Photo: JustSports Photography/Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears downed the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 3-0 Saturday night at Giant Center in Hershey. Shane Gersich scored a pair of goals and Hunter Shepard stopped all 20 shots he faced. The victory improves the Bears’ record to 17-10-2-1 (37 points) on the season.
SUMMARY
The Bears opened the scoring with a goal from Shane Gersich, his seventh of the season, late in the first frame for a 1-0 lead at the first break. Mike Vecchione would convert on a 5-on-3 power play to give the Bears a 2-0 lead at the second intermission. Gersich would score his second goal of the game late in the final frame for the 3-0 win.
STARTERS
The Bears started goaltender Hunter Shepard (2-1-0-0, 2.34 GAA, .901 sv%) in net while the Penguins countered with Alex D’Orio (0-1-0-0, 6.75 GAA, .804 sv%). The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:
Injuries: Brian Pinho (upper-body injury), Matt Moulson (upper-body injury) and Eddie Whittchow (lower-body injury), Bobby Nardella (lower-body injury), Lucas Johansen (upper-body injury) and Kale Kessy (upper-body injury).
Scratches: Ryan Dmowski and Marcus Vela were healthy scratches.
Re-called: Mike Sgarbossa was recalled to the Capitals taxi squad on Wednesday. He was recalled to the Capitals roster on Friday.
Re-assigned: The Bears re-assigned goaltender Ryan Bednard to ECHL South Carolina on Wednesday. Jordan Subban was also returned to the South Carolina Stingrays in the ECHL this week. Will Graber was returned to the Fort Wayne Komets of the ECHL earlier this week.
Released: The Bears released forward Vladislav Mikhalchuk from his professional tryout on Wednesday.
Note: It was announced this week that Matt Moulson had back surgery and will be out for an extended period of time.
FIRST PERIOD
The Bears opened the scoring with a goal from Shane Gersich (7) at 17:28 of the first frame. Mike Vecchione (16) and Mason Morelli (8) had the helpers.
Shane Gersich continues his hot streak. Bears lead 1-0. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/VScKzYwWKC
— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) January 9, 2022
The first period concluded with the Bears holding a 1-0 lead. The Bears led in shots 15-11 for the first 20 minutes. The Penguins were 0 for 3 and the Bears 0 for 1 on the power play in the opening frame.
SECOND PERIOD
The Bears would make it 2-0 with a 5-on-3 power play goal from Mike Vecchione (4) at 14:51 of the second period. Joe Snively (19) and Cody Franson (10) had the assists. The assist extended Joe Snively’s point streak to eight games.
Mike Vecchione converts on the Bears 5-on-3 power play, to give Bears 2-0 lead. #HBH pic.twitter.com/1tXO1OGrfx
— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) January 9, 2022
The second period would expire with the Bears leading 2-0. Hershey led in shots 8-5. The Penguins were 0 for 4 and the Bears 1 for 4 on the power play after 40 minutes.
THIRD PERIOD
The Bears would make it 3-0 on Shane Gersich’s (8) second goal of the game at 15:04 of the final frame. Mason Morelli (9) had the lone assist. Gersich has scored six goals and three assists in the last seven games.
Shane Gersich does it again! Two goals in this game. Bears lead 3-0, late. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/HztFeeu6BW
— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) January 9, 2022
And that would be it as the Bears held on for the 3-0 win.
The same two teams go at it again on Sunday at Giant Center. Puck drop is set for 5:00 PM.
SHAVINGS
- NHL box score
- Attendance: 8,845
- Bears led in shots 36-20.
- Shane Gersich led the Bears with 8 shots.
- Stars of the game: 1) Hunter Shepard, 2) Shane Gersich and 3) Mike Vecchione.
- Hunter Shepard recorded the shutout, stopping all 20 shots he faced.
- Joe Snively extended his points streak to eight games.
- Shane Gersich has six goals and three assists in last seven games.
- The Bears are 6-0 against the Penguins so far this season.
Maybe they should bring Shane up and put him on the PP. Eller looked lost out there and wouldnt even take an open shot.
He deserves at least a call up.