The Hershey Bears are in unfamiliar territory, facing elimination for the second straight round, this time at the hands of the Charlotte Checkers. But, one day before Game 3, they're getting a big boost, as the Washington Capitals assigned top prospect Andrew Cristall there on Tuesday.
Cristall provides the Bears with another interesting forward option going into an elimination game as a top scorer and one of D.C.'s most promising up-and-comers.
Cristall is coming off a record year in the WHL, where he had 48 goals and 84 assists for 132 points in just 57 regular season games split between the Kelowna Rockets and Spokane Chiefs. He didn't stop there, putting up 21 goals and 20 assists for 41 points in 19 playoff games to help Spokane to the WHL final, where the Chiefs ultimately fell to the Medicine Hat Tigers.
The 20-year-old almost made the Capitals opening night roster this past season after an impressive training camp, but was ultimately sent back down to the WHL to continue building on his success. It proved to be the right choice, and going into next season, he's primed to make noise and compete for a spot and, at the very least, be a regular at the AHL level next season.
Hershey returns home to take on the Checkers on Wednesday. It's unclear if the Bears would throw Cristall right into AHL action, though he does provide good playmaking and offense that just hasn't been clicking to open this series.