The Hershey Bears beat the Binghamton Devils 2-1 Wednesday night at the RWJ Barnabas Health Hockey House in Newark, New Jersey. The win improves the Bears record to 2-0-2-0 (6 points) which moves them into second place in the North Division.
STARTERS
Ilya Samsonov (0-0-1, 4.83 GAA, .828 sv%) started in goal for the visiting Bears. Giles Senn (0-0-0-0, 0.00 GAA, .000 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the Devils. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:
Scratches: Paul LaDue (upper body), Eddie Whittchow (upper body injury), Riley Sutter (upper body), Tyler Nanne, Kale Kessy, Caleb Herbert, Macoy Erkamps, Steve Whitney.
FIRST PERIOD
The Devils would strike first on a power play goal by Reilly Walsh (2) at 8:55 of the first frame.
Binghamton Devils go up 1-0 on a coast-to-coast PPG by Reilly Walsh at 8:55 of the first period. pic.twitter.com/181JxuQD5O
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) February 18, 2021
That would be all the scoring in the first 20 minutes of action. The Bears led in shots on goal 13-5 for the first period. Hershey was 0 for 1 and the Devils 1 for 1 on the power play.
SECOND PERIOD
The Bears would tie the game with a goal from Brett Leason (1) at 1:41 of the middle frame. Martin Fehervary (2) had the lone assist.
Brett Leason with a snipe ties the game 1-1. His first goal of the season. #ALLCAPS #CapsProspect pic.twitter.com/JNfbpADgUy
— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) February 18, 2021
The second period would end with the game tied 1-1. The Bears outshot the Devils 15-5 in the second period, and led 28-10 after two periods.
THIRD PERIOD|
The Bears would take a 2-1 lead with a goal from Damien Riat (1) at 9:26 of the final frame. The goal was Riat’s first career AHL goal. Shane Gersich (1) was awarded the lone assist.
Damien Riat shows off the wheels, gives Bears a 2-1 lead midway through third period. #CapsProspect #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/5VsMDx0ILL
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) February 18, 2021
The Devils would have a 6-on-4 power play after Lucas Johansen was called for a high-sticking penalty at 18:08. The Devils would also pull their goaltender for the 6-on-4 advantage, but the Devils could not score.
The Bears held on for the 2-1.
SHAVINGS
- Attendamce: 0
- AHL box score
- Bears outshot Devils 43-23.
- Stars of the game: 1) Damien Riat, 2) Ilya Samsonov and 3) Giles Senn
- Brett Leason led all Bears in shots with 7. Mike Sgarbossa had 6 shots, Connor McMichael had 5 shots.
- Ilya Samsonov stopped 22 of 23 shots.
- This was the first game of the 2020-21 season in which the Bears did not score the first goal of the game.
By Jon Sorensen
Looks like Sammy’s back
It was a somewhat light evening of work for Sammy, but he did make a few nice stops. I’d think he will be recalled and get a game in the weekend back-to-back set with the Rangers and Devils. Sunday against Devils would be ideal.
Best game Leason has played as a pro
There was reference to his 3-point game last season, but for me, I agree this was his best overall game to date. His play away from the puck and around the puck/puck battles was the best so far. His line was dominant..
But that Riat goal was sweet though…
thanks a lot