Photo: The Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears beat the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, 2-0 Sunday night at Giant Center in Hershey. Zach Fucale stopped all 29 shots he faced for his third consecutive shutout. According to Bears radio, no other Bears goaltender has posted three consecutive shutout wins in the Bears’ 84-year history. The victory improves the Bears record to 29-21-4-3 (65 points) on the season.
Following a scoreless first frame, the Bears opened the scoring with a deflected shot by Marcus Vela late in the second period. Mike Sgarbossa added an empty net goal late in the third period for the 2-0 final.
STARTERS
The Bears started goaltender Zach Fucale (9-8-4-2, 2.72 GAA, .890 sv%) in net while the Phantoms countered with Felix Sandstrom (10-13-3-1, 3.05 GAA, .894 sv%) in goal. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:
Injuries: Brian Pinho (upper-body injury), Macoy Erkamps (lower-body injury), Matt Moulson (back surgery), Kale Kessy (upper-body injury).
Scratches: Jake Massie, Christopher Brown.
SECOND PERIOD
The Bears finally broke the seal on the scoring with a deflected shot from Marcus Vela (6) at 16:52 of the middle frame. Mason Morelli (18) and Tobias Geisser (8) had the helpers.
Marcus Vela with the deflection, gives the Bears a 1-0 lead late in the second period. #HBH pic.twitter.com/hwszU3Qupg
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) March 13, 2022
The second period would end with the Bears leading 1-0. Lehigh Valley led in shots 10-7 in the middle frame with Hershey leading 19-8 after two periods. The Phantoms were 0 for 3 and the Bears 0 for 4 on the power play after 40 minutes of play.
THIRD PERIOD
The Bears added an empty net goal from Mike Sgarbossa late in the final frame to make it 2-0. That would be the final.
The Bears are back in action on Thursday afternoon when they visit the Marlies in Toronto. Puck drop is 1:30 PM.
SHAVINGS
- AHL box score
- Attendance: 10,020
- Hershey led in shots 32-29.
- This was the Bears 2,998 franchise win.
- Garrett Pilon led all Bears in shots with 5.
- The Bears gave up one goal in three games this week.
- The Phantoms were 0 for 4 and the Bears 0 for 6 on the power play.
- Stars of the game: 1) Zach Fucale, 2) Marcus Vela and 3) Felix Sandstrom
Thoughts from head coach Scott Allen after a 2-0 win over Lehigh Valley. Zach Fucale posted a third straight shutout in the win. pic.twitter.com/Uk4qyTmFKp
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) March 14, 2022
-Second goalie in overall franchise history with three straight shutouts. Nick Damore had three in 1939-40, but one of those games was a tie.
Could be something not recorded we are all missing, but amazing stuff from @Fucale31. Re-writing the record book!
— Zack Fisch (@zackfisch) March 14, 2022
SCENES FROM HERSHEY
That’s a shutout record in both the NHL and AHL this season. Pretty impressive when he’s on his game.
It’s like day or night with Fucale. He either gets shelled or he pitches a shutout.
What is shielded by the Bears goaltender play is the offense is still seriously floundering
True story.
True, but think how their offense has constantly changed this season with so many going back and forth to the Caps, sitting in the Caps taxi, or even playing for the Caps. Plus their own injuries and COVID.
I agree, but also feel the same can be said for many of the AHL teams. Pretty much all of them have dealt with crazy roster moves this season.
A majority of their wins have come against basement tier teams.
True. Fifth in division is not where they usually reside. Certainly not like last year. But they are ahead of the Penguins!
Yeah, but Caps seemed to have raided the Bears more than most. Can’t remember stats, but I remember reading about how they were leading the league in rookies played. I know that Bears roster changes is something I hear about every game. One game they played a player who had arrived that day after practice. Introduced himself on the bench. It has been an unreal year.
I believe the Sharks led the league in rookies played this season, but Caps were up there. They cycled a lot of players in and out. That quieted down a while ago.
Watching each and every game and listening to away teams broadcast team, it’s fairly evident that all teams were/are dealing with significant roster changes/issues.