Photo: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
The Hershey Bears fell to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 6-3 on Sunday at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre. The loss drops the Bears record to 17-6-2-0 (36 points) on the season.
The Bears opened the scoring with a power play goal from Phil Maillet midway through the first stanza, but the Penguins would answer late in the first frame with a pair of goals for a 2-1 lead at the first intermission.
The Bears tied the game with a goal from Matt Moulson just 53 seconds into the middle frame, but once again the Penguins would answer moments later for 3-2 lead. Axel Jonsson-Fjallby would notch a shorthanded goal midway through the period to tie the game, but the Penguins, benefactors of a 5-on-3 power play, would restore their one goal lead, holding a 4-3 lead at the second intermission.
The Penguins added a fifth goal early in the final frame for a 5-3 lead and would add a late goal for the 6-3 final.
STARTERS
Pheonix Copley (8-2-1-1, 2.35 GAA, .906 SV%) got the start between the pipes for the visiting Bears. Alex D’Orio (1-3-1-0, 2.39 GAA, .891 sv%) got the start in goal for the Penguins. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:
Scratches: Brian Pinho (upper body injury), Joe Snively (injured), Lucas Johansen (upper body injury), Kody Clark (upper body injury), Blake Pietila (lower body injury), Bobby Nardella (injury) and Andrew Nielsen (illness).
Bobby Nardella will not play for the Bears this season.
FIRST PERIOD
The Bears opened the scoring with a power play goal from Phil Maillet (3) at 8:31 of the first frame to give the Bears an early 1-0 lead. Brett Leason (8) and Cameron Schilling (12) had the helpers.
Phil “I did it” Maillet goes roof for the power play tally. Bears lead 1-0, early in first frame. #CapsProspect #ALLCAPS #HBH pic.twitter.com/woMdbQXzS8
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) April 25, 2021
The Penguins would answer just after a power play expired for them with a goal from Chase Berger (4) at 14:19 of the first period, making 1-1.
The Penguins would take the lead in the waning moments of the first period with a snipe from Josh Currie (6) at 18:29.
The first period ended with the Penguins leading 2-1. The Penguins tied in shots 12-7. Hershey was 1 for 1 and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 0 for 1 on the power play in the first frame.
SECOND PERIOD
The Bears would tie it up early in the middle frame with a goal from captain Matt Moulson (8) just 53 seconds into the second period. Martin Fehervay (13) and Alex Alexeyev (3) had the assists.
The Penguins would answer with a goal from Jonathan Gruden (3) at 8:17 of the second period. The shot eventually would go in off the skate of Shane Gersich.
The Bears would tie the game 3-3 with a breakaway shorthanded goal from Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (7) at 15:18 of the middle frame. Riley Sutter (7) had the lone assist.
Axel Jonsson-Fjallby flashes the speed, finishes for his 7th goal of the season. Game tied 3-3. #CapsProspect #ALLCAPS #HBH pic.twitter.com/5M4xvPn4FU
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) April 25, 2021
The Penguins would be awarded a 5-on-3 power play following a bench penalty on Hershey and they would capitalize. Josh Currie would score his second goal of the game at 17:13 of the second period to restore the Penguins one goal lead, 4-3.
The period would end with the Penguins leading 4-3. The Penguins led in shots on goal 8-6 in the middle frame and 20-13 after two periods. Hershey was 1 for 1 and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 1 for 5 on the power play after two periods.
THIRD PERIOD
The Penguins would extend their lead to 5-3 early in the final frame with a goal from Jon Lizotte at 4:24 of the final frame.
The Penguins would add a goal from Anthony Angello at 15:40 for a 6-3 lead, and that would be the final.
The Bears are back on the ice this Wednesday when they visit the Binghamton Devils in Newark, New Jersey. Puck drop is set for 6:00 PM
SHAVINGS
- AHL box score
- Penguins led in shots 32-29.
- Pheonix Copley stopped 23 of 29 shots for a .793 game save percentage.
- Hershey was 1 for 3 and Wilkes-Barre 1 for 5 on the power play.
- The loss ends the Bears six-game winning streak.
By Jon Sorensen
Follow @nova_caps
Bears were in it until bench penalty. That zapped the life out of them.
What was the bench penalty for?
Not 100% sure. Something was said or done from the Bears bench regarding preceding penalty and just like that it was 5-on-3. Nobody is really sure what was said.