Hershey Bears eliminated from playoffs after dramatic 10-second sequence sees Andrew Cristall miss empty net and Penguins score game-winning shorthanded goal
RMNB • • sports
Key Points:
- The Hershey Bears were eliminated from the 2025-26 season after losing Game 4 of the Atlantic Division Semifinals 4-1 to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, dropping the best-of-five series in four games.
- A critical moment occurred when rookie Andrew Cristall missed a wide-open net on a power play, leading to a quick counterattack and the Penguins' game-winning goal, which proved to be the decisive turning point.
- Head coach Derek King noted the team's season was marked by similar misfortunes, with missed chances and opponents capitalizing on opportunities, emphasizing the growth potential of his young players.
- Despite the miss, Cristall was the Bears' top postseason scorer with seven points in six games, and King encouraged him to focus on the opportunities rather than the missed shot.
- Hershey's power play faltered in the latter periods, failing to convert on five chances, with key players Ilya Protas and Bogdan Trineyev not recording points for the first time this postseason.
