CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Calder Cup finals in the AHL have been anything but predictable.  Neither the Texas Stars nor the Hershey Bears have successfully defended home ice through the first four games of the series.  On Wednesday night, the Bears shut down the Stars with another strong defensive effort and took home ice advantage back from Texas.  With the win, the Bears forced the series to return to their home in Hershey.

Hershey defenseman John Carlson scored the game-winning goal with 2:08 left in the third period, lifting the Bears over the Stars. Hershey forwards Keith Aucoin, Jay Beagle and Alexandre Giroux each scored a goal. Hershey goalie Michal Neuvirth made 26 saves in the win, while Texas goalie Matt Climie stopped 25 of 28 Bears shots.

Stars centers Greg Rallo and Perttu Lindgren each notched a goal, and forward Travis Morin added two assists in the defeat at home. Texas will host Game 5 of the Calder Cup Finals on Friday night at 7:30 PM at Cedar Park Center.

Hershey opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 5:17 of the first period. Forward Keith Aucoin received a pass from Alexandre Giroux, and slipped a shot from the corner past Stars goalie Matt Climie.

Texas countered with 2:27 remaining in the period, tying the game 1-1. Center Greg Rallo ripped a slapshot from the high slot, beating Bears goalie Michal Neuvirth on the gloveside. Defenseman Dan Jancevski and forward Travis Morin set up Rallo’s third goal of the playoffs.

At 10:47 of the second period, the Stars went ahead 2-1 with a power-play goal from center Perttu Lindgren. Defenseman Garrett Stafford faked a shot at the blueline and sent a cross-ice pass to Lindgren, who carried the puck to the top of the left-wing circle and fired a shot to the net.

The Bears tied the game 2-2 after forward Jay Beagle capitalized off a turnover in the Texas zone, sending a shot past Climie on the gloveside. Mathieu Perrault and defenseman Patrick McNeill assisted Beagle’s second goal of the playoffs, which came at 13:45 of the middle frame.

The game remained tied 2-2 until defenseman John Carlson scored a power-play goal for Hershey in the third period, giving the Bears a 3-2 lead. Carlson’s first goal of the postseason was scored from the slot with 2:08 left on the clock. Keith Aucoin and winger Chris Bourque set up the eventual game winner. Giroux added an empty-net goal with 27 seconds remaining, lifting the Bears to a 4-2 victory over the Stars.

The Texas Stars need to recover that magic that got them to the Calder Cup and helped build their 2-0 series lead.  The Bears have clearly taken momentum away from the upstarts Stars with the veteran leadership and seemingly unlimited experience when compared to the Stars. 

But this is a Texas team that has bounced back from deeper holes this post season and one more game in Cedar Park may be the tonic needed.

Contact Lou.Lafrado@prohockeynews.com