Screen cap: AHL TV
The Hershey Bears downed the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 2-1 Sunday afternoon at Giant Center. The victory gives the Bears a 2-0-0 record to start the 2021-22 season.
The Bears opened the scoring with a goal from Mike Vecchione midway through the first frame for a 1-0 Bears lead at the first intermission. Then Axel Jonsson-Fjallby would redirect a puck off the back wall to stretch the Bears lead to 2-0 before the second intermission. The Phantoms would get on the scoreboard with 2:30 left in the game, to make it 2-1, and would receive a 6-on-3 power play with 1:20 left in the game, but the Bears penalty kill stood tall to secure the 2-1 win. The Bears penalty kill was a perfect 8 for 8 in the game.
STARTERS
Zach Fucale (0-0-0-0, 0.00 GAA, .000 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the Bears. Samuel Ersson (0-0-0-0, 0.00 GAA, .000 sv%) got the start in goal for the visiting Phantoms. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:
Scratches: Kale Kessy, Riley Sutter (injured), Mason Morelli, Ryan Dmowski, Jake Massie, Eddie Wittchow.
FIRST PERIOD
The Bears opened the scoring with a goal from Mike Vecchione (1) at 8:49 of the first period. Tobias Geisser (1) and Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (1) had the assists.
Mike Vecchione gives the Bears an early 1-0 lead midway through the first period. pic.twitter.com/ZbvwoUF0Cc
— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) October 17, 2021
That would be all of the scoring in the first frame. Shots on goal were tied 11-11. Lehigh Valley was 0 for 2 and Hershey 0 for 1 on the power play in the first period. Mike Vecchione had both of the Bears penalties.
SECOND PERIOD
The Bears stretched their lead to 2-0 midway through the middle frame when Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (1) redirected a puck off the back wall at 9:17 of the second period. Cody Franson (2) and Aliaksei Protas (1) had the helpers.
Axel Jonsson-Fjallby takes a puck off the back wall and redirects in the net. Bears lead 2-0 midway through 2nd period. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/PCPr9Qy8ol
— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) October 17, 2021
The period would end with the Bears leading 2-0. The Phantoms led in shots 7-6 in the second period and 18-17 after two periods. Lehigh Valley was 0 for 5 and Hershey 0 for 1 on the power play after two periods.
THIRD PERIOD
The Phantoms would finally dent the twine with 2:30 left in regulation on a 6-on-5 goal from Gerry Mayhew (1), to make it 2-1.
Cam York with a beautiful pass to Mayhew to make this game 2-1 with 2 minutes remaining
Give York two points in his first two games this year #Flyers pic.twitter.com/e84goTjNoq
— TLY (@TheLibertyYell) October 17, 2021
Garrett Pilon was called for interference, then Tobias Geisser would fire the puck over the glass to give the Phantoms a 6-on-3 power play (goalie pulled) with 1:20 left in the game, but the Bears penalty kill was stellar, as the Bears held on for the 2-1 win.
The Bears are back in action on Friday when they visit the Charlotte Checkers for the first of a two-game weekend set. Puck drop on Friday is set for 7:00 pm.
NOTES
- AHL box score
- Attendance: 5,213
- The Phantoms led in shots 24-23 for the game.
- Garrett Pilon and Brian Pinho led the Bears in shots with 4 each.
- Zach Fucale stopped 23 of 24 for a .958 game save percentage.
- Stars of the game: 1) Zach Fucale, 2:) Axel Jonsson-Fjallby and 3) Mike Vecchione.
- Lehigh Valley was 0 for 8 and the Bears 0 for 2 on the power play.
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