Photo: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
The Hershey Bears downed the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 2-1 (OT), Tuesday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Ethen Frank notched his 11th goal of the season and Connor McMichael converted in the shootout for the win. The Bears record improves to 21-6-2-1 (45 points) on the season, which remains the best in the AHL.
HERSHEY BEARS LINEUP
Zach Fucale (10-6-1-1, 2.60 GAA, .896 sv%) got the start in goal for the Bears. Dustin Tokarski (8-5-3-1, 2.20 GAA, .926 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the Penguins. The forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:
Mike Vecchione –Mike Sgarbossa – Ethen Frank
Mason Morelli – Connor McMichael – Kevin O’Neil
Alex Fortin – Hendrix Lapierre –Shane Gersich
Kale Kessy – Riley Sutter – Matt Strome
Aaron Ness – Logan Day
Gabriel Carlsson – Dylan McIlrath
Jake Massie – Vinny Iorio
Scratches: Sam Anas (lower body injury), Henrik Borgstrom (Covid Protocol), Garrett Pilon (lower body injury), Bobby Nardella (upper body injury), Henrik Rybinski (upper body injury), Michael Kim and Julian Napravnik.
Recalled/Re-assigned: The Capitals recalled defenseman Lucas Johansen on Tuesday. The Bears recalled Alex Fortin and Kevin O’Neil from ECHL South Carolina on Tuesday.
FIRST PERIOD
The Bears and Penguins skated to a scoreless draw in the first frame.
The Bears led in shots, 15-5. Hershey was 0 for 2 on the power play, dropping to 16 for 102 on the season. The Penguins did not have a man advantage in the opening frame.
SECOND PERIOD
The Bears opened the scoring with a power play goal from Ethen Frank (11) at 6:06 of the middle frame. Aaron Ness (7) and Mike Sgarbossa (13) had the helpers.
Frank The Tank! Ethen Frank with his 11th of the season, a PPG. Bears lead 1-0. #HBH pic.twitter.com/OXunVgtlAp
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) December 28, 2022
The Penguins answered late in the middle frame. Alex Nylander (11) would tie the game with a power play goal at 18:19 of the second stanza. Valtteri Puustinen (12) and Drake Caggiula (10) had the assists.
The period concluded with the game tied, 1-1. The Bears led in shots, 11-10 in the middle frame and 26-15 after two periods. Hershey was 1 for 5 and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 1 for 1 on the power play after two periods.
THIRD PERIOD
The Bears and Penguins skated to a scoreless draw in the final frame.
The Bears led in shots, 9-8 in the final frame, and 35-23 after three periods.
The Bears were 1 for 5 and the Penguins 1 for 3 on the power play in regulation.
OVERTIME/SHOOTOUT
The extra frame went scoreless, sending the game to the shootout. The Bears would win it in the shootout. Connor McMichael had the game-winner and Zach Fucale stopped all three attempts by the Penguins.
Connor McMichael converts in the shootout, Bears win 2-1. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/TFtONWkwvQ
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) December 28, 2022
The Bears are back in action on Wednesday night when they host the Providence Bruins at Giant Center. Puck drop is set for 7PM.
SHAVINGS
- AHL box score
- Attendance: 4,811
- Connor McMichael was named the first star of the game.
Bears are playing incredible. They are typically a fun watch too. Tonight was a bit dry, but post holidays etc.
The Bears outplayed the Penguins for substantial stretches, but the Pens’ goalie Tokarski has their number. I’m a big fan of Tokarski, if I didn’t hate his guts for being a Penguin, hehe. Old fashioned goalie, not too big, but he’s a battler. Really good tweener goalie.
They are playing extremely well. If they ever got the power play working, they might run away with things. :: knocks on wood::
Ethen Frank has a SERIOUS shot. How far can he take it? Good skater as well.
Like father like son. Like Caps like Bears. Can’t believe how many players are out for Hershey with two ECHL call-ups in lineup and Johansen back with Caps. Still finding ways to win! Great to see 2023 Caps Frank and McMichael being consistently good.
I noticed a small error in this article.
“The Bears would win it in the shootout. Connor McMichael had the game-winner and Zach Fucale stopped all three attempts by the Penguins.”
Actually Fucale never had a chance to stop the first Penguins’ shooter, Alexander Nylander, who overskated the puck, and never got a shot off. No biggie, just nitpicking
That’s considered a stop.
OOOOOK. Stopping the puck, when you don’t even touch it. Probably the easiest stop Fucale’s ever had. Never been a big fan of the shootout, but oh well
Saw that while McM got first star Zach got third.
Good game for Zach. He needed it, back up to .900 today.