Photo: Tori Hartman

The Hershey Bears beat the Charlotte Checkers 2-1 Sunday evening at Giant Center in Hershey. The win improves the Bears record to 26-20-0-3 (55 points) on the season. The win is the Bears sixth-straight and gives the Bears a sweep of the weekend set with the Checkers, the AHL’s best team. The win also gives the bears points in 12-straight games. The Bears are back in action on Wednesday when they host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM.

SUMMARY
The Bears would start the scoring with a goal from Jayson Megna to take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. The Checkers would tie the game in the middle frame, but the Bears would retake the lead late in the second period with a 5-on-3 power play goal from Riley Barber, making it 2-1 Bears at the second intermission. The final frame would go scoreless.

STARTERS
Ilya Samsonov (11-11-1-2, 3.00 GAA, .885 sv%) started between the pipes for the Bears. Alex Nedeljkovic (22-5-4, 2.55 GAA, .907 sv%) got the start for the visiting Checkers. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:

O’Brien – Sgarbossa – Barber
Gersich– Megna – Pinho
Malenstyn – Pilon – Walker
Whitney– Gustafsson – Ikonen

Ness – Lewington
Siegenthaler – Sproul
Johansen – Hobbs

Christian Djoos was re-assigned to Washington on Friday, following his two-game conditioning stint in Hershey. To make room on the Capitals roster for Djoos, Jonas Siegenthaler was re-assigned to Hershey on Friday.

Scratches: Colby Williams (lower body), Kris Bindulis (upper body) and Joey Leach (wrist injury – long-term) were the injury scratches. Tobias Geisser, Max Kammerer and Mason Mitchell were the healthy scratches.

FIRST PERIOD
The Bears would strike first with a goal from Jayson Megna at 16:01 of the opening frame. This was Megna’s 10th goal of the season. The play was initially setup by a chip and chase by Shane Gersich, which opened the slot for a clean shot by Megna. Brain Pinho (5) and Shane Gersich (11) were credited with the helpers.

The first period would end with the Bears leading 1-0. The Checkers led in shots on goal (SOG) 12-10. The Checkers were 0 for 1 and the Bears 0 for 1 on the power play in the first period.

SECOND PERIOD
The Bears would be called for a quick penalty at the start of the middle frame, giving the Checkers a 5-on-3 for 1:38 of the second period, but the Bears would kill the Checkers man advantage.

However, the Checkers would eventually tie the game in with a 5-on-5 goal from Nicolas Roy at 10:09 of the middle frame. Roy would enter the crease from the right wing unguarded, and deflect a centering pass for the Checkers lone goal of the evening.

The Bears had what looked to be a go-ahead power play goal by Jayson Megna but it was disallowed due to a high stick.

However, immediately following the disallowed goal, the Checkers were called for another penalty, giving the Bears a 5-on-3 for 1:00 of the middle frame. The Bears would capitalize with a blast from Riley Barber at 18:29 of the second period. Mike Sgarbossa (20) and Aaron Ness (30) were credited with the helpers.

The second period would conclude with the Bears leading 2-1. The Checkers outshot the Bears 8-6 in the middle frame, and led 20-16 after 40 minutes of play. The Checkers were 0 for 4 and the Bears 1 for 5 on the power play after two periods.

THIRD PERIOD
The Bears and Checkers would skate to a scoreless final frame.

SHAVINGS

• Stars: 1) Ilya Samsonov, 2) Riley Barber and 3) Jayson Megna
• Charlotte outshot Hershey 30-21
• Ilya Samsonov stopped 29 of 30 shots faced for a .967 save percentage.
• Riley Barber led the Bears in shots with 4.
• The Checkers were 0 for 5 and the Bears 1 for 5 on the power play.
• Final regular season meeting between Bears and Checkers.
• Attendance: 8,722
• The AHL box score is here.

HIGHLIGHTS

SCENES FROM HERSHEY

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“Stay thirsty, my friends” Featuring @bpins_26, @shane_gersich9, and the astronaut helmet recipient @jayson_megna #HBH #DefendTheDen

A post shared by Hershey Bears (@thehersheybears) on Feb 10, 2019 at 4:52pm PST

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Let’s go Bears! #defendtheden @thehersheybears

A post shared by Christie Koontz (@girlmomwithglitter) on Feb 10, 2019 at 1:45pm PST

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I've been trying to capture this picture since I got him this jersey. Was finally able to get a picture with Liam's favorite player, @walks__12. #DEFENDTHEDEN #HBH #hockey #hockeyfamily

A post shared by Debi Hampton (@debi.hampton.1) on Feb 10, 2019 at 1:55pm PST

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Living the Suite life for a game! My bosses are the best! #HBH #DefendTheDen

A post shared by Eileen Daub (@hrh_eileen) on Feb 10, 2019 at 2:05pm PST

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Going to miss hockey when I move to the Deep South. It’s time for hockey in Chocolate Town. Go Bears!!!! #DefendTheDen

A post shared by Brian Baublitz Jr. (@tutiger.13) on Feb 10, 2019 at 2:23pm PST

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We have been playing to our standard the last 11 games. Let’s get two more points tonight! #HBH

A post shared by Hershey Bears (@thehersheybears) on Feb 10, 2019 at 9:43am PST