The Hershey Bears downed the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 4-3 (SO) Tuesday night at the Giant Center in Hershey. Sam Anas recorded the game-winner in the shootout, Mason Morelli scored his 4th goal of the season and Mike Vecchione recorded his team-leading 6th goal of the season in the win. The Bears record improves to 13-4-2-0 (28 points) on the season.
HERSHEY BEARS LINEUP
Hunter Shepard (5-0-2, .940 sv%, 1.69 GAA) got the start in goal for the Bears. Dustin Tokarski (7-2-2 .940 sv%, 1.70 GAA) got the start between the pipes for the Baby Pens. The forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:
Mike Vecchione –Mike Sgarbossa – Ethan Frank
Henrik Borgstrom – Connor McMichael – Sam Anas
Mason Morelli – Hendrix Lapierre – Henrik Rybinski
Kale Kessy – Riley Sutter – Matt Strome
Aaron Ness – Logan Day
Bobby Nardella – Dylan McIlrath
Jake Massie – Vinny Iorio
Scratches: Gabriel Carlsson (lower body injury), Shane Gersich (upper body injury), Garrett Pilon (lower body injury), Lucas Johansen (lower body injury), Julian Napravnik, Michael Kim and Kevin O’Neil.
Recalls/Re-assignments: Connor McMichael was re-assigned to Hershey on Sunday, November 20.
FIRST PERIOD
The Penguins struck first just 1:09 into the contest. Drake Caggiula (3) received the centering pass from below the goal line for the early score. Drew O’Connor (7) and Valtteri Puustinen (9) had the helpers.
Turnover in Bears own zone, Penguins’ Drake Caggiula (3) cashes in just 1:09 into the contest. #HBH pic.twitter.com/gLNUPTum5U
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) November 30, 2022
The Penguins quickly made it 2-0 on a redirected shot by Valtteri Puustinen (7) at 7:50. Drew O’Connor (8) and Drake Caggiula (6) had the lone assists.
Baby Pens make it 2-0. Valtteri Puustinen (7) redirects a shot from the point at 7:50. #HBH pic.twitter.com/0qK6ayp0MK
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) November 30, 2022
The Bears finally got on the scoreboard with a redirect by Mason Morelli (4) at 15:41. Jake Massie (1) and Vincent Iorio (5) had the assists.
Bears answer. Mason Morelli, Bears leading scorer, redirects shot. Figures, two best goaltenders in AHL and this one is looking like a shootout. #HBH pic.twitter.com/4BfDlFsVTZ
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) November 30, 2022
The first period concluded with the Baby Pens leading, 2-1. The Bears led in shots 17-9 in the first frame. The Penguins were 0 for 1 on the power play in the first frame. The Bears did not have a man advantage in the first 20 minutes.
SECOND PERIOD
The Bears tied the game on a shot from the point by Jake Massie (1) at 6:52 of the middle frame. Hendrix Lapierre (9) and Vincent Iorio (6) had the helpers.
Jake Massie lets one fly from Allentown, and gets a friendly redirect. Game tied 2-2. #HBH pic.twitter.com/yVD5WaFSyD
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) November 30, 2022
That would be it for the middle frame. The Bears led in shots 13-5 in the second period and 30-14 after two periods. Both teams were 0 for 1 on the power play after 40 minutes of play.
THIRD PERIOD
The Bears began the final frame on a five-minute major penalty kill following a dust-up at the end of the second period. Kale Kessy was tagged with 17-minutes of penalties and the major at the end of the middle frame.
The Pens would dent the twine a little over 90 seconds in the power play. Nathan Légaré (2) would pot the tally. Mitch Reinke (4) and Xavier Ouellet (11) had the helpers.
Baby Pens start the final frame on a 5-min major power play and they quickly connect. Now lead 3-2. #HBH pic.twitter.com/18nVD3qThq
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) November 30, 2022
The Pens were called for a penalty late in their five-minute power play extinguishing the remainder of their man advantage.
The Bears would tie the game on a redirect by Mike Vecchione (6) at 11:04. Bobby Nardella (7) and Ethen Frank (3) had the assists.
Nice work by the Bears to tie it up. Nice redirect by Mike Vecchione for the score. 3-3 late in third period. #HBH pic.twitter.com/3uLneA6eY6
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) November 30, 2022
Regulation would end with the game tied, 3-3.
OVERTIME/SHOOTOUT
No scoring in the extra frame. Hendrix Lapierre dented the iron late.
Hendrix Lapierre with a pinger. No scoring in the extra frame. We head to the shootout for 2nd consecutive game. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/v473cfLTFj
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) November 30, 2022
Sam Anas would pot the game-winner in the shootout. Bears win, 4-3.
Sam Anas with the game-winner in the shootout. This is a new one. 🙂 #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/ssBhV0M27a
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) November 30, 2022
The Bears are back in action on Wednesday night when they visit the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in Allentown, PA. Puck drop is set for after 7PM.
SHAVINGS
- AHL box score
- Attendance: 8,608
- Bears led in shots 44-19.
- Stars of the game: 1) Sam Anas, 2) Jake Massie and 3) Drake Caggiula.
- Bears head coach Todd Nelson says Gabriel Carlsson, Lucas Johansen and Shane Gersich could return to the lineup on Sunday. Garrett Pilon is still a ways off.
Any win against the Pits or Baby Pits is doubly satisfying.
This ☝️ Has been confirmed.
The game winner was….interesting. He said he was going to get his skates sharpened after the game.
That old saying “if it’s stupid but works, it’s not stupid” applies here. Ha. Glad he could smile about it. Hope the boys ride him a bit too. Ha.
There are no style points awarded. 😁
It sure was and made it even more exciting. Many of us at the game were looking at each other to make sure we saw the tumble when he shot.
Gordie Howe-sque 😂
Great comeback against the Baby Pens.
Thx for the update. I am always interested in the farm.