Screen cap: AHL TV
The Hershey Bears downed the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, 2-1, Sunday afternoon at Giant Center In Hershey. The victory improves the Bears record to 2-0-0. After scoring his first career AHL point on Saturday night, Hendrix Lapierre scored his first career AHL goal on Sunday. Vinny Iorio recorded an assist on Lapierre’s goal for his first career AHL point.
LINEUP
The Bears went with the same lineup for the second game of the regular season. Zach Fucale got the start in goal for the Bears. Samuel Ersson got the start between the pipes for the Phantoms.
Mike Vecchione – Mike Sgarbossa – Garrett Pilon
Shane Gersich – Henrik Borgstrom – Sam Anas
Mason Morelli – Hendrix Lapierre – Ethan Frank
Beck Malenstyn – Riley Sutter – Kale Kessy
Lucas Johansen – Arron Ness
Bobby Nardella – Dylan McIlrath
Gabriel Carlsson – Vinny Iorio
Jake Massie, Julian Napravnik, Logan Day, Matt Strome, Henrik Rybinski (injury) and Martin Has (injury) were the scratches.
FIRST PERIOD
Riley Sutter took an awkward fall into the boards 6:35 into the contest. He left the ice under his own power but was helped by teammates.
Ugly fall into the boards by Riley Sutter. He left the ice with help from teammates. Was grabbing lower back. #ALLCAPS #HBH pic.twitter.com/BWR5fnZDci
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) October 16, 2022
Sutter would return to the game with about seven minutes remaining in the first frame, and played the remainder of the game.
The Bears opened the scoring with a snipe from Hendrix Lapierre (1) at 16:04 of the first period. Gabriel Carlsson (1) and Vincent Iorio (1) had the helpers. It was Iorio’s first AHL point.
Great shift by Hendrix Lapierre, finished with a dart from up top for his first AHL goal. Bears lead 1-0. #ALLCAPS #HBH pic.twitter.com/AP7Ln23IZ4
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) October 16, 2022
The period concluded with the Bears leading 1-0. Bears led in shots 7-5 in the first 20 minutes. There were no power plays in the first frame.
SECOND PERIOD
The Phantoms tied the game after Hendrix Lapierre turned the puck over in the Bears offensive zone. Elliot Desnoyers (2) made a nice play picking Lapierre’s pocket and finishing for the score. Zack MacEwen (2) had the lone assist.
Hendrix Lapierre turnover leads to game-tying goal for Phantoms. #ALLCAPS #HBH pic.twitter.com/7CIngnXPhK
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) October 16, 2022
The period concluded with the game tied 1-1. The Bears outshot Lehigh Valley 12-4 in the middle frame and led 19-9 after two periods. Hershey was 0 for 3 on the power play after two periods. Lehigh Valley did not have a power play in the first 40 minutes.
THIRD PERIOD
The Bears regained the lead with a power play goal from Mike Sgarbossa (1) at 9:23 of the third period. Garrett Pilon (2) and Mike Vecchione (1) had the assists.
Bears take 2-1 lead on a power play goal from Mike Sgarbossa. #HBH pic.twitter.com/md1Dfq3eCH
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) October 16, 2022
That Phantoms received their first power play of the game with 3:06 remaining in the contest, but were unable to dent the twine. The Bears would hold on for the 2-1 victory.
The Bears are back in action on Friday when they place the first of a weekend set against the Checkers in Charlotte. Puck drop on Friday is set for 7PM.
SHAVINGS
- AHL box score
- Attendance: 6,379
- Bears led in shots 28-15.
- The Bears were 1 for 5 and the Phantoms 0 for 2 on the power play.
- Hendrix Lapierre led all Bears in shots with 6. Sam Anas had 5.
- Stars of the game: 1) Mike Sgarbossa, 2) Hendrix Lapierre and 3) Samuel Ersson.
- Zach Fucale stopped 12 of 13 for a .923 game save percentage.
- Zach Fucale recorded back-to-back victories. His first back-to-back starts since 2017.
- Zach Fucale stopped 33 of 35 for the weekend and a .943 save percentage.
- Hendrix Lapierre scored his first career AHL goal.
- Vinny Iorio recorded his first career AHL point.
SCENES FROM GIANT CENTER
Fucale looks sharp in the early going. Not a lot of business today, which can be tough.
That was the proverbial rocking chair affair though. If Lapierre hadn’t hot dogged it on the Phantoms goal, might have been a shutout.
Power play looked fairly sharp despite 1 for 5. They are going to do some damage. Also, Same Anas will dent a lot of twine this season.
Concur. The puck movement on the man advantage is quick and sharp. Just a matter of time they get on a run.
We saw the best and worst of Hendrix Lapierre today. A good shot through traffic that beat the goaltender for the first Bears goal. Then he hot dogged it in the Phantoms zone, coughed up the puck, and got left eating the ice chips of the Phantoms player for their goal. Like the Bears color guy said, you can get away with that in junior, but not the A. One thing I’ve noticed that is good. I had thought of him as mostly a playmaker, but in the early going he’s firing the puck a lot.
If anyone cares, I watched a French language junior game of his last year, and his name is pronounced Ahndree Lapeeay.
Yep, spot on Kim. The turnover made me cringe. Looked like he was a little too casual on the play. Coaches will get to him on that, I’m sure. “This isn’t the CHL”
Anas is about to go off. You can feel it just watching him.
His addition to the power play is going to be huge.
As you say, Sutter had to be helped off the ice but I’m glad he was able to come back his presence was critical in the waning minutes of the game when LV finally came to life. LaPierre did get his first goal but then lost the puck which turned into LV’s only goal.
I thought that the Bears were very disciplined — only two penalties. Not a lot of rookie mistakes. Still learning how to work as a team, but I felt the offense was better than yesterday. Game was really played in their offensive end even if they did again sag a bit in the middle. Puck possession had to be way in their favor.
Great defense when LV put on that last minute 6on4 attack. Fucale had another great game although he really was underworked with just 15 shots. He was attacked twice, once requiring a trainer. LuJo also limped after getting hit in the leg. Didn’t hear anything on their injuries.
Lavi has said (and the announcers confirmed) that he wants the Bears to play his style of hockey and I feel the PP showed it today. Too much standing, not enough attack. I’m hoping that they will do some cheating in this regard and change it up, Lavi or no Lavi.
Video from two good games for the coaches to watch and since next game is Friday, time to work on what they see. Good start.
Pretty good start for the Bears. A lot of potential with this team