HERSHEY, Pa. --- The Albany River Rats and Hershey Bears each exchanged a power-play goal in the second period for a 2-2 tie as Game 1 of the East Division final series heads into the third period.
The Rats ended their drought on the power play as Jerome Samson scored on a blast from the right faceoff circle at 6:40 of the second period.
Albany had gone 0-for-20 on the power play in their East Division semifinal series against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and went scoreless on its first two man advantages against Hershey before breaking through with Samson's goal.
The Bears pulled even at 2-2 on Andrew Gordon's power-play goal at 15:47 as he converted on an Alexandre Giroux rebound.
In the first period, Hershey struck first as former River Rat Keith Aucoin sent a pass from behind the net in front to Andrew Gordon, who one-timed a drive past goalie Justin Peters four minutes into the game.
Rookie winger Drayson Bowman drew Albany even as his shot from outside the right faceoff circle and along the boards eluded goalie Michal Neuvirth at 8:20.