The Hershey Bears beat the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 4-3 (OT) on Saturday at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre. The victory improves the Bears record to 19-6-2-0 (40 points) on the season.

The Penguins opened the scoring less than two minutes into the contest but the Bears would answer a little over a minute later to tie the score at 3:15 of the first frame. The first period would end, tied 1-1.

The Penguins would retake the lead early in the middle frame, but once again the Bears would answer with a snipe from Alex Alexeyev midway through the middle frame for a 2-2 tie at the second intermission.

The Penguins would once again strike early in the final frame for a 3-2 lead but once again the Bears would answer moments later with a goal from Kale Kessy to make it 3-3 at the end of regulation.

Connor McMichael would win it for the Bears in overtime.

STARTERS

Pheonix Copley (8-3-1-1,  2.66 GAA, .897 SV%) got the start between the pipes for the visiting Bears. Max Lagace (4-3-1-0, 2.01 GAA, .911 sv%) got the start in goal for the Penguins. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:

Scratches: Martin Fehervary (lower body injury), Brian Pinho (upper body injury), Lucas Johansen (upper body injury), Kody Clark (upper body injury), Blake Pietila (lower body injury), Rob O’Gara (upper body injury), Bobby Nardella (upper body injury) and Will Graber.

Macoy Erkamps was recalled from South Carolina earlier in the week.

Bobby Nardella will not play for the Bears this season.

FIRST PERIOD

The Penguins opened the scoring less than two minutes into the contest with a goal from Sam Miletic (2) at 1:56.

Shot off the wall, puck in the net. Just like they drew it up. pic.twitter.com/adD1tvikNF

— WBS Penguins (@WBSPenguins) May 1, 2021

The Bears would answer a little over a minute later with a goal from Cameron Schilling (4) at 3:15 of the first frame. Phil Maillet (13) and Joe Snively (11) had the helpers.

The period would end with the game tied 1-1. The Penguins led in shots on goal 9-7. The Penguins were 0 for 2 on the power play. The Bears did not have a man advantage.

SECOND PERIOD

The Penguins would regain the lead less than five minutes into the middle frame with a goal from Felix Robert (5) at 4:31 of the second period.

Felix Robert drives the net for the #wbspens tally. pic.twitter.com/WDi42qkhyK

— WBS Penguins (@WBSPenguins) May 1, 2021

The Bears would respond with a strike from Alex Alexeyev (2) at 7:26 of the second period, making it 2-2. Kale Kessy (4) and Riley Sutter (8) had the assists.

Alex Alexeyev with his second goal since returning to Hershey, ties the game 2-2 in the second period. #CapsProspect #ALLCAPS #HBH pic.twitter.com/XJDKPmQwW2

— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) May 1, 2021

The second period would end with the game tied 2-2. The Bears led in shots 16-9 for the second period, and 23-18 after two periods.

THIRD PERIOD

The Penguins would once again retake the lead with an early goal in the final frame from Will Reilly (3) at 4:04.

A Reilly rifle. @97WillReilly pic.twitter.com/IPUAs79nPV

— WBS Penguins (@WBSPenguins) May 1, 2021

But just like the first two periods, the Bears would respond moments later. This time Kale Kessy (2) would tie the game at 6:08 of the final period.

Kale Kessy scores to tie it 3-3. He’s also not a big fan of Penguins or their fans. 🙂 pic.twitter.com/lJPAw7vZxj

— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) May 1, 2021

Regulation would end with the game tied 3-3.

OVERTIME

The Bears would win it in the extra frame with a breakaway goal from Connor McMichael.

Connor McMichael wins it for the Bears in OT! His 11th goal of the season. He leads the Bears. #ALLCAPS #CapsProspect #HBH pic.twitter.com/pROS0VCuqY

— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) May 1, 2021

The Bears are back in action on Sunday when they host the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at Giant Center. Puck drop is set for 3:00 PM

SHAVINGS

• AHL box score
• Attendnance:1,266
• Stars of the game: 1) Connor McMichael, 2) Kale Kessy and 3) Sam Miletic
• Bears were 0 for 4 and the Penguins 0 for 3 on the power play.
• Bears led in shots 34-23 for the game.
• Connor McMichael (5) and Matt Moulson (5) led the Bears in shots.
• Pheonix Copley stopped 20 of 23 shots faced for a .869 game save percentage.

By Jon Sorensen
Follow @nova_caps