Photo: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
The Hershey Bears lost to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 4-3, in overtime in Game 3 of their best-of-three first-round series of the Calder Cup Playoffs on Monday at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre, ending the Chocolate and White’s postseason after one round.
SUMMARY
The Bears opened the scoring on Mike Sgarbossa’s first goal of the postseason a little over five minutes into the contest. The Pens answered with a fluky goal late in the first frame for a 1-1 tie at the first intermission.
After a scoreless middle frame, Pheonix Copley would allow two ugly goals to give the Pens a 3-1 lead. The Bears would score two quick goals with under 2:00 remaining, with Garrett Pilon and Brett Leason tallying at the 18:25 and 19:07 marks, respectively to send the game to overtime.
The overtime period saw the two teams combine for six shots (Hershey two, the Penguins four), however it would be the Penguins’ Alex Nylander who lit the lamp in extra innings, securing the series win for Wilkes-Barre Scranton. The Penguins finished the game ahead in shots, 46-37. The Bears failed to score on their one man-advantage, while the Penguins were thwarted on both of their power play opportunities.
STARTERS
Pheonix Copley (1-1-0, 1.52 GAA, .943 sv%) got the start in goal for the Bears. The Penguins countered with Tommy Napier (1-1-0, 1.01 GAA, .964 sv%) in net. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:
Injuries: Joe Snively (injury), Kody Clark (injury), Shane Gersich (lower body injury), Ethan Frank (lower body injury), Brian Pinho (shoulder surgery), Matt Moulson (back surgery), Julian Napravnik (lower body injury) and Riley Sutter (upper body injury).
Scratches: Macoy Erkamps, Christopher Brown, Jake Massie, Vincent Iorio, Bear Hughes, Benton Maass, Kevin Fitzgerald, and Clay Stevenson.
FIRST PERIOD
The Bears opened the scoirng with a goal from Mike Sgarbossa at 5:22 of the first period. Alex Alexeyev (1) and Garrett Pilon (1) had the helpers.
Mike Sgarbossa gets it started. Win and move on, lose and go home. Bears lead 1-0. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/oLZRCdLdNm
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) May 9, 2022
The Penguins would tie the game on a fluky goal from Matt Bartkowski (1) at 17:38 of the first frame. Filip Hallander (1) and Valtteri Puustinen (2) had the helpers.
A fluky goal and we are tied 1-1. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/TS7wOakDHx
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) May 9, 2022
The first period would end with the game tied 1-1. Wilkes-Barre led in shots 15-13.
SECOND PERIOD
The Bears and Penguins skated to a scoreless draw in the middle frame.
The Bears led in shots 8-7 in the second period, with shots tied 22-22 for the first two periods.
THIRD PERIOD
The Pens took their first lead of the game on a soft goal given up by Pheonix Copley at 4:44 of the final frame. Radim Zohorna (2) was credited with the tally. Felix Robert (1) had the lone assist.
Pheonix Copley lets a bad one get by and the Pens lead 2-1 early in the final frame. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/oSG19I4d5s
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) May 10, 2022
Copley would let another ugly one get by to give the Pens a 3-1 lead late in the period.
Pheonix Copley with another bad goal. Pens lead 3-1 late in 3rd. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/Yi7DBKuD9B
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) May 10, 2022
With the Chocolate and White down by two in the closing minutes of the third, Garrett Pilon notched his first goal of the postseason at the 18:25 mark to pull the Bears within one.
Garrett Pilon says not so fast. 3-2 Pens late. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/Oi5oEB89FW
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) May 10, 2022
Brett Leason would score at the 19:07 mark of the period to tie the game, sending the Bears and Baby Pens to overtime.
We. Are. Tied! Heading to OT. Winner take all. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/hs810y0xkl
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) May 10, 2022
OVERTIME
Bears defenseman Lucas Johansen would take a puck to the face around the 12:59 mark of the overtime period and would be helped off the ice. Moments after play resumed, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Alex Nylander scored, assisted by Radim Zohorna at 8:22 to secure the game and series for the Penguins, who advance to face the Springfield Thunderbirds.
Alex Nylander drops the curtain. Pens win it in OT. Season over for Bears. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/h1vYRKkTFg
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) May 10, 2022
SHAVINGS
- AHL box score
- Attendance: 2,554
What a heartbreaker.
What is up with Copley? Yikes.
The two goals he game up in the third period were alarming. As if he wasn’t into the game, attention wandered? Hard to explain.
They were truly jaw-dropping.
He was distracted by something.
Tough way to end a season. He was playing well and then it all went away in a few minute span.
Tough task for the Bears, waiting 12 days to play hockey. Game 1 on Friday was basically necessary just to get back to game speed. Credit to them they fought through it and pushed the series to OT in 3rd game.