The Capitals' AHL affiliate managed a 5-4 overtime win over the Firebirds for a second consecutive Calder Cup title.
The Washington Capitals' AHL affiliate Hershey Bears are Calder Cup champions once again, and they have Matthew Strome — and more familiar faces — to thank.
Matt Strome, the younger brother of Capitals center Dylan, scored the series winner and Washington prospect Pierrick Dubé had a hat trick en route to a 5-4 victory over the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
Strome scored the Cup-clinching goal just 1:06 minutes into overtime, jumping on a loose puck that was kept in the offensive zone after a strong forecheck from Riley Sutter.
Older brother Dylan took to Twitter after his goal to congratulate his sibling, who fought his way into the lineup and stayed there after impressing.
Hendrix Lapierre also scored and added an assist, finishing his playoff run as the AHL's leading scorer this postseason with 22 points in 20 games. Lapierre won the Jack Butterfield Trophy as the Calder Cup Playoffs MVP.
Prospect Alex Limoges also had two assists, and Chase Priskie, Joe Snively, Bogdan Trineyev and Sutter, along with Hershey signee Jimmy Huntington, also chipped in helpers.
Hunter Shepard finished the game with 17 saves on 21 shots and came up big to help carry his team to a win. The Bears were also dealing with numerous injuries, as Vincent Iorio, Aaron Ness, Lucas Johansen and Garrett Roe were all out with ailments.
This is the 13th Calder Cup for Hershey, and its second in as many years. The Bears also defeated Coachella Valley last season for the title.
It is also the first championship for first-year AHLers and D.C. up-and-comers Ivan Miroshnichenko and Hardy Häman Aktell.