Photo: @UticaComets

The Hershey Bears downed the Utica Comets, 4-0 Friday night at the Adirondack Bank Center in Utica, New York. Goaltender Zach Fucale stopped all 34 shots he faced and was the number one star of the game. The victory improves the Bears record to 26-18-3-3 (58 points) on the season.

The Bears opened the scoring with a power play goal from Aliaksei Protas early in the first frame. Lucas Johansen would make two beautiful passes in the middle frame to setup goals by Mike Vecchione and Brian Pinho to give the Bears a 3-0 lead after two periods. Brian Pinho added an empty net goal to make it 4-0, the final.

STARTERS

The visiting Bears started goaltender Zach Fucale (7-8-0-4, 3.00 GAA, .876 sv%) in net while the Comets countered with Akira Schmid (13-2-2-2, 2.13 GAA, .929 sv%) in goal. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:

Injuries: Garrett Pilon (upper-body injury), Mike Sgarbossa (upper-body injury), Matt Moulson (back surgery), Kody Clark (lower-body injury) and Bobby Nardella (lower-body injury).

Scratches:  Brett Leason (not on the trip, at WWE Smackdown), Macoy Erkamps, Drake Rymsha, Riley Sutter.

Three of our favorites. @gpilon41. @Bleason7. @PatMcAfeeShow.

Enjoy #Smackdown guys! pic.twitter.com/Re2jnYP8aV

— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) February 26, 2022

FIRST PERIOD

The Bears opened the scoring with a power play goal from Aliaksei Protas (3) at 5:25 of the first frame. Cody Franson (20) and Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (20) had the helpers.

Aliaksei Protas with a power play snipe. Bears lead 1-0. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/9HjIxGaifx

— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) February 26, 2022

That would be all of the scoring in the first period. Utica led in shots 14-10 in the first 20 minutes. Hershey was 1 for 2 and Utica 0 for 2 on the power play in the first period.

SECOND PERIOD

The Bears would make it 2-0 with a breakaway score from Mike Vecchione early in the middle frame. The play was setup by a nice stretch-pass from Lucas Johansen at 2:53. Johansen (16) and Alex Alexeyev (11) had the helpers.

Great stretch-pass by Lucas Johansen finds Mike Vecchione for the score. Bears lead 2-0. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/4Tc9MqE0qH

— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) February 26, 2022

The Bears would make it 3-0 late in the middle frame with a goal from Brian Pinho (7) at 14:39. The goal was setup by another nice pass from Lucas Johansen. Johansen (17) and Mason Morelli (13) with the assists.

Another nice dish from Lucas Johansen. This time Brian Pinho finishes. Bears lead 3-0. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/F8WLqIQePd

— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) February 26, 2022

The period would end with the Bears leading 3-0. Utica led in shots 7-6 in the middle frame. Hershey was 1 for 2 and Utica 0 for 2 on the power play after two periods.

THIRD PERIOD

The Comets pulled their netminder with 6:30 remaining in regulation and the score still 3-0. The Bears would capitalize. Brian Pinho would notch the empty netter to make it 4-0.

Comets pull netminder with 6:30 left in regulation, trailing 3-0, and Brian Pinho makes them pay, with the ENG. #ALLCAPS #HBH pic.twitter.com/J3efse7ApI

— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) February 26, 2022

That would be the final.

The Bears are back in action on Sunday when they host the same Utica Comets at Giant Center. Puck drop is set for just after 5:00 PM.

SHAVINGS

• AHL box score
• Attendance: 3,917
• Stars of the game: 1) Zach Fucale, 2) Brian Pinho and 3) Mike Vecchione
• Utica led in shots 34-25.
• Dylan McIlrath led all Bears in shots with 4.
• Hershey was 1 for 2 and Utica 0 for 4 on the power play.

SCENES FROM UTICA

Good taste located in Utica, New York. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/fLF1Dv81E9

— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) February 26, 2022

Two goals from Pinho, a goal for the birthday boy, and a shutout for Zach Fucale.

Your highlights from a great night in Utica: pic.twitter.com/5ZPWanYZ3K

— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) February 26, 2022