Screen cap: AHL TV
The Hershey Bears downed the Bridgeport Islanders 3-2 (OT) Sunday afternoon at Giant Center. The victory improves the Bears’ record to 15-9-2-1 (33 points) on the season.
SUMMARY
The Bears opened the scoring on Shane Gersich’s 4th goal of the season midway through the first period, but the Islanders would answer later in the frame for a 1-1 tie at the first intermission.
The Bears regained the lead midway through the middle frame on Garrett Pilon’s 9th goal of the season, for a 2-1 Bears lead at the second intermission. The Islanders tied the game early in the final period, ultimately sending the game to overtime. Shane Gersich would pot the game-winner in the extra frame.
STARTERS
The Bears started goaltender Zach Fucale (4-2-2-0, 2.80 GAA, .889 sv%) in net while the Islanders countered with Ken Appleby (0-2-1-0, 2.30 GAA, .933 sv%) between the pipes. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:
Scratches: Brian Pinho (upper-body injury), Moulson (upper-body injury) and Eddie Whittchow (lower-body injury).
Hunter Shepard, Christopher Brown, Marcus Vela, Colby McAuley, Jordan Subban, Vladislav Mikhalchuk and Will Graber.
FIRST PERIOD
The Bears struck first with a goal from Shane Gersich (4) at 9:04 of the opening frame. Drake Rymsha (5) and Mason Morelli (7) had the helpers.
Shane Gersich with his 4th of the season. Bears lead 1-0. #ALLCAPS #HBH pic.twitter.com/zVRgIftnUE
— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) January 2, 2022
Bridgeport would tie it on their first shot of the game by Chris Terry (11) at 12:49 of the first period. It was their only shot of the period. Otto Koivula (16) and Michael Dal Colle (3) had the assists.
Chris Terry is good. That’s all. https://t.co/jx2fP6EcAS pic.twitter.com/2BtMi6ux5u
— Bridgeport Islanders (@AHLIslanders) January 2, 2022
The period would end with the game tied 1-1. The Bears outshot the Islanders 10-1 in the first frame. Both teams were 0 for 1 on the power play in the first 20 minutes.
SECOND PERIOD
The Bears would retake the lead with a goal from Garrett Pilon (9) at 12:40 of the second frame. Joe Snively (17) had the lone assist.
Nice pick by Axel Jonsson-Fjallby opens shot for Garrett Pilon, who scores his 9th of the season. Bears lead 2-1. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/fUtQhD5F9b
— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) January 2, 2022
That would be all of the scoring in the middle frame. The Bears led in shots 11-9 in the second period and 21-10 after two periods. Both teams were 0 for 2 on the power play after two periods.
THIRD PERIOD
The Islanders tied the game early in the final frame with a tally from Erik Brown (2) at 2:15 of the third period. Felix Bibeau (1) and Seth Helgeson (2) had the assists.
Islanders tie it 2-2 early in the final frame with a goal from Erik Brown. #HBH pic.twitter.com/4sJhOkRwLa
— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) January 2, 2022
Regulation would expire with the game tied 2-2. Bridgeport outshot Hershey 13-4 in the final 20 minutes.
OVERTIME
The Bears would win it in overtime with a goal from Shane Gersich (5). his second tally of the game, at 2:13 of the extra frame.
Shane Gersich drops the hammer! Nice steal and finish. Bears win 3-2 in OT. #ALLCAPS #HBH pic.twitter.com/CGrU1uAUt1
— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) January 2, 2022
The Bears are back in action on Wednesday when they host the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM.
SHAVINGS
- AHL box score
- Attendance: 7,305
- Stars of the game: 1) Shane Gersich, 2) Garrett Pilon and 3) Drake Rymsha.
- Hershey led in shots 27-24.
