Bears Recap for 2/10

Greetings, Hershey Bears fans. The All-Star break is upon us, and the cold grip of winter is still here, unfortunately.  Hershey had only two games heading into the All-Star break, and both were home-and-home against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

On Wednesday, February 4th, Hershey traveled up I-81 to take on Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Mohegan Sun Arena, with a healthy crowd of 4,100 in attendance.  Hershey came out blazing in the first period, contradicting their usual slow starts this season.   They put eight shots on Sergi Murashov, who turned them all away, and Hershey goaltender Mitch Gibson stood tall, stopping all 16 shots for WBS through two periods, opposed to Hershey's 28 shots.  

The game seems to be set up for a goaltender’s duel heading into the third period.  Wilkes-Barre/Scranton would break the scoreless lock as Aaron Huglen would score on an innocent dump-in that deflected off Gibson’s stick and into the net.   It was his second of the season and one that Gibson would like to have back, but Hershey responds that Grant Cruikshank would get his eighth to tie the game at one.  

Photo Credit: Hershey Bears

However, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton would take the lead on a power-play goal from Avery Hayes to make it 2-1, with his 13th of the season.  Debuting Pens prospect Tanner Howe would get his first AHL goal on a deflection to make it 3-1. Congratulations to him, no really.  WBS would add to the lead as Aidan McDonough would skate by the Hershey defense and collect this own rebound to put the Pens up for good, 4-1, and that was the final.  WBS put 13 shots on the Bears in the third and scored four goals, as the Pens are 5-1 on Hershey this season.

On Saturday, February 7th, before the All-Star Break, Hershey and the WBS will duel for the last time at Giant Center, playoffs permitting.   This time, the Pens would come out flying as Avery Hayes scored two quick goals in the first 6 minutes to silence the sold-out crowd at Giant Center.  The first was a power-play goal with a knifing backdoor one-timer, al la Siden Crosby; the second was a 2-on-1 breakaway shorthanded where Avery wristed a perfectly placed shot to make it 2-0.  It was his 14th and 15th goals of the season, and his 5th in three days, after 2 goals in his Pittsburgh debut.

The Bears get one back on the man advantage, and Ilya Protas would get one past Sergei Murashov for his team, leading 18th goal to make it 2-1.  Hershey would kick off the second period with another power play goal as Ivan Miroshnichenko would get his ninth of the season to tie it, hoping to start a hot streak for the Russian prospect. Hershey would surrender the lead back as Melvin Fernstrom scored his first professional goal to make it 3-2. Congratulations to him.  

Hershey would tie the game once more as Alex Suzdalev would deflect a Louie Belpedio shot to tie the game for his second of the season.  The rest of the game played like a playoff game, safe passes and clean plays, trying not to make a mistake. In a controversial call, the Bears were given a four-minute penalty for high-sticking, even though the replay showed the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton player's own stick hit him in the face.  

WBS would go overtime with a 4 on 3 power play, and another non-call was made as Matt Dumba slashed Matt Strome’s stick out of his hands to no call.  Avery Hayes would get the hat trick, scoring while breaking his stick to seal the 4-3 victory for the Pens, sweeping the two-game set.  Boos rained down from Giant Center, and the Pens celebrated as if they had won a playoff series, but the victors go to the spoils.

Hershey goes into the All-Star Break 20-16-6-2 for 48 points and 4th in the Atlantic Division, seven points back of the Checkers and two points up on the Phantoms.  The break comes at a good time for the Bears as they hope to get some bodies back, like Sam Bitten and others, and then it is off to Canada.  Take off, eh!

- Richard Blosser/Olde City Sports Network

- Photo Credit: Hershey Bears