Photo: Charlotte Checkers
The Hershey Bears fell to the Charlotte Checkers, 5-4, Friday night at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte. Sam Anas scored his first goal as a Hershey Bear and Sonny Milano, signed by the Capitals earlier in the week, recorded his first point for Hershey.
The Bears scored the first three goals of the game, but then gave-up the next five goals before potting a late tally to make it 5-4.
LINEUP
Zach Fucale got the start in goal for the Bears. Alex Lyon got the start between the pipes for the Checkers.
Sonny Milano – Mike Vecchione – Garrett Pilon
Mason Morelli – Henrik Borgstrom – Sam Anas
Shane Gersich – Hendrix Lapierre – Ethan Frank
Matt Strome – Riley Sutter – Kale Kessy
Lucas Johansen – Arron Ness
Bobby Nardella – Dylan McIlrath
Gabriel Carlsson – Vinny Iorio
Scratches: Jake Massie, Julian Napravnik, Logan Day, Mike Sgarbossa (paternity leave), Henrik Rybinski (injury, cleared on Friday, could play Saturday) and Martin Has (injury) were the scratches.
Recalls And Reassignments: Beck Malenstyn was recalled by the Capitals earlier this week.
FIRST PERIOD
The Bears opened the scoring on a shot from the right side by Sam Anas (1) just 1:15 into the contest. Mason Morelli (3), and Gabriel Carlsson (2) had the helpers.
Sam Anas knocks home his first goal as a Hershey Bear. Bears lead 1-0 early in the first. #HBH pic.twitter.com/DoayBkzC6h
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) October 21, 2022
Riley Sutter (2) finished on a shorthanded opportunity to give the Bears a 2-0 lead at 10:59 of the first frame. The goal was unassisted.
Riley Sutter with a short-handed goal, his 2nd goal in 3 games. Bears lead 2-0 midway through first. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/esHmTsfpU9
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) October 21, 2022
The first frame concluded with the Bears leading 2-0. The Bears lead in shots 6-2. Both teams were 0 for 1 on the power play in the first 20 minutes.
SECOND PERIOD
The Bears made it 3-0 with a goal from Garrett Pilon (1) at 13:38 of the middle frame. Mike Vecchione (1), Sonny Milano (1) had the assists. It was Milano’s first point as a Hershey Bear.
Garrett Pilon makes it 3-0. Sonny Milano picks up his first point as a Bear. #ALLCAPS #HBH pic.twitter.com/o8zmo1rDrU
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) October 22, 2022
The Checkers would finally dent the twine on the power play with less than two minutes remaining in the middle frame. Anton Levtchi scored his 3rd of the season. Riley Nash (4) and Justin Sourdif (1) had the assists.
Checkers get on the board late in the middle frame. Anton Levtchi with his 3rd of the season. Bears lead 3-1 after two periods. #HBH pic.twitter.com/SW38jqMykJ
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) October 22, 2022
The second period concluded with the Bears leading 3-1. Shots were tied 13-13 after two periods. Hershey was 0 for 3 and Charlotte 1 for 2 on the power play after two periods.
THIRD PERIOD
The Checkers cut the Bears lead to one, at 1:07 of the final frame. Gerry Mayhew (1) had the tally. Chris Tierney (2)
Checkers draw to within one. Bears lead 3-2 early in the final frame. #HBH pic.twitter.com/6VjcK3MQS9
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) October 22, 2022
The Checkers tied the game at 6:40 on a delayed penalty call, making it 3-3. Zac Dalpe (1) recorded the equalizer. Dennis Cesana (2) and Henry Bowlby (2) had the assists.
Checkers tie it 3-3 on delayed penalty. #HBH pic.twitter.com/YUKZUN0vRw
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) October 22, 2022
The Checkers would make it four-straight goals with a power play tally late, to make it 4-3. Riley Nash (2) notched the go ahead marker. Santtu Kinnunen (2) and Anton Levtchi (2) had the helpers.
Checkers score 4th straight tally to take 4-3 lead late in final frame. This one on the power play. #HBH pic.twitter.com/cVr2Wug66C
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) October 22, 2022
The Checkers would add an empty net goal to make it 5-3. Henrik Borgstrom would add a late goal for Hershey to make it 5-4, the final.
The Bears and Checkers do it again on Saturday, with puck drop set for 6:00PM.
SHAVINGS
- AHL box score
- Attendance: 4,334
- Charlotte led in shots, 23-17.
- Zach Fucale stopped 18 of 22 for a .818 game save percentage.
- Hershey was 0 for 3 and Charlotte 2 for 3 on the power play.
- Garrett Pilon and Riley Sutter led all Bears in shots with 3 each.
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,”
What is it with hockey teams this year. Sens went up 3 on Boston, Boston tied, Sens went up another 3, Boston went up 2, Sens added one more. Games having strong swings from one side to the other.
Dropping some culture on us tonight, Fyre. I like it. 👊
It’s what comes to mind as I watch all these severe swings back and forth. No consistency.
Tonight was two swings. One Hershey’s way, one Charlottes way. Crazy game.
Dickens was considered lite fare back in his day. But he’s definitely literature now, when most people’s reading material is Twitter and Instagram.
You are not not wrong, Kim.
Good for Henrik Borgstorm
Yeah, at least he got on the scoresheet at the end there.
Quiet game from Lapierre. Iorio was noticeable, layer a hot or two but was on the ice for tallies against. Still a lot of work to do with both.
I still think Lapierre should move to the wing for the first 15-20 games, let him get acclimated. Maybe the Caps have direct orders to play him at center. We’ll see how long that sticks.
Would not be surprised. Lavi wants a player to fit the hole he designates, not the position of player’s strength.
I do think Lappy projects as LW in NHL. I think Jon’s point was more center has a lot of complexities. Combine that with playing with men. Wing is a better place acclimate to AHL. Just like McMichael in NHL.
Yep, spot on DWG.
The Bears seem to be taking lessons from the Vancouver Canucks in how not to hold on t leads.
I am wondering if Julian is going to play a game soon
Hi Brianna, I think he will get a game very soon.
Hi Brianna, Napravnik is in tonight’s lineup.
How did Johanson look? Does he look like Hershey’s best defenseman?
He looked good, but was on the ice for scores. Still early (for me) on gauging his overall status, but we’ll include a detailed breakdown in monthly summary.