Live-Blogging Shish on Professional Ice Hockey: 2023 Calder Cup Finals-Game 7-Hershey Bears at Coachella Valley Firebirds 06/21/2023

AHL Live Stream

2023 Calder Cup Finals: Game 7-Hershey Bears at Coachella Valley Firebirds

Announcers; Evan Pivnick, Grant Fuhr

​Hello, and welcome to another edition of ‘Live-Blogging Shish on Professional Ice Hockey’. Tonight, it is Game 7 of American Hockey League’s 2023 Calder Cup Finals, between the Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals AHL Affiliate) and Coachella Valley Firebirds (Seattle Kraken Affiliate).
​
In this series, the home team has won every game. That sounds well for the Firebirds. But if lose this game, the Chocolate & White will capture their 12th Calder Cup Finals.
 
It will come down to both goaltenders Hunter Shepard and Joey Daccord. For the Bears, they need to stay out of the penalty box. They only killed one penalty in Game 6. For the Firebirds, keep the offensive pressure on Shepard.
 
It is the Hershey Bears and Coachella Valley Firebirds, in Game 7 of the 2023 Calder Cup Finals. Game 7 will begin shortly.
​
Possible Starting Lineups:
Hershey Bears:
Forwards: Vecchione, Borgstrom, Frank
Defense: Ness, Day
Goalkeeper: Hunter Shepard
 
Coachella Valley Firebirds:
Forwards: True, Lind, McCormick
Defense: Rafferty, Evans
Goalkeeper:  Joey Daccord

Bears are in their road white sweaters and caps, with chocolate pants. While the Firebirds are in their black uniforms. 

1st Period:
​20:00: Firebirds win faceoff, center ice. Coachella to defend the left net. While Hershey to defend the right net. 
19:53: Bears win faceoff. Right Circle of Coachella's Zone.
19:03: Snively's shot saved by Daccord.
19:03: Firebirds win faceoff. Right Circle of Coachella's Zone.
18:52: Frank's shot saved by Daccord.
18:41: Lapierre's shot saved by Daccord.
18:05: Petman's shot saved by Shepard.
17:26: Hayden's shot saved by Shepard.
17:01: Wright's shot saved by Shepard.
17:01: Firebirds win faceoff. Right Circle of Hershey's Zone.
16:37: True's shot saved by Shepard.
16:27: True's shot saved by Shepard.
15:50: Snively's shot saved by Daccord.
15:19: GOAL: Ryker Evans scored a goal, for the Firebirds. HER 0, CV 1
13:56: Media Timeout #1: HER 0, CV 1
​
13:37: True's shot saved by Shepard.
12:00: Bears win faceoff. Left Red Dot of Coachella's Blue Line.
11:08: Wittchow's shot saved by Shepard.
11:03: Schuldt's shot saved by Shepard.
11:03: Firebirds win faceoff. Right Circle of Hershey's Zone.
8:52: Poturalski's shot saved by Shepard.
8:51: Schuldt's shot saved by Shepard.
7:42: Pilon's shot saved by Daccord.
7:42: T.V. Timeout #2: HER 0, CV 1


​7:42: Bears win faceoff. Left Circle of Coachella's Zone.
6:46: Borgstrom's shot saved by Daccord.
5:49: Lapierre's shot saved by Daccord.
5:49: T.V. Timeout #3: HER 0, CV 1

​5:14: Kartye's shot saved by Shepard.
5:07: Day's shot saved by Daccord.
4:52: Lind's shot saved by Shepard.
4:49: Bears win faceoff. Left Circle of Hershey's Zone.
4:32: Malenstyn's shot saved by Daccord.
4:18: PENALTY: Garret Pilon called 2-minutes for high-sticking. Firebirds Power Play.
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4:08: Kartye's shot saved by Shepard.
2:18: Bears return to full strength.
2:13: Bears win faceoff. Right Circle of Hershey's Zone.
1:58: Firebirds win faceoff. Right Circle of Coachella's Zone.
1:41: Petman's shot saved by Shepard.
:45: Johansen's shot saved by Daccord.
​:33: Pilon's shot saved by Daccord.
:00: The End of 1st Period.

1st Intermission:
HER 0, CV 1

1st Period Scoring:
4:41: Ryker Evans (CV) G

1st Intermission Thoughts:
Firebirds are outshooting Bears , but only scored a goal, in the 1st Period.

2nd Period:
20:00: Firebirds win faceoff, center ice. Coachella to defend the right net. While Hershey to defend the left net.
19:36: GOAL: Max McCormick scored a goal, for the Firebirds. HER 0, CV 2
18:28: Tennyson's shot saved by Shepard.
18:28: Bears win faceoff. Left Circle of Hershey's Zone.
18:20: Bears win faceoff. Right Circle of Hershey's Zone.
17:00: Morelli's shot saved by Daccord.
16:13: Firebirds win faceoff. Right Circle of Hershey's Zone.
16:09: Bears win faceoff. Right Circle of Hershey's Zone.
15:34: McIlrath's shot saved by Daccord.
15:34: Firebirds win faceoff. Left Circle of Coachella's Zone.
14:41: Protas' shot saved by Daccord.
14:40: PENALTY: Jeremy McKenna called 2-minutes for slashing. Bears Power Play.
14:40: Firebirds win faceoff. Left Circle of Coachella's Zone.
13:18: Twarynski's shot saved by Shepard.
12:40: Firebirds back to full strength.
12:32: Hayden's shot saved by Shepard.
11:29: Olofsson's shot saved by Shepard.
11:29: T.V. Timeout #4: HER 0, CV 2

​11:29: Firebirds win faceoff. Right Circle of Hershey's Zone.
11:10: McKenna's shot saved by Shepard. 
9:57: Raffety's shot saved by Shepard.
9:57: T.V. Timeout #5: HER 0, CV 2


8:28: Bears win faceoff. Right Circle of Coachella's Zone.
7:51: McCormick's shot saved by Shepard.
7:19: PENALTY: Max McCormick called 2-minutes for tripping. Bears Power Play.
6:08: Snively's shot saved by Daccord.
6:08: POWER PLAY GOAL: Connor McMichael scored a PPG, for the Bears. HER 1, CV 2
6:08: Firebirds win faceoff, center ice.
5:34: Rafferty's shot saved by Shepard.
4:42: McCormick's shot saved by Shepard.
4:42: T.V. Timeout #6: HER 1, CV 2

​4:34: Bears win faceoff. Right Red Dot of Hershey's Blue Line.
2:51: GOAL: Hendrix Lapierre scored a goal, for the Bears. HER 2, CV 2
2:51: Firebirds win faceoff, center ice.
1:42: Bears win faceoff, center ice.
1:29: Bears win faceoff. Left Circle of Hershey's Zone.
:21: McMichael's shot saved by Daccord.
:21: Firebirds win faceoff. Left Circle of Coachella's Zone.
:00: The End of 2nd Period.

2nd Intermission:
HER 2, CV 2

2nd Period Scoring:
:24: McCormick (CV) G
13:52: McMichael (HER) PPG
17:09: Lapierre (HER) G

2nd Intermission Thoughts:
Firebirds get a goal early by Max McCormick. But the Bears answered with 2 goals to tie Game 7 at 2-2. 

3rd Period:
​20:00: Bears win faceoff, center ice. Hershey to defend the right net. While Coachella to defend the left net.
19:25: Bears win faceoff. Left Circle of Coachella's Zone.
18:40: PENALTY: Jesper Froden called 2-minutes for high-sticking. Bears Power Play.
18:03: Bears win faceoff. Left Red Dot of Coachella's Blue Line.
17:10: Firebirds win faceoff. Left Circle of Coachella's Zone.
16:49: Firebirds win faceoff. Right Circle of Coachella's Zone.
16:40: Firebirds return to full strength.
16:16: Bears win faceoff. Right Circle of Coachella's Zone.
16:02: Bears win faceoff. Right Circle of Hershey's Zone.
11:32: McMichael's shot saved by Daccord.
10:42: T.V. Timeout #7: HER 2, CV 2

10:42: Bears win faceoff, center ice.
10:11: Morelli's shot blocked by Daccord.
9:20: Iorio's shot saved by Daccord.
9:20: T.V. Timeout #8: HER 2, CV 2
​
9:20: Bears win faceoff. Right Circle of Coachella's Zone.
9:10: Bears win faceoff. Right Circle of Coachella's Zone.
9:04: PENALTY: Brogan Rafferty called 2-minutes for tripping. Bears Power Play.
8:04: Anas' shot saved by Daccord.
7:59: Pilon' shot saved by Daccord.
7:59: Protas' shot saved by Daccord.
7:59: Firebirds win faceoff. Left Circle of Coachella's Zone.
7:04: Firebirds return to full strength.
3:14: T.V. Timeout #9: HER 2, CV 2

​3:14: Firebirds win faceoff. Right Circle of Hershey's Zone.
3:10: Schuldt's shot saved by Shepard.
3:01: Pilon's shot saved by Daccord.
:00: The End of Regulation.

End of Regulation:
HER 2, CV 2

3rd Intermission Thoughts;
No one scored. So, Hershey and Coachella Valley extend the 2022-23 AHL Season for at least another 20 minutes. Unless someone scored a goal to win the 2023 Calder Cup.

Overtime:
​20:00: Bears win faceoff, center ice.
19:12: Firebirds win faceoff. Right Circle of Coachella's Zone.
18:42: PENALTY: Ethen Frank called 2-minutes for tripping. Firebirds Power Play.
18:42: Bears win faceoff. Left Circle of Hershey's Zone.
18:04: Evans' shot saved by Shepard.
18:04: Firebirds win faceoff. Left Circle of Hershey's Zone.
17:56: Kartye's shot saved by Shepard.
16:42: Bears return to full strength.
16:34: True's shot saved by Shepard.
16:34: Firebirds win faceoff. Left Circle of Hershey's Zone.
16:29: Twarynski's shot saved by Shepard.
16:07: Olofsson's shot saved by Shepard.
15:09: Firebirds win faceoff, center ice.
14:55: McCormick's shot saved by Shepard.
14:37: McMichael's shot saved by Daccord.
14:27: Bears win faceoff. Left Circle of Hershey's Zone.
13:21: Vecchione's shot saved by Daccord.
13:21: Bears win faceoff. Left Circle of Coachella's Zone.
12:22: Lind's shot saved by Shepard.
12:05: Anas' shot saved by Daccord.
12:05: Bears win faceoff. Left Circle of Coachella's Zone.
11:19: Firebirds win faceoff. Right Red Dot of Coachella's Blue Line.
10:11: Bears win faceoff, center ice.
10:03: Bears win faceoff. Right Red Dot of Coachella's Blue Line.
9:33: Lapierre's shot saved by Daccord.
9:14: Snively's shot saved by Daccord.
8:57: T.V. Timeout #10: HER 2, CV 2

​8:57: Bears win faceoff. Left Circle of Coachella's Zone.
8:21: Evans' shot glove saved by Shepard.
8:21: Bears win faceoff. Right Circle of Hershey's Zone.
8:10: Froden's shot saved by Shepard.
8:10: Firebirds win faceoff. Left Circle of Hershey's Zone.
8:10: Bears win faceoff. Left Circle of Hershey's Zone.
7:16: Evans' shot saved by Shepard.
6:58: Kartye's shot saved by Shepard.
6:45: Vecchione's shot saved by Daccord.
6:37: Lapierre's shot saved by Daccord.
6:37: Bears win faceoff. Left Circle of Coachella's Zone.
6:03: Firebirds win faceoff. Left Circle of Coachella's Zone.
5:49: Bears win faceoff. Right Circle of Hershey's Zone.
4:38: Olofsson's shot saved by Shepard.
4:23: Twarynski's shot saved by Shepard.
4:23: Bears win faceoff. Left Circle of Hershey's Zone.
4:17: Firebirds win faceoff. Right Circle of Hershey's Zone.
3:41: CALDER CUP WINNING GOAL: Mike Vecchione scored the Calder Cup Winning Goal to end Game 7 and the 2023 Calder Cup Finals.

Final/OT:
HER 3, CV 2

Hershey Bears win 2023 Calder Cup Finals. Bears captured their 12th Calder Cup in Franchise History. 

Final Stats:
SOG: HER 38, CV 47
PP: HER 1/4, CV 0/2
PIM: HER 4 min/2 in; CV 8 min/4 in

3 Stars of the Game:
1st: Mike Vecchione (HER) GWG
2nd: Hendrix Lapierre (HER) G
3rd: Connor McMichael (HER) G

Both teams are doing their traditional playoff handshakes. 

​Jack Butterfield Trophy goes to Hunter Shepard.

Dylan McIlrath gets to hoist the Calder Cup first as Captain of the Hershey Bears. 
Aaron Ness gets the Cup next. 
The 1st Star of Game 7 Mike Vecchione. 
Sam Anas gets the Cup. 

And so it goes through the Hershey Bears Organization.

Final Thoughts:
Game 7 looked like another blowout by the Firebirds in Acrisure Arena. But Conor McMichael scored a PPG and then Hendrix Lapierre tied the game. Then the game went into overtime and in 16:19 into the extra period, Mike Vecchione scored the Calder Cup Winning Goal, to give the Hershey Bears their 12th Calder Cup in Franchise History.

For the Firebirds, it was a successful inaugaul season. Joey Daccord has nothing to be ashamed of with his playoff performance. It just that in this series he met someone who played better in Hunter Shepard.

Once Again, the Hershey Bears are the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs. 

This is Paul Shishkoff, Junior. This has been 'Live-Blogging Shish on Professional Ice Hockey'. Thanks for visiting this post.