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It hasn’t taken Casey DeSmith long to grow fond of the Giant Center.

The rookie netminder has only made two starts – one in the regular season and the other in Wednesday’s Game 1 of the Atlantic Division Finals in Hershey’s building. He added a period of mop-up duty for his first AHL appearance.

But his numbers show why DeSmith likes the place.

In the regular season and playoffs combined, DeSmith has only allowed one goal against the Bears, stopping 61 of 62 shots.

“I like playing in their barn. I’ve had good success there and hopefully I can keep it going,” he said.

The Giant Center is one of the larger and nicer arenas in the AHL and sellouts are routine. DeSmith compared it to an NHL arena and said it’s a pleasure to play there. But what motivates DeSmith when he takes the Giant Center ice isn’t necessarily the scenery.

It’s the Hershey fans. Playing in front of a large crowd rooting against you actually serves as an incentive for DeSmith.

“I know the fans don’t like us very much, but that’s more fun,” he said. “They get excited and when you make a big save it definitely turns the momentum in your favor.

“It only takes one save to change the way the game goes and on the ice we definitely feel it. It’s pretty tangible.”

DeSmith’s play during the postseason has been pretty tangible as well. He’s 4-0, has a goals against average of 1.93 and a .944 save percentage. In the series-clinching Game 3 double-overtime win in Providence, DeSmith made 59 saves for a franchise playoff record.

In Wednesday’s 4-0 win in Hershey, DeSmith made 33 saves, including some stops at point-blank range.

It’s an incredible run for a player who was buried in the depth chart to start the season, spent most of it as a backup in Wheeling but thrived when he inherited the starting job in the AHL.

And while DeSmith is still early into his first pro playoff experience, he said he’s already learning a lesson.

“You have to be ready for every shot. Guys are so good at getting the puck on net from everywhere,” he said. “My goal going in is to not give up any soft goals and let the momentum change against us.”

NOTES

– Pittsburgh reassigned D Steve Oleksy to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Thursday.

Casey DeSmith goes down to make a save against the Bruins Noel Accari in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs. The Penguins rookie netminder is 4-0 in the postseason.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_pensbruins04.jpg.optimal.jpgCasey DeSmith goes down to make a save against the Bruins Noel Accari in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs. The Penguins rookie netminder is 4-0 in the postseason. Pete G. Wilcox|Times Leader

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_WBS-Penguins-2.jpg.optimal.jpgPete G. Wilcox|Times Leader

By Tom Venesky

[email protected]

Up next…

Game 2 of the Atlantic Division Finals

(Penguins lead series, 1-0)

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (4-0) at Hershey Bears (3-3)

Friday, 7:05 p.m. at the Giant Center in Hershey

Listen live on 103.1FM-WILK

Players to watch:

Hershey – Chris Bourque has one goal in six playoff games. That’s not going to last.

Penguins – Daniel Sprong has a pair of two-goal games in the postseason and isn’t slowing down.

Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TLTomVenesky