Screen cap: AHL TV
The Hershey Bears drubbed the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 8-3 Saturday night at Giant Center in Hershey. The victory improves the Bears record to 12-7-2-1 (27 points) on the season.
The Bears stormed out of the gates with three goals in the first 15 minutes of the opening frame before the Penguins got on the scoreboard in the waning moments of the opening stanza to make it 3-1 at the first intermission. The Bears would add three more goals in the middle frame for a 6-2 lead at the second break. The Bears would add two more goals in the final frame for an 8-3 victory.
STARTERS
Pheonix Copley (7-4-1-1) 2.79 GAA, .895 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the Bears. Alex D’Orio (0-0-0-0, 0.00 GAA, .000 sv%) got the start in goal for the visiting Penguins. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:
Scratches: Joe Snively (unavailable to the team), Brian Pinho (upper-body injury), Riley Sutter (upper-body injury), Cody Franson (lower-body injury), Jordan Subban and Zach Fucale.
Re-calls: Goaltender Zach Fucale was recalled by the Capitals Friday afternoon and Re-assigned to Hershey on Saturday. The Bears recalled defenseman Jordan Subban and goaltender Ryan Bednard from ECHL South Carolina.
FIRST PERIOD
The Bears opened the scoring with a goal from Kale Kessy (2) at 9:44 of the opening frame. Kody Clark (3) and Bobby Nardella (5) had the assists.
Kale Kessy with his 2nd goal of the season, gives the Bears an early 1-0 lead. Nice setup by Kody Clark. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/7Xdd9KDEMS
— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) December 19, 2021
The Bears would quickly make it 2-0 with a goal from Kody Clark (5) at 13:04 of the first period. The goal was unassisted.
Kody Clark with his 5th goal of the season. Bears lead 2-0. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/nQyPT7nNJP
— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) December 19, 2021
Then Ryan Dmowski (2) would get in on the action. He would rip one from the top of the slot to make it 3-0 at 14:47 of the first period. Garrett Pilon (8) and Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (6) had the assists. It was Pilon’s 100th AHL point.
Make that 3-0. This time Ryan Dmowski (2) rips one from the slot. Bears lead 3-0. Penguins dealing with a depleted roster. Their netminder, Alex D’Orio is making his first AHL start of the season. #HBH pic.twitter.com/azXl9yBrx7
— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) December 19, 2021
The Penguins would answer with a goal from Jordy Bellerive (3) at 18:47 of the period. Chris Bigras (3) had the lone assist.
SECOND PERIOD
The Penguins would change goaltenders to start the second period.
The Bears would stretch their lead to 4-1 with a goal from Mike Vecchione (3) at 4:18 of the second period. Lucas Johansen (4) and Dylan McIlrath (1) had the assists.
Mike Vecchione makes it 4-1 Bears. He’s been hot as of late. #HBH pic.twitter.com/XSMuQ2pGll
— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) December 19, 2021
The Bears would make it 5-1 with a goal from Bobby Nardella (2) at 8:26 of the second period. Mike Vecchione (13) and Matt Moulson (9) had the assists.
Bobby Nardella with a filthy snipe from outside gives the Bears a 5-1 lead. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/7dfS1ujacg
— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) December 19, 2021
The Bears would continue the onslaught with a goal from Mason Morelli (3) at 9:10 of the second period, making it 6-1. Kody Clark (4) and Eddie Wittchow (2) had the assists
Mason Morelli makes it 6-1. Nice outlet pass by Lucas Johansen. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/oDucbtKTnp
— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) December 19, 2021
The Penguins would finally get in on the scoring with a goal by Valtteri Puustinen (7) at 11:19 of the middle frame, making it 6-2.
THIRD PERIOD
The Bears would extend their lead to 7-2 with a goal from Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (6) at 4:10 of the final frame. Matt Moulson (10) and Mike Vecchione (14) had the helpers.
Axel Jonsson-Fjallby with his 6th goal of the season, makes it 7-2, Bears. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/MQd8M4OXMo
— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) December 19, 2021
The Penguins would pot their third goal of the game in the middle of the third period, making it 7-3.
Shane Gersich would put the bow on it with a short handed goal to make it 8-3, the final.
Shane Gersich with a shorty gives the Bears the 8-3 lead. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/GyjG5K94wX
— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) December 19, 2021
The Bears are back in action on Sunday when they host Rochester Americans. Puck drop is set for 5:00 PM.
SHAVINGS
- AHL Box Score
- Attendance: 8,685
- Shots were tied 36-36.
- Stars of the game: 1) Kody Clark, 2) Mike Vecchione and 3) Bobby Nardella.
