a time where you’ve got to be focused and concentrated, but you’ve got to be relaxed, too. So we just went in and tried to loosen them up a little bit and make this day kind of special for them.”

The Hanson Brothers, scheduled to make a Saturday charity appearance at 5 p.m. at Klick-Lewis Arena in Annville to benefit the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, hid in the visitor’s locker room before marching into the home locker room.

“We’ll take advantage of some of the — I don’t know if you call it nepotism or relationships that we have on this team,” Bears head coach Mark French said.

The Bears are bidding to become just the 10th team in AHL history to lose the first two games of a best-of-five and come back to win the series.

“If you’d asked anyone after how bad we played in Games 1 and 2 if we had a chance, from the outside looking in it didn’t look very good,” Bears defenseman Patrick Wellar said. “We came out, gave ourselves a chance. The belief was always there in the locker room.

“We’re very, very excited about tonight. We know Wilkes plays a lot better at home and the challenge is great, but we’re hoping to seize the moment.”

The Chicago Wolves, who forced a Game 5 after losing the first two games of their first-round series with the San Antonio Rampage, lost the deciding contest in double-overtime Friday night.

“Elimination games, you kind of prepare for everything,” French said.

“I think the best way for us to approach it is like we have. We’ve been very businesslike. Hopefully, we can continue to get better with each game, which I think has been important.”

French said Patrick McNeill (upper body) has been ruled out for Game 5.

“The confidence is higher,” Wellar said. “We’ve gotten to their defense a little bit. We’ve sustained some more offensive pressure, which we had pretty much zero in the first two games. So we know that we’re able to create a little more.

“But with Game 7’s and Game 5’s, basically, it can be a bit of a crapshoot. We know anything can happen in these one-game eliminations. It can come down to a goalie, one play, so we just need to make sure we focus on every puck decision and make sure we’re making smart plays all over the ice to give ourselves a chance.”