After a thrilling, but ultimately heartbreaking visit to Rochester on Friday night, the Hershey Bears (3-5-0-1) returned home to host the Toronto Marlies (7-3-0-0) at Giant Center on Saturday night. The Marlies would take this one 4-1.
Adam Carlson (2-1, 2.70 GAA, .910%) got the start in goal for the Bears. Garret Sparks (5-1, 1.52GAA .942%) started in net for the Marlies. The starting lines for the Bears:
Bourque-Boyd-Langlois
Simpson-Zajac-Barber
Gazley-Sill-Mitchell
Bau-Gustafsson-Peluso
Siegenthaler-Williams
Johansen-Lewington
Labrie-Hobbs
Bears Scratches – John Albert, Paul Geiger and Mason Mitchell. The lines and pairs for the Marlies:
Ryche-Aaltonen-Johnsson
Timashov-Mueller-Moore
Greening-Gauthier-Soshnikov
Marchment-Brooks-Smith
Dermott-Liljren
Nielsen-Rosen
Marincin-Holl
FIRST PERIOD
The Marlies had the greater amount of chances in early going, as the Marlies led in shots on goal 7-2 after the first six minutes of play. The Bears would be whistled for the game’s first penalty when Tyler Lewington was called for slashing at the 4:23 mark of the opening frame, but the Marlies would not be able to capitalize on the man-advantage.
Just as the first penalty expired, the Bears would be called for another penalty and this time it would cost the Bears. The Marlies would Take just 6 seconds to register the game’s first tally as Dmytro Timashov would blast one by Carlson at the 6:36 mark of the first period.
Shots on goal were 10-5 in favor of the Marlies with five minutes remaining in the opening frame. The Marlies would make it 2-0 with an even-strength tally by Ben Smith at the 14:56 mark of the first period.
The Bears would close the gap to 2-1 with a late goal by Captain Garrett Mitchell with 48 seconds left in the opening stanza. Langlois and Sill were credited with the assists.
The first period would end with the Marlies leading 2-1. The Marlies led in shots on goal 12-9 for the opening frame.
SECOND PERIOD
The Bears defensive unit dwindled a bit in the early movements of the middle frame as both Connor Hobbs and Tyler Lewington would leave the ice due to injury. Lewington would return midway through the period. Hobbs, who was originally injured in the first period, did not return.
The period would end without a score, as the Marlies headed into the second intermission holding on to the 2-1 lead. The Marlies led in shots on goal 13-10 for the middle frame, and 25-19 through two periods of play. The Bears were 0 for 5 and the Marlies 1 for 6 on the power play through the first two periods.
THIRD PERIOD
The Bears killed a critical 5-on-3 Marlies power play to start the final frame. The Bears would head to their sixth power play of the game with 12:44 left in the final frame, but the Bears would be unable to convert.
The Marlies would stretch their lead to 3-1 when Ben Smith registered his second tally of the game at the 11:21 mark of the final frame. Smith rushed down the right wing, beating Siegenthaler and netting one from the circle.
The Marlies would make it 4-1 as Mason Marchment blasted one inside the post on the blocker-side at the 14:18 mark of the third period.
The Bears had just three shots registered in the third period with four minutes left in the final frame. The Marlies would hold it down from there, winning the game 4-1.
Game highlights:
Bears Head Coach Troy Mann’s postgame media session:
SHAVINGS
- The Bears were outshot 35-22 for the game.
- The Bears power play went 0 for 6.
- Attendance: 9,376
- The AHL box score can be found here.
By Jon Sorensen
SCENES FROM HERSHEY
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