Photo: Grand Rapids Griffins

The Hershey Bears fell to the Grand Rapids Griffins 6-3 on Friday night Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. With the loss, the Bears record drops to 0-3-0 on the season. The Bears are back on the ice tomorrow night in Milwaukee when they visit the Admirals. Puck drop is set for 8:00pm. 

After the Griffins opened the scoring, Capitals free agent signee Sergei Shumakov would notch his first AHL tally to briefly tie the game, before the Griffins added two quick tally’s to make it 3-1 at the first intermission. Shumakov would score his second of the game before the Griffins added two more goals to make it 5-3 at the second break. The Griffins would add an empty net goal for the 6-3 win.

STARTERS
Ilya Samsonov (0-1-0, 3.06 GAA, .909 sv%) started between the pipes for the visiting Bears. Harri Sateri (0-2-0, 3.05 GAA, .878 sv%) got the start in goal for the Griffins. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs:

Steven Whitney was inserted into the lineup for Jeremy Morin. Colby Williams (upper-body) missed tonight’s game (day-to-day). Tobias Geisser made his AHL debut, replacing Williams. Kris Bindulis and Juuso Ikonen did not make the trip.

FIRST PERIOD
The Griffins would strike first on a Bears turnover in the defensive zone. Wade Megan would fire a laser from the top of the left circle, beating Samsonov high glove side at 7:42 of the opening frame.

The Bears would briefly tie things up with a goal from Sergei Shumakov, his first in the AHL, with 2:41 remaining in the first period. Liam O’Brien and Garrett Pilon we’re credited with the assists. This was also Pilon’s first AHL point.

But the Griffins would return fire with two quick goals. Filip Zadina would make it 2-1 at 17:42 of the first period. The Griffins would make it 3-1 with a goal from Matt Puempel at 18:12 of the opening frame. The three goals, starting with Shumakov’s tally, all came in under a minute of play.

The period would end with the Griffins leading 3-1. The Griffins outshot the Bears 9-7 through the first 20 minutes.

SECOND PERIOD
The Bears would quickly cut Grand Rapids lead to one with a crazy goal from Sergei Shumakov, his second tally of the game, at 1:28 of the middle frame. The goal came from below the goal line, and bounced in off of a Griffins defender, making it 3-2 Griffins.

The Griffins would restore the two goal lead with a goal from former Bear Carter Camper at 12:13 of the middle frame. The goal was setup by a bad turnover by Jonas Siegenthaler in the Bears defensive zone.

Connor Hobbs would close the gap to one with a power play goal from the top of the left circle at 14:38 of the second period. Lucas Johansen and Shane Gersich had the assists.

But Grand Rapids would get it right back with a power play goal from Philip Zadina, his second of the game at 16:51, making it 5-3.

The second period would end with the Griffins leading 5-3. Grand Rapids outshot Hershey 11-7 in the second period, and led 20-14 after 40 minutes of play.

THIRD PERIOD
The third period would be scoreless until the final minute when the Griffins added an empty net goal for the 6-3 final.

The Bears outshot the Griffins 8-7 in the final frame.

SHAVINGS

• Griffins outshot the Bears 27-22 for the game.
• The Bears were 1 for 3 and the Griffins 1 for 2 on the power play.
• After two games, Ilya Samsonov has stopped 49 of 58 shots faced, 4.55 GAA, .845 sv%
• Sergei Shumakov, Shane Gersich and Brian Pinho led the Bears with 3 shots each.
• Riley Barber would leave the game after a hit he sustained late in second period and did not return to the game.
• Attendance: 10,834
• The AHL box score is here.

SCENES FROM GRAND RAPIDS

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