Photo: JustSports Photography/Hershey Bears

The Bridgeport Islanders downed the Hershey Bears 4-3 (SO) Wednesday night at Giant Center in Hershey. The loss drops the Bears’ record to 18-10-2-2 (40 points) on the season.

The Bears opened the scoring with a pair of short-handed goals from Shane Gersich and Brian Pinho for a 2-0 lead at the first intermission, but the Islanders answered with two late tallies in the middle frame for a 2-2 tie after two periods of play.

The Islanders scored the go-ahead goal with less than eight minutes left in regulation, but the Bears would answer with a goal from Joe Snively with less than three minutes remaining in regulation, sending the game to overtime.

After a scoreless overtime period, the Islanders would take the extra point in the shootout.

STARTERS

The Bears started goaltender Pheonix Copley (9-6-1-1, 2.79 GAA, .896 sv%) in net, while the Islanders countered with Jakub Skarek (9-8-3-1, 2.94 GAA, .906 sv%) in goal. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:

Injuries: Matt Moulson (upper-body injury), Eddie Whittchow (lower-body injury), Bobby Nardella (lower-body injury), Lucas Johansen (upper-body injury) and Kale Kessy (upper-body injury).

Scratches: Hunter Shepard, Ryan Dmowski (illness) and Marcus Vela were the scratches.

COVID Protocol: Beck Malenstyn and Mike Vecchione.

FIRST PERIOD

The Bears opened the scoring with a short-handed goal from Shane Gersich (9) at 12:57 of the first period. Riley Sutter (3) and Tobias Geisser (4) had the helpers.

Shane Gersich is on fire! This time another shorty, his second of the season. 9th goal of the seaqson. Bears lead 1-0. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/YkVo4wWiJ3

— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) January 13, 2022

The Bears would make it 2-0 with another short-handed goal. This time Brian Pinho (1) would pot the tally at 19:01 of the opening stanza. Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (9) had the lone assist.

Another shorty! This time Brian Pinho records his first goal of the season. He is in his second game back after being out since November 5. (22 games) Nice setup by AJF. #HBH pic.twitter.com/tqzsZY9jZ6

— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) January 13, 2022

The period would end with the Bears leading 2-0. Bridgeport led in shots 10-8. The Islanders were 0 for 3 and the Bears 0 for 0 on the power play in the first 20 minutes.

SECOND PERIOD

The Bears and Islanders skated to a scoreless draw for most of the second period before the Islanders finally scored late in the frame. Seth Helgeson (2) would net the Islanders first tally at 15:02 of the second period.

The Islanders would score again less than a minute later to tie the game, 2-2. Paul Thompson (3) would pot the game-tying tally at 15:49 of the second period. The goal was unassisted.

The second period would end with the game tied, 2-2. Shots were tied 12-12 in the middle frame. Bridgeport was 0 for 3 and the Bears 0 for 1 on the power play after 40 minutes of play.

THIRD PERIOD

The Islanders took their first lead of the game late in the final frame just as a Bears power play had expired. Erik Brown (3) scored at 13:34 of the final frame, making it 3-2, Islanders. Felix Bibeau (2) and Andy Andreoff (10) had the assists.

But the Bears would answer. Joe Snively (11) would tie the game at 17:44 of the final frame. Tobias Geisser (5) and Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (10) had the assists.

Joe Snively ties it up late! His 11th of the season. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/TOcjelxEHT

— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) January 13, 2022

Regulation would end with the game tied 3-3.

OVERTIME/SHOOTOUT

The extra frame was scoreless. The Islanders would win it in the shootout.

1. Hershey: Joe Snively: No Good; Bridgeport: Michael Dal Colle: Good
2. Hershey: Axel Jonsson-Fjallby: No Good; Bridgeport: Otto Coivula: No good
3. Hershey: Garrett Pilon: No Good.

The Bears are back in action on Saturday when they host the Toronto Marlies at Giant Center. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM.

SHAVINGS

• NHL box score
• Attendance: 5,005
• Stars of the game: 1) Michael Dal Colle, 2) Joe Sbively and 3) Tobias Geisser.
• Bears led in shots 30-29.
• Kody Clark led all Bears in shots with 4.
• Pheonix Copley stopped 25 of 28 for a .892 save percentage.
• Tobias Geisser had two assists and was a +3.