Photo: Cleveland Monsters

The Hershey Bears downed the Cleveland Monsters, 4-1 Friday evening at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. The victory improves the Bears record to 22-13-3-3 (50 points) on the season.

The Bears opened the scoring with a power play goal from Mike Vecchione in the first period. After a scoreless middle frame the Monsters would tie the game early in the third period before Kody Clark re-staked the Bears lead at 2-1. Lucas Johansen added an insurance goal and Mike Vecchione added an empty net tally for the 4-1 win.

STARTERS

The visiting Bears started goaltender Zach Fucale (6-4-4-0, 2.79 GAA, .883 sv%) in net, while the Monsters countered with Jet Greeves (3-5-0-0, 3.39 GAA, .893 sv%) in goal. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:

Injuries: Alex Alexeyev (upper-body injury), Mike Sgarbossa (upper-body injury), Matt Moulson (back surgery), Macoy Erkamps (upper-body injury) and Bobby Nardella (lower-body injury).

FIRST PERIOD

The Bears appeared to strike first early in the opening period after Shane Gersich batted a puck into the goal, but the goal was disallowed for a high stick call.

Nice effort by Shane Gersich. Goal waived off for high stick. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/vK6L1b0MBq

— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) February 5, 2022

The Bears would ultimately open the scoring with a power play goal from Mike Vecchione (9) at 16:15 of the first period. Mason Morelli (11) and Garrett Pilon (16) had the helpers.

Nice puck movement by Bears on power play. Pilon to Morelli to Vecchione for the finish. Bears lead 1-0. #HBH pic.twitter.com/TvwEDWwvG9

— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) February 5, 2022

The first period would end with the Bears leading 1-0. Cleveland led in shots 11-10.

SECOND PERIOD

The Bears and Monsters skated to a scoreless draw in the middle frame.

Cleveland led in shots 11-6. The Bears were 1 for 2 and Cleveland 0 for 1 on the power play after two periods.

THIRD PERIOD

The Monsters tied the game early in the final frame. Scott Harrington (1) notched the game-tying tally at 5:01 of the third period. Cole Clayton (6) and Tyler Sikura (10) had the assists.

Garrett Pilon left the game with an apparent shoulder injury with about 13 min remaining in the third period and did not return.

Play where Garrett Pilon was injured (again). Left shoulder. It was his first game back after previous injury. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/xqQKItGjwm

— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) February 5, 2022

The Bears regained the lead with a goal from Kody Clark (6) at 8:15 of the third period. Beck Malenstyn (3) and Riley Sutter (4) had the assists.

Beautiful give-and-go between Riley Sutter and Kody Clark with Clark finishing for his 6th goal of the season. Bears lead 2-1 midway through the third period. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/yLZN5gjccD

— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) February 5, 2022

The Bears would make it 3-1 with a bomb from Lucas Johansen (5) at 15:58 of the third period. Cody Franson (15) and Mike Vecchione (17) had the helpers.

Lucas Johansen with a bomb makes it 3-1, Bears. It’s LuJo’s 5th goal of the season. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/JnsSQavVHq

— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) February 5, 2022

The Bears would add an empty net goal from Mike Vecchione, his second goal of the game, to make it 4-1, the final.

The same two teams are at it again on Saturday in Cleveland. Puck drop is set for 3:00 PM.

SHAVINGS

• AHL box score
• Attendamce: 6,253

By Jon Sorensen