The Hershey Bears beat the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 3-1 Sunday afternoon at the Giant Center in Hershey. The victory improves the Bears record to 11-4-2-0 (24 points) on the season.
Brian Pinho opened the scoring with a goal just 18 seconds into the contest to give the Bears a 1-0 lead at the first intermission. The Penguins would tie the game with a 2-on-1 breakaway goal midway through the middle frame to make it 1-1 at the second break. The Bears would retake the lead late in the final frame with a power play goal from Matt Moulson to make it 2-1, and Shane Gersich would add an empty net goal for the 3-1 win.
STARTERS
Pheonix Copley (3-2-1-0, 3.14 GAA, .871 SV%) got the start between the pipes for the Bears. Max Lagace (3-1-1-0, 1.97 GAA, .917 sv%) got the start in goal for the visiting Penguins. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:
Scratches: Lucas Johansen (upper body injury), Aliaksei Protas, Mason Morelli, Blake Pietila, Taylor Nanne, Will Graber, Eddie Whittchow.
Garrett Pilon and Mike Sgarbossa were recalled to the Capitals taxi squad on Monday. Brian Pinho and Philippe Maillet were re-assigned from the Capitals taxi squad to the Hershey Bears on Tuesday.
Macoy Erkamps was returned to South Carolina and Billy Christopoulos was released from his PTO earlier this week.
Forward Aliaskei Protas was re-assigned to the Bears last week and skated with the team for the first time on Friday.
FIRST PERIOD
The Bears opened the scoring with a tally from Brian Pinho (3) just 18 seconds into the first frame. Martin Fehervary (7) and Phil Maillet (7) had the assists.
Brian Pinho with his third goal since returning to Hershey this week. A nice redirect. Bears lead 1-0 early in first. #CapsProspect #ALLCAPS #HBH pic.twitter.com/k5o6K0267I
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) March 28, 2021
And that would be it for the scoring in the first frame. The Penguins led in shot attempts 10-7 for the first period. There were no penalties called in the opening frame.
SECOND PERIOD
The Penguins would respond midway through the middle frame to make it 1-1. Tim Schaller (6) had the game-tying tally at 10:12.
And that would be all the scoring in the second period. Hershey led in shots 16-8 for the second period and 23-18 after two periods. The Penguins were 0 for 2 and the Bears 0 for 1 on the power play in the second period.
THIRD PERIOD
Brain Pinho was hit with a cheap shot in the middle of the final frame.
After the hit, defenseman Martin Fehervary jumped in.
Martin Fehervary! After a cheap shot on Brian Pinho, Marty jumps in. #ALLCAPS #CapsProspect #HBH pic.twitter.com/TMEnclGJ5c
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) March 28, 2021
The Bears would retake the lead late in the third period with a gritty power play goal from Matt Moulson (6) at 16:53 of the third period. Joe Snively (8) and Cameron Schilling (9) had the assists.
Shane Gersich would add an empty net goal for the 3-1 win.
The Bears are back in action on Wednesday when they visit the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in Allentown, PA. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 PM.
SHAVINGS
- AHL box score
- Attendance: 1,301
- Stars of the game: 1) Matt Moulson, 2) Pheonix Copley and 3) Brian Pinho.
- Hershey led in shots 30-27.
- Pheonix Copley stopped 26 of 27 shots faced for a .963 game save percentage.
- Connor McMichael led all Bears with 6 shots.
- The Bears were 1 for 3 and the Penguins 0 for 3 on the power play.
By Jon Sorensen
