Hershey tops Rochester in overtime, Amerks clinch playoff berth

Hershey forced Rochester into a full postseason dress rehearsal and won it 5-4 in overtime at GIANT Center, a finale that delivered the tension, pace and bite of April hockey. The Bears finished the regular season 32-31-6-3, while the Americans closed at 31-31-6-4 after earning the point they needed to clinch a Calder Cup Playoff berth.

That is what made the afternoon matter beyond the score. Rochester needed at least one point to lock up its place in the bracket, and it got there by rallying in the third period before the overtime loss. The Americans still finished fifth in the AHL North Division, and the result sent them into the postseason with a first-round matchup against the Toronto Marlies in a best-of-three series. Game 1 was set for Wednesday, April 22, in Toronto, Game 2 for Friday, April 24, at Blue Cross Arena, and Game 3, if necessary, for Sunday, April 26, in Toronto.

The game itself was built on swings. Hershey and Rochester traded momentum throughout the afternoon, and the crowd at GIANT Center got the kind of finish that usually shows up when two teams have already seen enough of each other to know every inch matters. Andrew Mossbrooks, Chris Douglas, Riley Fiddler-Schultz, Brendan Warren and Jon McDonald were among the names in a game that kept changing shape as the score climbed to 5-4.

For Rochester, the point was the prize, and it came with a piece of franchise history attached. TheAHL said the berth was the Americans’ 51st playoff appearance during the club’s 70th anniversary season, a milestone that gives this late-season escape more weight than a simple standings update. Rochester entered the final day under pressure and came out with a ticket to the postseason.

For Hershey, the message was different but just as useful. The Bears did not just beat a playoff team; they did it in the same building where they had taken another 5-4 decision over Rochester on January 19, 2025. If these clubs meet again, the pattern is already loud: neither side is built for a comfortable series, and one clean shift could decide the whole thing.