Bears Mash Monsters 6-1; Shane Gersich Scores A Pair

The Hershey Bears beat the Cleveland Monsters 6-1 Friday night at a Giant Center in Chocolatetown. The win improves the Bears record to 8-8-0-1 on the season. After starting the season 0-5, the Bears have gone 8-3-1 in their last 12 games. The same two teams are back at it Saturday night at Giant Center. Puck drop is 7PM.

The Bears would start the scoring early in the first period with a deflected goal from Mike Sgarbossa. The Monsters would quickly answer midway through the opening frame, but the Bears would respond with goals from Nathan Walker and Riley Barber for a 3-1 lead at the first intermission. Jayson Megan would score his 3rd goal of the season early in the middle frame to make it 4-1 at the second break. Shane Gersich would score his second goal of the season early in the final frame and score a second goal late in the final frame to make it 6-1.

Photos from the game are here.

STARTERS
Parker Milner (1-0-0, 0.93 GAA, .970 sv%) started in goal for the Bears. Brad Theissen (2-0-0, 1.99 GAA, .935 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the visiting Monsters. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:

Scratches: Kris Bindulis, Steve Whitney, Hampus Gustafsson, Sergei Shumakov, Logan Pyatt and Mason Mitchell.

Ilya Samsonov was recalled by the Capitals on Friday to backup Pheonix Copley. Braden Holtby was still dealing with an upper body injury. Axel Jonsson-Fjallby returned to Sweden this week, joining his former team Djurgårdens.

Vitek Vanecek was cleared to return to play this week and was backup for tonight’s game. Sergei Shumakov returned to skating this week.

FIRST PERIOD
The Bears would strike first on their first shot of the game. Colby Williams would fire a shot from the left point and Mike Sgarbossa would deflect for his 7th goal of the season at 4:25 of the opening frame. Colby Williams (4) and Juuso Ikonen (2) we’re credited with the assists.

Mike Sgarbossa! Against his former team! 1-0 Hershey midway through the 1st period #HBH #DefendTheDen pic.twitter.com/5m5BOBX0Ct

— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) November 17, 2018

The Monsters would tie the score with a quick wrap-around goal from Sonny Milano at 10:55 of the first period.

Nathan Walker would restore the Bears lead with his second goal of the season. Walker would fake a centering pass that moved the Monsters goalie, opening up a short left side shot and score at 17:14 of the first period. Aaron Ness (5) and Parker Milner (1) we’re credited with the assists. This was Milner’s first AHL point.

Riley Barber would get in on the action with a power play goal at 18:53 of the first frame. Nathan Walker and Garrett Pilon (8) would get the assists.

ANOTHER 💈💣! This bomb by Riley Barber gave the Bears a late 3-1 lead in the 1st period! #HBH #DefendTheDen pic.twitter.com/5C5z3mwF7M

— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) November 17, 2018

The period would end with the Bears leading 3-1. Cleveland outshot the Bears 11-8 for the first 20 minutes. The Monsters were 0 for 4 and the Bears 1 for 2 on the power play for the first period.

SECOND PERIOD
The Bears would stretch their lead to 4-1 with a goal from Jayson Megna at 2:23 of the second period. Liam O’Brien (2) and Derek Hulak (1) were credited with the helpers.

Jayson Megna provided some insurance for the Chocolate and White early in the 2nd period. 4-1 Bears with 12:33 left in the 2nd #HBH #DefendTheDen pic.twitter.com/7jXkrxrzHu

— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) November 17, 2018

Brad Thiessen was pulled and replaced by Matiss Kivlenieks in goal for the Monsters.

The period would end with the Bears leading 4-1. The Monsters outshot the Bears 10-6 in the second period, and lead 21-14 after two periods of play. Cleveland was 0 for 7 and the Bears 1 for 2 on the power play after 40 minutes of play.

THIRD PERIOD
The Bears would stretch their lead to 5-1 with a goal from Shane Gersich at 3:59 of the final frame. Liam O’brien and Aaron Ness would be credited with the assists. This was Gersich’s second goal of the season.

Persistence pays off for Shane Gersich! His 3rd period goal gave Hershey a 5-1 lead over the Cleveland Monsters! Still 5-1 with 9:53 left! #HBH #DefendTheDen pic.twitter.com/wrsbftV8wa

— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) November 17, 2018

Gersich would score his second of the period with deflection of an Aaron Ness shot from the outside at 16:08, making it 6-1, and that would be the final.

HIGHLIGHTS

BEARS WIN! Hershey puts up half a dozen as they roll Cleveland 6-1 tonight at the Giant Center. #HBH pic.twitter.com/5Owq9bT5ux

— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) November 17, 2018

SHAVINGS

Cleveland outshot Hershey 31-23 for the game.
Parker Milner stopped 30 of 31 shots for a .968 save percentage, and his second straight win.
Riley Barber led all Bears in shots with 5.
The Monsters were 0 for 9 and the Bears 3 for 9 on the power play.
The AHL box score is here.
This marks the first time the (Lake Erie) Monsters have visited Giant Center since the two teams battled in the 2016 Calder Cup Finals, and first regular season game 1/18/2013.

SCENES FROM HERSHEY