Photo: The Hershey Bears

The Hershey Bears downed the Springfield Thunderbirds, 3-2 (OT) Sunday night at the Giant Center in Hershey. The victory improves the Bears record to 33-27-5-4 (75 points) on the season.

The Bears opened the scoring on a redirect by Shane Gersich just 36 seconds into the game and added a tally from Mason Morelli for a 2-0 lead at the first intermission.

The Thunderbirds closed the gap to a goal late in the middle frame for a 2-1 Bears lead at the second break.

The Thunderbirds would tie the game with less than five minutes remaining in regulation, making it 2-2. The game would require extra time.

Mason Morelli would win it in overtime for the Bears.

STARTERS

The Bears started goaltender Zach Fucale (10-13-4-3, 2.68 GAA, .893 sv %) in net while the Thunderbirds countered with Joel Hofer (15-14-4-0, 3.21 GAA, .898 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, Macoy Erkamps, Eddie Whittchow and Clay Stevenson.

THIRD PERIOD

The Thunderbirds tied the game with a late tally from Brady Lyle (4) at 15:27 of the final frame. Dakota Joshua (10) and Tyler Tucker (14) had the helpers.

Lyle knots it at 2😍😍 pic.twitter.com/yKHMT9Xmnm

— Springfield Thunderbirds (@ThunderbirdsAHL) April 10, 2022

Regulation would end, tied 2-2.

OVERTIME

The Bears would win it in overtime on a snipe by Mason Morelli, his second goal,of the game.

Nice zone entry by Shane Gersich, drop pass to Mason Morelli for the dagger. Bears win 3-2 in OT. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/5YENus5EXn

— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) April 10, 2022

The Bears are back in action on Wednesday when they return to Allentown to face the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Puck drop is set for just after 7:00 PM.

SHAVINGS

• AHL box score
• Attendance: 7,543
• Springfield led in shots 26-25.
• Both teams were 0 for 3 on the power play.
• Mason Morelli and Brett Leason led the Bears in shots with 4 each.
• Stars of the game: 1) Mason Morelli, 2) Shane Gersich and 3) Garrett Pilon

SCENES FROM HERSHEY

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