Photo: Charlotte Checkers
The Hershey Bears fell to the Charlotte Checkers, 5-3 Friday night at Bojangles’ Coliseum in Charlotte. The Bears had a 3-0 lead early in the second period but gave up five unanswered goals for the loss. The defeat drops the Bears record to 30-25-5-4 (69 points) on the season.
The Bears opened the scoring less than two minutes into the contest with a goal from Kody Clark and added a late goal by Mason Morelli for a 2-0 lead at the first intermission.
The Bears stretched their lead to 3-0 on Cody Franson’s 8th goal of the season early in the middle frame, but the Checkers would strike back with two unanswered goals for a 3-2 Bears lead at the second break.
The Checkers tied things up with their third unanswered goal midway through the final frame and would take the lead late in the final frame and add an empty net goal for the 5-3 win over the Bears.
STARTERS
The Bears started goaltender Zach Fucale (10-11-4-3, 2.57 GAA, .897 sv%) in net while the Checkers countered with Joey Daccord (15-10-2-0, 2.33 GAA, .926 sv%). The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:
Injuries: Brian Pinho (shoulder surgery), Matt Moulson (back surgery), Mike Sgarbossa (upper-body injury), Riley Sutter (upper-body injury).
Scratches: Jake Massie, Christopher Brown and Macoy Erkamps,
FIRST PERIOD
The Bears wasted very little time in denting the twine in this one. Kody Clark (7) would skate the length of the ice, dish to a Bear and clean-up the loose change in the slot for his first goal since February 4. Tobias Geisser (8) and Beck Malenstyn (6) had the assists.
The Bears would stretch their lead to 2-0 late in the opening frame. Mason Morelli (9) would deflect a shot from the point by Bobby Nardella at 17:43 of the period. Bobby Nardella (13) and Shane Gersich (18) had the helpers.
The period would end with the Bears leading 2-0. The Bears outshot the Checkers 10-4 in the first 20 minutes. Hershey was 0 for 1 on the power play while the Checkers did not have a man advantage in the first frame.
SECOND PERIOD
The Bears would make it 3-0 early in the middle frame on Cody Franson’s 8th goal of the season. Garrett Pilon (19) and Mike Vecchione (26) had the assists.
The Checkers would yank Joey Daccord following the Franson goal, and replace him with Christopher Gibson.
The Checkers finally dented the twine midway through the middle frame on Alexander True’s 14th goal of the season at 8:13 of the second period. Serron Noel (12) and Max McCormick (16) had the assists.
The Checkers would cut the Bears lead to one on a spinning wrister by Zac Dalpe (25) at 18:15 of the second period. Dennis Cholowski (10) and Logan Hutsko (26) had the assists.
The second period would end with the Bears leading 3-2. Charlotte led in shots 13-6 in the period and 17-16 after 40 minutes of play.
THIRD PERIOD
The Checkers tied the game with a tally from Cale Fleury (7) at 6:17 of the third period. Alexander True (24) had the lone assist.
Mike Vecchione would be called for a high-sticking double-minor just after the Checkers game-tying goal, giving the Checkers a four-minute power play, but the Bears were able to kill-off the penalty.
The Checkers would get another late power play and this time it would cost the Bears. Scott Wilson (22) would pot the go-ahead tally at 15:14 of the third period, making it 4-3 Checkers.
The Checkers would add an empty net goal for the 5-3 final.
The Bears and Checkers do it again on Saturday at Bojangles Coliseum. Puck drop is set for 6:00 PM.
SHAVINGS
- AHL box score
- Attendance: 6,421
- The loss is the 6th consecutive on the road for the Bears.
Like this:
Like Loading...
About Jon Sorensen
Jon has been a Caps fan since day one, attending his first game at the Capital Centre in 1974. His interest in the Caps has grown over the decades and included time as a season ticket holder. He has been a journalist covering the team for 10+ years, primarily focusing on analysis, analytics and prospect development.
That’s a tough one to swallow.
Defense the issue tonight. Bears are firing shots so it’s not really clear how much injuries to forwards is really hurting this team. I think there are other issues.
Our dee (in wash) and pipeline in hershey is concerning. Didn’t watch the game so don’t know where the defensive breakdowns were. I’d like to see Kempny go to Hershey as I don’t think he’ll get claimed. And I’d like to see Johanson get called up if there is injury.