Photo: The Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears were blanked by the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, 2-0, Saturday night at Giant Center in Hershey. The loss drops the Bears record to 34-31-6-4 (78 points) on the season.
After a scoreless first and second period, the Phantoms opened the scoring early in the third and added a second tally midway through the final frame for the 2-0 victory. The Phantoms Pat Nagle stopped all 42 shots he faced for the shutout.
STARTERS
The Bears started Zach Fucale (11-14-5-3, 2.64 GAA, .896 sv %) in net while the Phantoms countered with Pat Nagle (9-4-6-1, 2.59 GAA, .905 sv%). The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:
Injuries: Shane Gersich (lower body injury), Ethan Frank (lower body injury), Brian Pinho (shoulder surgery), Matt Moulson (back surgery), Macoy Erkamps, (illness) and Riley Sutter (upper-body injury).
Scratches: Cody Franson, Kale Kessy, Christopher Brown, Hunter Shepard and Clay Stevenson.
Amateur Tryout Agreements: The Bears signed Benton Maass, Dru Krebs and Garin Bjorklund to amateur tryout agreements.
FIRST PERIOD
The Bears were awarded a 5-on-3 power play midway through the first period but were unable to dent the twine, as their power play struggles continued in the early going.
The first period would ultimately go scoreless. The Bears led in shots 14-4 in the first period.
SECOND PERIOD
The second period would also go scoreless
The Bears led in shots 15-7 in the second period and 29-11 after two periods of play.
The Bears were 0 for 4 and the Phantoms 0 for 2 on the power play after first two periods.
THIRD PERIOD
The Phantoms broke the seal on the scoring early in the final frame. Cooper Zech (1) notched the game’s first tally at 1:56 of the final frame. Linus Sandin (12) and Isaac Ratcliffe (15) had the helpers.
Phantoms break the seal on the scoring early in the third period. Bears lead in shots 31-13. This game could be likened to watching paint dry. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/y3byeo2UOu
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) April 24, 2022
The Phantoms would stretch their lead to 2-0 on a snipe in the high-danger area from Linus Sandin (7) at 8:49. Logan Day (12) and Isaac Ratcliffe (16) had the assists
Phantoms make it 2-0 midway through the final frame. Bears defense breaks down on this one. Linus Sandin with the snipe. #HBH pic.twitter.com/mJ575B2Jpd
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) April 24, 2022
The Phantoms would hold on for the 2-0 win.
SHAVINGS
- AHL box score
- Attendance: 8,495
- The Bears led in shots 42-20.
- Bobby Nardella led all Bears in shots with 6.
- Hershey was 0 for 7 and Lehigh Valley 0 for 3 on the power play.
SOG 42-10 and couldn’t score? Maybe Caps should hire Pat Nagle for the playoffs.
Bears can’t score. They’ve been in a funk for most of the second half of the season. And their power play is really slumping. I wouldn’t be shocked by coaching change this summer.
I didn’t think the team would miss Spencer Carbery that much, boy was I wrong.
I was really sad to see Carbs go and would love to see him in DC. Agree that Caps blundered in letting him go to Leafs. Would love to know what discussions went on in the Caps organization. GM? Coach? No discussion?
In fact, how much of the Bears slump is the Caps’ fault? I have often read that the Bears follow the Caps’ lead in training, schemes, etc. so that players can move back and forth more easily. I have been critical of the Caps’ play calling (especially PP) and use of players. So is the Bears’ problem (part at least) due to emulating the Caps?
Then we get the issue of the Bears players who sit in the DC pressbox was they are kept on the team but not on the ice. This has to hurt too. How many games have top Bears players missed being in DC (roster or taxi) but not actually on the ice?
That was a painful game to watch.
I would not blame you We need a new coach
We need a new coach
Carbery had the team hitting on all cylinders. Losing him (Capitals fault) was a major blow.
Some wanted to trade vets and play bears prospects. Oops
Some prospects are sitting in the Caps pressbox watching the Caps play, not helping the Bears. Lavi won’t play them but won’t send them back to Hershey either, so they are not helping either team. Other prospects, such as Snively, have been injured.