Hershey’s Prospects Are Putting King in a Playoff Bind

TL;DR

Derek King is navigating playoff challenges with the Hershey Bears by managing ice time among his players. He aims to balance line usage while relying on his top line to secure wins in a competitive series against the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins.

Key points

Derek King is coaching the Hershey Bears in the playoffs.
King aims to balance ice time among players.
The Bears won the series against the Bridgeport Islanders.
King's top line is critical for winning games.
The series against the Penguins is testing King's strategies.

Hershey BearsWilkes-Barre Scranton PenguinsBridgeport Islanders

The playoffs show the true colors of a head coach and how they manage a game or a series. How do they use ice time, a finite resource that must be divided among four forward lines and three defense pairs? Do they roll the lines, lean on one, or match them with the opponent and the situation? Every game is a battle, and every series is a war, so how does a coach manage that?

Derek King made it clear early on in the playoffs how he wants to coach the Hershey Bears. “I just roll them. I try not to match lines,” he noted after Game Two win over the Bridgeport Islanders, a game where they won 5-2 to win the series. In the win over the Islanders, he rolled all four lines. In the recent game against the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, he didn’t. “I try to manage it, it just depends on situations,” King mentioned after the victory that evened up the series at one win apiece.

This series against the Penguins is putting King to the test. He wants to ice a balanced team and avoid overworking any lines. That said, the top line is his best, and he’s turned to it to win games, notably the 2-1 win over the Penguins in Game Two. “Our young guys are putting up points but I don’t want to tire them out,” King added after the win.

Capitals Prospects Are Carrying The Bears

The Ilya Protas line, with Andrew Cristall and Bogdan Trineyev on the wings, has been incredible. All three skaters have a team-leading five points through four playoff games and have scored six of the team’s 11 goals.

They’ve carried the offense to put it lightly. The Protas line made the 4-2 Game One loss close and was the reason the Bears won Game Two, along with a 36-save performance from Clay Stevenson.

Protas particularly stood out. “He’s a special player, he’s a pro,” King noted on his top-line center, who played in every situation and assisted the power play goal in the first period that put the Bears on the board. “He makes some great plays out there. His poise, patience, and vision with the puck, he’s going to be a special player,” Brett Leason, who scored that goal because Protas got the puck to the net, added.

Q&A

How is Derek King managing ice time for the Hershey Bears in the playoffs?

Derek King is rolling all four lines to manage ice time, but adjusts based on game situations and relies on his top line when necessary.

What strategy did King use in the Hershey Bears' playoff series against the Penguins?

King's strategy involves balancing line usage while leaning on his best line to secure crucial wins, as seen in their recent 2-1 victory.

What were the results of the Hershey Bears' playoff games against the Bridgeport Islanders?

The Hershey Bears won the series against the Bridgeport Islanders, clinching it with a 5-2 victory in Game Two.

Why is the playoff performance of Hershey's prospects significant for the team?

The performance of Hershey's prospects is crucial as it impacts the team's ability to compete effectively in the playoffs and supports their playoff strategy.