The Hershey Bears downed the Binghamton Devils, 6-3, on Saturday afternoon at the Giant Center in Hershey. The victory improves the Bears record to 15-5-2-0 (32 points) on the season.
The Devils opened the scoring with an early goal, but the Bears would answer midway through the first frame with a goal from Brett Leason for a 1-1 tie at the first intermission.
The Devils would strike again just 48 seconds into the middle frame to take a 2-1 lead, but the Bears would answer with goals from Shane Gersich, Brian Pinho and Martin Fehervary for a 4-2 lead at the second intermission.
Cameron Schilling would add a power play goal for the Bears early in the final frame to make it 5-2. The Devils would add one late, but the Bears would answer with an empty net goal from Brian Pinho for the 6-3 final.
STARTERS
Pheonix Copley (6-2-1-1, 2.43 GAA, .903 SV%) got the start between the pipes for the Bears. Giles Senn (2-6-1-0, 3.54 GAA, .895 sv%) got the start in goal for the visiting Devils. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:
Scratches: Lucas Johansen (upper body injury), Macoy Erkamps (lower body injury), Kody Clark (upper body injury), Blake Pietila, Andrew Nielsen.
Alex Alexeyev made his AHL season debut in this game.
FIRST PERIOD
The Devils opened the scoring with a goal from Nate Schnarr (6) at 2:12 of the first frame. The goal was setup on a poor pass in the defensive zone by Rob O’Gara.
The Bears would tie the game on a beautiful give-and-go by Brett Leason and Aliaskei Protas. Leason (5) would finish at 9:57 to tie the game 1-1. Aliaksei Protas (2) and Martin Fehervary (10) had the helpers.
Just like old times! Leason to Protas to Leason for the finish. Game tied 1-1. #ALLCAPS #CapsProspect #HBH pic.twitter.com/BIVJT4cqwz
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) April 17, 2021
Alex Alexeyev wasted little time in laying the wood to a Devils player midway through the first frame.
The first period would end with the game tied 1-1. The Bears led in shots on goal 13-12 in the first frame. Binghamton was 0 for 1 on the power play. The Bears did not have a man advantage in the first stanza.
SECOND PERIOD
The Devils would regain the lead with a gritty goal from Danick Martel (6) just 38 seconds into the middle frame.
The Bears would tie the game 2-2 with a nice feed from Alex Alexeyev to Shane Gersich (5) at 15:20 of the middle frame. Alex Alexeyev (1) and Riley Sutter (5) had the assists.
Alexeyev to Gersich! Game tied 2-2. #ALLCAPS #CapsProspect #HBH pic.twitter.com/esZElVy0KP
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) April 17, 2021
The Bears would retake the lead with a goal from Brian Pinho (6) at 18:41 of the second period. Matt Moulson (7) and Riley Sutter (6) had the assists.
The Bears would make it 4-2 right before the second intermission with a goal from Martin Fehervary (3) at 19:25 of the second period. Brett Leason (7) and Aliaksei Protas (3) had the assists.
The period would end with a little rough stuff, as netminder Pheonix Copley got in on the action.
Dont mess with the Cop. #ALLCAPS #CapsProspect #HBH pic.twitter.com/z3o5Gl9RPn
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) April 17, 2021
The Bears led 4-2 at the second intermission. The Bears led in shots 17-7 in the middle frame and 31-19 after two periods.
THIRD PERIOD
The Bears would make it 5-2 with a 5-on-3 power play goal from Cameron Schilling (3) at 4:43 of the third period.
The Devils would add one late with a tally from Fabian Zutterlund to make it 5-3.
Brain Pinho would add an empty net goal for the 6-3 final.
The Bears are back in action on Wednesday night when they visit the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in Allentown, PA. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 PM.
SHAVINGS
- AHL box score
- Attendance: 1,128
- Three stars: 1) Brett Leason, 2) Martin Fehervay and 3) Aliaksei Protas.
- Bears led in shots 47-26.
- Pheonix Copley stopped 23 of 26 shots faced for a .884 game save percentage.
- Binghamton was 0 for 3 and the Bears 1 for 7 on the power play.
- Brian Pinho led the Bears in shots with 7. Connor McMciahel was second with 5 shots.
By Jon Sorensen
Follow @nova_caps
