Photo Credit: @paulspicsnj

The Huntsmen continued their playoff push through the South Division against the #2 seed New Jersey Bears. After a roller coaster seven meetings in the regular season, both teams turned the page and battled it out in the playoffs.

Game 1 at Bears

New Jersey scored in the opening minutes of the game, and it was the only goal of the period. Midway through the 2nd , the Bears doubled their lead with a power play goal. New Jersey continued to roll by scoring on a rebound chance to extend the lead 3-0. Bram Rohrbach (1) finally put the Huntsmen on the board near the end of the period. Mostoller centered the puck making its way to Zelko in front of the net. Zelko’s shot was saved by the goalie, but Rohrbach sent the rebound home to make it a 3-1 game. In the 3rd, the Bears added another goal, taking a 4-1 lead. The Huntsmen couldn’t keep up with NJ and lost game 1.

Game 2 vs Bears

Both teams exchanged scoring opportunities in a quick moving 1st period, but it ended scoreless. In the 2nd, Rohrbach (2) gave the Huntsmen the lead. Zelko deflected a clearing from the Huntsmen zone. Rohrbach sent it forward through the New Jersey defense. The puck was loose and Rohrbach beat the defenders to the puck and scored on the backhand. At the midway point, the Huntsmen scored two quick goals. Mostoller sent a shot on goal and Braden Kozlowski (2) put the rebound into the net for the 2-0  lead. Less than a minute later, Carter Hritz (1) added to the lead. The puck was loose in front of the New Jersey goal. Mirigliano and Bach were digging for it but the puck found its way back to Hritz and he fired it home for the 3-0 lead. The Bears called timeout. After the timeout, New Jersey did get on the board late in the period and it was 3-1. A power play goal by Johnny Reis (1) gave the momentum back to PA early in the 3rd period. Mirigliano sent the puck to Lahetla behind the net in the offensive zone. Lahtela slid the puck to Reis, and he buried the shot to extend the lead 4-1. After a successful penalty kill Jan Bach (1) tallied for the Huntsmen. Pennsylvania dumped the puck as the NJ power play expired. Rohrbach raced to it and then found Bach wide open in front of the net for the goal. A few minutes later, the Bears scored their second goal of the night. Mirigliano finished the game with an exclamation point with a beautiful move for his 4th of the playoffs and the Huntsmen dominated with a 6-2 win. Holden Bates was solid in net making 38 saves.

Game 3 at Bears

The third game in as many days with the season on the line and a trip to the South Division Finals hung in the balance. It was the 10th and final time these teams would meet this season. It was a dream start for the Huntsmen as they jumped out to a 2-0 lead less than 7 minutes into the game. The dynamic duo of Mirigliano and Kozlowski got things started for PA. Kozlowski from the near wall centered the puck to Mirigliano (5) and he sent a missile into the net for the 1-0 lead. A few minutes later Kozlowski and Mirigliano teamed up, worked the puck from the corner and Tristan Ochranek buried his chance and the Huntsmen led 2-0. The Bears fought back with a rebound goal to cut the deficit. Less than a minute into the 2nd Jan Bach set up Carter Hritz (2) and he scored on the backhand to give PA a 3-1 lead. Kozlowski (3) put the Huntsmen back on the scoresheet thanks to good puck movement by Bach and Hritz. The Bears kept pace to stay in it and made it a 4-2 game to end the 2nd. The Huntsmen had an early power play in the 3rd, but the Bears scored shorthanded making it 4-3. The Bears tied the game as a shot from the point was deflected through and made it into the net. Mirigliano (6) swung the momentum back in the Huntsmen’s favor when he stole the puck at the NJ blueline and scored on the breakaway to retake the lead 5-4. Late in the game, the Bears emptied the net for the extra attacker, but Jan Bach (2) provided the ENG for the Huntsmen and a 6-4 win. Victor Strnad made 47 saves in the win.

The Huntsmen are now headed for the South Division Finals where they will face their toughest test of the playoffs, the New Jersey 87s. It will be another best of 3 series with a trip to the Regional Finals on the line. Full playoff preview coming later this week.

By: Joe Sindoni

Staff Writer

Play by Play Announcer