Photo: JustSports Photography

In their first visit to Chocolatetown since 2006, the Grand Rapids Griffins blanked the Hershey Bears 3-0 at Giant Center. Matthew Ford and Ben Street each scored in the first period for the visitors and Street added another goal in the third period. Hershey was shutout for the second night in a row and have gone six consecutive periods without scoring a goal. 

BEARS LINES

Walker-Graovac-Simpson
Whitney-McGauley-Hughes
Bourque-Still-Gazley
O’Brien-Gustafsson-G. Mitchell
Ness-Lewington
Siegenthaler-Williams
Geiger-Johansen

Scratches: Mathias Bau, Connor Hobbs, Riley Barber, Jeremy Langlois, Mason Mitchell, Anthony Peluso, and Adam Chapie.

Pheonix Copley (13-15-6) got the start in goal while the Tom McCollum (11-11-3) got the start for Grand Rapids.

FIRST PERIOD
Hershey went on the power play at 3:49 as Corey Elkins was called for holding. The Bears only registered one shot on goal during the man advantage. Liam O’Brien was flying all over the place and laid out a hit on Filip Hronek in the corner along the boards almost midway through the opening period. Turner Elson was not pleased and he dropped the gloves with Bourque. Elson was called for instigating and fighting, while O’Brien went to the box for fighting and boarding.

The Griffins would strike twice, at 12:16 and 14:09 respectively. Matthew Ford scored the first goal on the power play for his 21st of the season.

Matthew Ford scores on the power play to put the Grand Rapids Griffins up 1-0 over the Hershey Bears. pic.twitter.com/jpaLFbWgBs

— Michael Marzzacco (@Marswaggo) March 11, 2018

The second goal was scored by Ben Street for his 13th of the season.

Ben Street makes it 2-0 Griffins over the Bears. pic.twitter.com/z0xvtTQVoB

— Michael Marzzacco (@Marswaggo) March 11, 2018

Towards the end of the first, Joe Whitney was called for a delay of game at 17:07. At 18:02 Eric Tangradi was whistled for holding and 50 seconds later, Robbie Russo was called for cross checking. At the end of the first, Tyler Graovac was called for tripping.

At the end of one, Grand Rapids led 2-0 and outshot the Bears 10-6

SECOND PERIOD
The Griffins outshot the Bears 3-2 through the first five minutes of the middle frame. The teams went to 4-on-4 at 6:20 as Matthew Ford was called for roughing while Nathan Walker went to the box for roughing. Hershey didn’t allow a shot to the opposition while putting up four on the four-on-four.

The Bears ended the second period on the power play at 18:45 when Axel Holmstrom got called for slashing. The score remained the same but the Bears were much better this period, outshooting the Griffins 8-5.

THIRD PERIOD
Hershey started the final period on the power play for 45 more seconds as a carryover from the second period but couldn’t cash in. Tyler Graovac would then be called for high sticking at 8:31

Grand Rapids added their third goal of the night with Street’s second goal of the game.

Street tallies his second goal of the game. pic.twitter.com/tZ5S6dTIAH

— Michael Marzzacco (@Marswaggo) March 11, 2018

Hershey had a power play chance to get on the board when Dan Renouf got called for tripping with five minutes left, but couldn’t score. Hershey finished their night 0-for-5 on the power play while the Griffins went 1-for-5.

The Griffins prevailed 3-0 and outshot the Bears 8-7 in the third period and 23-21 overall. Copley stopped 20 of the 23 shots he faced.

Troy Mann’s post-game presser:

The Bears will next take on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Friday night at Giant Center. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.

By Michael Marzzacco