bears-jakub vrana

Young Hershey forward Jakub Vrana and the rest of the Bears begin their AHL postseason run with Friday's Game 1 at Portland. PennLive photo by Daniel Zampogna

Hershey's final regular-season game meant little to the Bears in terms of their standing in the AHL. They had already clinched the Atlantic Division title and we're counting down the hours last Sunday until they learned the identity of their first-round opponent (Portland).

Troy Mann did rest a couple of key players, notably AHL MVP Chris Bourque, but those who played against the Pens went all-out in a 2-1 shootout win at Giant Center.

The effort in that one speaks to the compete level of this team, a young that that is capable of making a deep run in the AHL playoffs, beginning with Hershey's best-of-five with Portland that begins Friday in Portland. Opening face-off is at 7 p.m.

And during the game with W-B/Scranton, you saw a variety of the skills that Hershey rookie forward Jakub Vrana possesses.

With Bourque out, the speedy 20-year-old played the point of the Bears' power play, notching a third-period goal on a rocket of a shot that beat Pens goalie Casey DeSmith.

And Vrana showcased his speed later in the period. He raced back to break up a possible W-B/Scranton breakaway on Hershey rookie goalie Vitek Vanecek and drawing a slashing penalty on the Pens' Tom Kostopoulos in the final minute that created a 5-on-3 chance for the Bears.

Following the game, Vrana took on the role of interpreter, helping translate questions for Vanecek, who was superb in turning away 25 saves to earn the win. Both Vrana and Vanecek are from Czech Republic.

"I was very excited. It was nice to see (Vanecek) comfortable out there,'' Vrana said afterward.

"He had a great game today and I'm happy for him.''

Mann, the Bears' head coach, knows he is leading a young Hershey team into the postseason. Eight players who play prominent roles are 22 or younger. Defenseman Madison Bowey and forward Chandler Stephenson will be celebrating birthdays Friday when the Bears square off against Portland for Game 1.

Bowey will turn 21, Stephenson 22.

"I believe the young guys drive the bus of the team,'' Mann said.

"The engine is the young guys right now. We've got some key guys, from the (Ryan) Stantons, the (Chris) Bourques, the (Zach) Sills of the world, they're kind of the core leadership group.

"But if you go back in the history of the Calder Cup, it's the young teams that come through and end up winning the Calder Cup. Next thing you know, eight or nine guys are playing in the NHL and it's not different from our 2009-10 team.''

Vrana's goal Sunday was his 16th in 36 games. He has 34 points and has established himself as one of the Bears' most dangerous offensive players. But Vrana's play to draw the slashing penalty also shows he is committed to playing defense.

"I just tried to pull the puck out,'' Vrana said of his defensive play.

"You know those slashing (penalties), they happen every time in the game, in the corners. But this happened right in the middle and the referee called it and that's how it is.''

Added Mann: "I thought that was a a great back-check there that created the 5-on-3 for us.''

PIRATES NAMES TO KNOW: Forward Rob Schremp led Portland in scoring during the regular season, scoring 21 goals and adding 21 assists. One of the Pirates better all-around forwards is Wayne Simpson, who totaled 36 points (8 goals, 28 assists) and is the team's plus-minus leader at +20. Lead goalie Mike McKenna was 33-17-2 during the regular season with a 2.45 goals-against average and a save percentage of .921.

BEARS ADD VETERAN MONARDO: Hershey continues to tinker with its lineup as it preps for Game 1 in Portland on Friday. The Bears added forward Domenic Monardo to their roster via a PTO contract this week. Monardo, 27, played with Springfield this season, scoring eight goals and five assists in 44 games. Hershey management knows Monardo well from the Bears' previous affiliation with the ECHL's Reading Royals. Monardo played for Reading in 2013-14, scoring 27 goals and 19 assists in 70 games.