Bears Win Calder; It's Time for Summer

The Hershey Bears won their second consecutive Calder Cup championship on Monday night, defeating the Texas Stars, 4-0.

The victory completed a winning run of four consecutive games for the Bears, who spotted the Texas Stars a 2-0 lead in this American Hockey League series before coming back with three victories in Texas and the series-clincher back in Hershey. The Bears get another entry on the list of AHL champions; it is Hershey's 11th Calder Cup title.

This officially concludes the 2009-10 season, giving the Lounge some time to unwind with a few draft previews, some cold adult beverages and the NHL Network's off-season fare, which will include classic Stanley Cup finals, every game from this past Stanley Cup tournament.

It all gets serious once again around the first week of September when the rookies compete in the fine prospects tournament at Traverse City, Mich. That's certainly something to look forward to.

AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Calder Cup Finals
At Hershey 4, Texas 0
(Hershey wins, 3-2)
Recap is here
Hershey Bears, 2010 Calder Cup Champions

Hershey Takes Lead in Calder Series

There's at least one game left in the hockey season, and it will be played in Hershey on Monday night.

The Hershey Bears took all three games played in Texas and will now have a chance to clinch the Calder Cup on home ice after a 2-1 overtime victory on Friday night. The Stars led the series with road victories in Games 1 and 2, but the Bears topped that mark with three road victories to gain the advantage.

Monday's game and Game 7, if needed, will be televised by the NHL Network, starting at 7 Eastern. The full spreadsheet report on the series is below.

AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Calder Cup Finals
Hershey 2, at Texas 1 OT
(Hershey leads, 3-2)
Recap is here.

Kane Ends Chicago's Wait for the Cup

It wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I stated that Patrick Kane was the X-factor in this series, but his overtime goal in Game 6 was exactly what the Chicago Blackhawks needed to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-3, to claim the Stanley Cup.

And now comes the hard part for the franchise, which will next face the accountants who will help them scan the roster and trim the payroll to fit under the salary cap next season. (Sporting News Today offers Kris Versteeg, Patrick Sharp and Dustin Byfuglien as candidates for departure. Consider and discuss. Who are your candidates?)

There will be some pain this summer. Some critical figures in the dressing room will be on the move. Some champagne or cold beer in the Stanley Cup should help make that part of the story go down better.



Next up is the rest of the American Hockey League's Calder Cup finals (check the spreadsheet bookwork below for all the details) and then the NHL draft. After that, I put the Lounge's remote control on the shelf, open up the blinds and throw out about 400 pounds of notes, box scores, magazines, schedules, power-play diagrams, depth charts and take-out menus.

And after that, summer is officially marked in the Lounge by watching the NHL Network, which shows every game of the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs, from the first to the last. Thanks to better technology, good cable plans and some fortysomething eyes that can still get the job done, I watched all but 6 games this spring. Gotta do better than that next year.

The CBC always does a good job on video montages to sum up the playoffs, and I thought they would be hard pressed to top the production of last season, which was put to the fine tune "Sleeping Sickness" by City & Colour (for my money, ain't no flaws there). This year the Smashing Pumpkins' "Tonight, Tonight" gets the call.

And while I might have been disappointed by the song, the footage remains top shelf. Seeing Jean Béliveau giving the Canadiens' Glen Metropolit a note of encouragement is enough for me. I hope it is for you.

Don't forget about us here in the Lounge this summer. We'll be here. Thanks for dropping in.



NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Stanley Cup Finals
Best of 7
Chicago 4, at Philadelphia 3 OT
(Chicago wins, 4-2)
Recap is here.
Three stars by Puck Daddy.
Chicago Blackhawks, 2010 Stanley Cup Champions



AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Calder Cup Finals
Best of 7
Hershey 4, at Texas 2
(Series tied, 2-2)
Recap is here.

Hershey Gets Back in Calder Series

Andrew Gordon, Kyle Wilson and Mathieu Perrault each had two goals to rally the Hershey Bears to a 6-3 victory in Game 3 of the AHL's Calder Cup finals. With the victory, the Bears trail the Texas Stars, 2-1, with Game 4 set for Wednesday.

Should Texas win on Wednesday, the Stars could clinch at home on Friday night. Game 6, if needed, is June 14 in Hershey. Game 7 would be on June 16.

Below is the spreadsheet bookwork on the series.

AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Calder Cup Finals
Best of 7
Hershey 6, at Texas 3
(Texas leads, 2-1)
Recap is here.

Texas Takes 2 in Calder Cup Finals

Travis Morin's goal in the final minute of regulation time gives the Texas Stars a rather big advantage as they try to claim the Calder Cup in the final series of the American Hockey League playoffs.

With Texas' 4-3 victory, the Stars lead the series, 2-0, with the series moving to the Austin area for the next three games. Game 3 is Monday night and Game 4 is Wednesday night. If needed, Game 5 is Friday night. Hershey would be the host for Games 6 and 7, if needed.

AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Calder Cup Finals
Best of 7
Texas 4, at Hershey 3
(Texas leads, 2-0)
Recap is here.

Hockey Week in Eastern Pennsylvania

Yesterday it was Philadelphia. Today, it's Hershey, Pa., where the American Hockey League's Calder Cup finals begin tonight. The Texas Stars, the top minor-league affiliate of Dallas, is the the opponent for the Hershey Bears, the top affiliate of the Washington Capitals.

The Bears have been idle since May 22, when they closed out the Manchester Monarchs in the Eastern Conference finals. Texas eliminated the Hamilton Bulldogs on May 26. Both teams should be rested and ready to determine which team is the best of the AHL.

Here's the Bears' roster, and here is the roster for the Stars.

Test the Internet radio links on the teams' Web sites (look for click here to listen on the site) to hear the game action, if you do not get the game on a regional TV outlets or subscribe to the AHL's live Web video stream. (Texas link is here; Hershey link is here.)