The Hershey Bears downed the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, 4-2, Wednesday night at the PPL Center in Allentown, PA. Hendrix Lapierre scored his 5th of the season and Connor McMichael scored his second goal with the Bears in Hershey’s fifth-straight victory. The Bears record improves to 14-4-2-0 (30 points) on the season.
HERSHEY BEARS LINEUP
Zach Fucale (7-4-1, .913 sv%, 2.00 GAA) got the start in goal for the Bears. Sam Ersson (5-4-1 .919 sv%, 2.48 GAA) got the start between the pipes for the Phantoms. The forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:
Mike Vecchione –Mike Sgarbossa – Ethen Frank
Mason Morelli – Connor McMichael – Sam Anas
Julian Napravnik – Hendrix Lapierre – Henrik Rybinski
Kale Kessy – Riley Sutter – Matt Strome
Aaron Ness – Logan Day
Bobby Nardella – Dylan McIlrath
Jake Massie – Vinny Iorio
Scratches: Henrik Borgstrom (non-Covid related illness), Gabriel Carlsson (lower body injury), Shane Gersich (upper body injury), Garrett Pilon (lower body injury), Lucas Johansen (lower body injury), Michael Kim and Kevin O’Neil.
FIRST PERIOD
Hendrix Lapierre made a nice play in the early going, corralling the puck, shooting and batting the rebound for a second shot on goal.
Hendrix Lapierre with a nice play and two shot attempts. Still scoreless. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/6kG1L1RevH
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) December 1, 2022
Later in the period, Lapierre found roommate Vinny iorio for a nice scoring chance, but Iorio was denied.
Hendrix Lapierre to Vinny Iorio for another nice chance. Still scoreless. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/auheOm1Zjk
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) December 1, 2022
The Bears finally found the back of the net. Henrik Rybinski made a nice feed to Hendrix Lapierre for his 5th goal of the season. Henrik Rybinski (3) and Bobby Nardella (8) had the helpers.
Henrik to Hendrix. Hendrix Lapierre with his 5th goal of the season. Bear lead 1-0. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/cChNBYKUJX
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) December 1, 2022
The first period concluded with the Bears leading, 1-0. Bears led in shots, 10-5. The Bears were 0 for 2 on the man advantage in the first 20. The Phantoms did not have a power play in the first frame.
SECOND PERIOD
The Phantoms tied the game midway through the middle frame. Olle Lycksell (4) potted the game-tying tally at 9:19. Cooper Marody (3) and Cam York (10) had the assists.
LV ties it. 1-1. #HBH pic.twitter.com/wCi6G9eyvh
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) December 1, 2022
The Bears would answer. Connor McMichael (2) dented the twine with a nasty wrsiter on the Bears’ third power play, giving the Bears a 2-1 lead at 12:43 of the middle frame. Bobby Nardella (9) and Mike Sgarbossa (5) had the helpers.
Connor McMichael with his second for the Bears, a PPG. #Bears lead 2-1. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/qmoGtutRnH
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) December 1, 2022
But the Phantoms would answer, again, late in the frame. This time Garrett Wilson (4) would provide the tying tally at 18:45. Hayden Hodgson (1) and Jordy Bellerive (6) had the assists.
Phantoms tie it, 2-2. pic.twitter.com/ryb9drn9dJ
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) December 1, 2022
The second period ended with the game tied 2-2. Bears led in shots 12-10 in the middle period and 22-15 after two periods.
THIRD PERIOD
The Bears regained the lead with a goal from Mike Sgarbossa (4) at 3:28 of the final frame. Dylan McIlrath (4) and Ethen Frank (4) had the assists.
Great forecheck by Ethan Frank, centers the puck and Mike Sgarbossa finishes…some how. Bears lead 3-2. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/EF4KgJYJ0a
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) December 1, 2022
Ethen Frank added an empty net goal for the 4-2 win.
The Bears are back in action on Sunday when they host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Puck drop is set for 4PM.
SHAVINGS
- AHL box score
- Attendance: 7,129
- Bears outshot Lehigh Valley 35-20.
- Bears win 5th straight, go 11-2 in the month of November.