Tyson Strachan

FILE PHOTO: Tyson Strachan scored Hershey's lone goal in Friday night's 3-1 loss at Norfolk. Christine Baker | cbaker@pennlive.com

(CHRISTINE BAKER)

Dave Steckel helped the Hershey Bears win the Calder Cup in 2005-06.

The Norfolk Admirals centerman helped end Hershey's 2013-14 playoff hopes Friday night at Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, Va.

Steckel's goal with 59.8 seconds left in the second period broke a 1-1 tie and stood as the game-winner in a 3-1 Norfolk win that eliminated Hershey from playoff contention.

It marks the first time since 2004-05 that Hershey failed to qualify for the Calder Cup playoffs. The end of an eight-year playoff run also marks the first time that the Bears failed to make the postseason since their affiliation with the Washington Capitals began in 2005-06.

The Caps, who failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs, played a lame duck regular-season finale against Tampa Bay at Verizon Center on Sunday. The Bears will do the same Saturday night when the Adirondack Phantoms visit Giant Center for a game that will spell the end of a 2013-14 season that began with high expectations and concludes with stunning non-playoff disappointment.

The win clinched a playoff berth for Norfolk. The Providence Bruins also clinched with a 2-1 overtime win over the Manchester Monarchs.

Norfolk's Emerson Etem and Hershey's Tyson Strachan traded first-period goals. Norfolk's Max Friberg scored an empty-netter with 27.6 seconds left in the third.

The Bears, handicapped by a power play that continued to be unproductive, went 0-for-4 Friday night and a combined 0-for-9 in back-to-back losses to Norfolk. Hershey has gone 1-for-31 (3.2 percent) in the last nine games.

Bears goalie Philipp Grubauer, making his fourth straight start, made 23 saves.

NOTEBOOK

Casey Wellman was sidelined by a minor undisclosed injury. Matt Watkins returned to the lineup after missing two games with an upper body injury.

Chandler Stephenson, who scored a goal in his pro debut Wednesday night, was scratched as Hershey dressed seven defensemen.

Texas Stars forward Travis Morin, who played five games for Hershey spanning 2007-09, was named the winner of the Les Cunningham Award as the AHL's MVP.

The Binghamton Senators beat the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 5-4 to clinch the East Division title.

Hershey went 3-4-0-1 in the season series against Norfolk.

Hershey 1 0 0 - 1

Norfolk 1 1 1 - 3

1st Period-1, Norfolk, Etem 24 (Karlsson), 2:19. 2, Hershey, Strachan 4 (Segal, Deschamps), 14:53. Penalties-Byers Her (boarding), 7:46; Eminger Nor (delay of game), 10:33.

2nd Period-3, Norfolk, Steckel 10 (Kerdiles, Wagner), 19:00. Penalties-Fistric Nor (cross-checking), 6:37; Segal Her (hooking), 11:32; Fistric Nor (slashing), 14:41; Schilling Her (holding the stick), 16:58.

3rd Period-4, Norfolk, Friberg 17 (Karlsson, Eminger), 19:32 (EN). Penalties-Bailey Nor (holding), 4:47.

Shots on Goal-Hershey 9-7-6-22. Norfolk 6-10-10-26.

Power Play Opportunities-Hershey 0 / 4; Norfolk 0 / 3.

Goalies-Hershey, Grubauer 13-13-2 (25 shots-23 saves). Norfolk, Thiessen 8-6-2 (22 shots-21 saves).

A-8,701

Referees-Mark Lemelin (41), Jamie Koharski (84).

Linesmen-Trent Knorr (63), Tom George (61).

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