Photo By Micheline V/ Rochester Americans

The Rochester Americans blanked the Hershey Bears 4-1 Wednesday night at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, New York. The loss drops the Bears record to 4-3-1-0 (9 points) on the season. The Bears are back in action this Saturday when they return home to host the Utica Comets at Giant Center. Puck drop is 7:00 PM.

SUMMARY
After a scoreless first frame, the Amerks would score three unanswered goals in the middle frame for a 3-0 lead at the second intermission. The Amerks would add a 4th tally midway through the final frame for a 4-0 lead before Axel Jonsson-Fjallby would pot the Bears first goal of the game, late in the final frame. The Amerks would add a late goal for the 5-1 win.

STARTERS
Pheonix Copley ( 2-1-1-0, 1.35 GAA, .948 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the Bears. Jonas Johansson (0-1-0 2.74 GAA .903 SV%) drew the start in goal for the Rocket. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:

Lineup for 10/23/19 at Rochester 👇 pic.twitter.com/m0OiMeTGzq

— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) October 23, 2019

Bobby Nardella made his season debut.

Scratches: Lucas Johansen, Tobias Geisser, Colby Williams, Kale Kessey and Chris McCarthy.

FIRST PERIOD
End-to-end hockey for the first four minutes, with no real sustained zone time by either team. Pheonix Copley made a stellar stop on a Bears defensive zone breakdown to keep the game scoreless in the first three minutes of play.

The Amerks would be the benefactors of the game’s first power play when Matt Moulson was called for slashing at 4:54, but were unable to convert. The Amerks led in shots on goal 6-2 after 7 minutes of play.

Shots on goal were 9-4 with 7 minutes remaining in the middle frame. Copley would make two more big saves at the 11-minute mark to keep the game scoreless.

The first period would conclude without a score. Rochester lead in shots on goal 10-9. Hershey was 0 for 1 and Rochester 0 for 2 on the power play in the first period.

SECOND PERIOD
The Bears were called for their third penalty of the game with 12 minutes remaining in the middle frame, and this time it would cost Hershey. Kevin Porter would blast a shot from the left point that made its way past Copley for a power play goal at 7:58 of the second period. It was just the third power play goal of the year for the Amerks.

The Amerks would quickly make it 2-0 with a dirty goal from Sean Malone at 12: 58 of the second period.

The Amerks would make it 3-0 with a goal from Scott Wilson at 14:34 of the second period.

The second period would end with the Amerks holding a commanding 3-0 lead. Rochester led in shots on goal 11-8 for the second period, and 21-17 after two periods. Hershey was 0 for 2 and Rochester 1 for 3 on the power play after 40 minutes.

THIRD PERIOD
The Bears would commit two quick penalties early in the final frame that essentially stifled any potential momentum for Hershey. The Bears did not register a shot on goal in the period until the 12 minute mark.

Rochester would stretch their lead to 4-0 with a goal from C.J. Smith at 10:35 of the third period.

The Bears would finally get on the scoreboard with a shorthanded goal from Axel Jonsson-Fjallby at 15:06 of the final frame. This was Jonason-Fjallby’s fourth goal in the last four games.

The Amerks would add a late goal to make it 5-1. Brett Murray would pot the Amerks final goal at 19:13 of the final frame. They would hold on for the 5-1 win.

By Jon Sorensen

SHAVINGS

• Attendance: 2,764
• The AHL box score is here.
• Rochester led in shots on goal 29-21 for the game.
• Axel Jonsson-Fjallby now has four goals in the last four games.
• Hershey was 0 for 2 and Rochester 1 for 6 on the power play in the game.
• The 459th regular-season meeting. The first meeting was Oct. 28, 1956.

SCENES FROM ROCHESTER

HERE THEY COME #HBH pic.twitter.com/LAom9Fh8tE

— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) October 23, 2019