Calder Cup Finals Game 3 live: Hershey Bears 5, Firebirds 4 (OT, final)

Well, the Calder Cup Finals will be a series after all.

The Hershey Bears watched a two-goal third-period lead evaporate as the Coachella Valley Firebirds scored twice to force overtime. But Riley Sutter scored his second goal of the playoffs with 6:26 remaining in overtime to send the Bears to a crucial victory over the Firebirds.

Coachella Valley still leads the best-of-7 series 2-1.

Cameron Hughes of the Firebirds tied the game at 4-4 with 50 seconds remaining to quiet the Giant Center in Hershey and send the game to overtime. The Firebirds trailed by two goals with five minutes to play before the furious rally marked by two Hughes' scores.

After failing to score in the first two games of the series, Hershey held a 4-2 lead late in the third period before 10,580 fans in Hershey.

Hershey grabbed a 3-1 lead earlier Tuesday by scoring two goals in the second period. The Bears snapped a 1-1 tie with their second goal of the game barely a minute into the second period. Another late goal gave Hershey a 3-1 lead over Coachella Valley after two periods.

Hershey scored for the first time in the series on a power play, snapping a scoreless drought of more than 133 minutes. The Firebirds tied the game at 1-1 late in the period on their own goal with a man advantage. The first period ended with the score tied.

Game 2 of the Calder Cup Finals on Saturday was another sellout at Acrisure Arena, and the fans went home happy after a convincing 4-0 win. That gave the Firebirds a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

And now the Acrisure Arena can consider itself record-breaking. With Saturday's crowd, a fourth consecutive sellout, the Firebirds' postseason home attendance has now reached 117,879 fans. That's the most in the history of the American Hockey League, passing the 2009 Manitoba Moose who saw 116,095 fans pass through their gates. To be fair, the Firebirds have played 14 home games and Manitoba played 11 home games in 2009, but a record-breaking effort nonetheless by the Firebird faithful at Acrisure Arena.

The support hasn't gone unnoticed. Fan favorite Joey Daccord said as much after Saturday night's win.

"It's been really special. It's never happened before this year, and it will probably never happen again the way I've been supported this year, and I'm just super grateful and appreciative," Daccord said. "The support has blown us all away, it's been absolutely bananas. I have some friends who have been tuning in more frequently during the playoffs and they're like 'Wow! The arena sounds crazy,' and I'm like 'Dude. It's like that every game.'"

And all that fan support is working. The Firebirds have won six straight home games spanning three different playoff series, scoring at least four goals in all six games.

Check back here for live gameday updates throughout Tuesday.

• Column: Firebirds were both lucky and good in lopsided Calder Cup win over Hershey

• Fans: Coachella Valley Firebirds bring old-school hockey lovers, new fans together

Calder Cup Finals: First OT update

Riley Sutter scored his second goal of the playoffs with 6:26 remaining in overtime to send the Bears to a crucial victory over the Firebirds.

Sutter scored with assists from Mason Morelli and Beck Malenstyn.

Coachella Valley oushot Hershey 6-4 in the period, but the Bears scored the game-winner.

Calder Cup Finals: Third-period update

Whew, what a period by the Firebirds, who scored three times to force overtime.

Coachella Valley scored the first goal of the period to close to within 3-2 as Carsen Twarynski scored about six minutes into the period.

However, Hershey answered with an insurance goal by Garrett Pilon less than a minute later to grab a 4-2 lead. The goal was Pilon's third of the postseason.

But the Firebirds answered with 4:34 remaining on Cameron Hughes' second playoff goal. That closed the Firebirds' deficit to 4-3.

Sitting at the end of the post, Cameron Hughes then scored his second of the period with 50 seconds to tie the game at 4-4. Kole Lind and Andrew Poturalski had assists.

Calder Cup Finals: Second-period updates

Hershey grabbed a 2-1 lead with its second goal of the game barely a minute into the second period. Joe Snively got his second playoff goal. Garrett Pilon and Connor McMichael had assists.

The Bears extended their lead to 3-1 with 2:42 remaining in the second period as Sam Anas scored on a power play.

Hershey outshot the Firebirds 12-5 in the second period.

Calder Cup Finals: First-period scoring

Hershey scored for the first time in the series on a power play, snapping a scoreless drought of more than 133 minutes. Ethan Frank scored from the left side at the 13:24 mark. Sam Anas and Logan Day were credited with assists.

Going back to the previous series, the Bears had not scored a playoff goal in 161 minutes and 44 seconds.

The Firebirds evened the scored on their own power play when Brogan Raftery scored with 1:21 remaining in the first period. The goal was Raftery's first of the series. Jimmy Schuldt and Cameron Hughes had assists.

Coachella Valley held a 10-5 shot advantage.

Calder Cup Finals: Hey! Remember the 80s?

Anyone who is a fan of 1980s and 90s NHL action may have done a double-take if they were walking around the concourse at Acrisure Arena on Saturday night during the first intermission of Game 2 of the Calder Cup Finals between the Firebirds and Hershey Bears.

That's because two of the greatest players of the era were talking to each other on the Firebirds' local broadcast. Seattle Kraken GM Ron Francis was in town to support the Kraken's affiliated AHL team, and he was interviewed by the Firebirds television crew which includes Hall of Fame goalkeeper Grant Fuhr.

That's a pretty high-octane meet-up of the game's elite and several fans were taking photos as they walked by. It'd be like if Magic Johnson interviewed Larry Bird during an Agua Caliente Clippers game. Wild stuff.

Calder Cup Finals: 50 days ago

This is crazy to think about, but on April 23, exactly 50 days ago, the Firebirds faced an elimination game in the first round against Tucson. It was Game 3 of the best-of-3 series and the Firebirds scored four quick first-period goals to set the Acrisure Arena fans at ease.

It was the first of four elimination games the Firebirds faced this postseason and all four resulted in home wins.

They beat Tucson 5-1 on April 23, Colorado 4-3 in Game 4 of the second round (May 3) and then Colorado 5-0 in Game 5 (May 5). Then it was the classic against Calgary, 6-5 in OT, in Game 5 of the third round series on May 19.

The Hershey Bears, who didn't have to play an opening-round series like the Firebirds did, have not faced an elimination game this postseason.

Calder Cup Finals: TV, tickets and watch party

The series has shifted to Pennsylvania for at least Game 3 and 4, and those will be broadcast locally in the Coachella Valley.

Game 3 is Tuesday and can be seen on FOX Channel 11. Coverage starts at 3:30 p.m. Game 4 is Thursday and will be broadcast again on FOX Channel 11. Coverage starts at 3:30 p.m.

Though it's not a guarantee the series will return to Acrisure Arena for a Game 6 (Monday June 19) and Game 7 (Wednesday June 21), tickets are available for both games. Go to the team's website and check out ticket options.

As has been the case throughout the recent playoff series. Spotlight 29 Casino in Coachella will host a viewing party for all three potential road game, starting with Game 3 on Tuesday. The game starts at 4 p.m. and doors to the ballroom open at 3 p.m.

Calder Cup Finals: What comes next?

Both teams are now in Pennsylvania for Game 4 at 4 p.m. PT on Thursday. Here's the rest of the schedule:

Game 4: Thu., June 15 – Coachella Valley at Hershey, 4 p.m.

Game 5: Sat., June 17 – Coachella Valley at Hershey, 4 p.m.

Game 6: Mon., June 19 – Hershey at Coachella Valley, 7 p.m. *

Game 7: Wed., June 21 – Hershey at Coachella Valley, 7 p.m. *

*if necessary

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: AHL Calder Cup Finals Game 3 live updates: Firebirds vs. Hershey Bears