Screen cap: AHL TV
The Hershey Bears fell to the Laval Rocket, 3-2 (OT), Friday night at Place Bell in Laval, Quebec. Joe Snively scored his third goal in his first four games back with the Bears, but the Bears gave up three power play goals and a 2-0 lead in the loss. The Bears record drops to 25-8-4-1 (55 points) on the season.
LINEUP
Zach Fucale (12-7-1-1, 2.50 GAA, .898 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the Bears. Kevin Poulin (9-11-2-0, 3.18 GAA, .889 sv%) got the start in goal for the Rocket. The forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:
Mike Vecchione –Mike Sgarbossa – Ethen Frank
Joe Snively – Connor McMichael – Henrik Borgstrom
Mason Morelli – Hendrix Lapierre –Garrett Pilon
Beck Malenstyn – Riley Sutter – Shane Gersich
Aaron Ness – Lucas Johansen
Gabriel Carlsson – Dylan McIlrath
Jake Massie – Bobby Nardella
Scratches: Sam Anas (abdominal surgery, out indefinitely), Vinny Iorio (illness), Kale Kessy (upper body injury), Julian Napravnik, Logan Day, Henrik Rybinski and Matthew Strome.
Recalls/Re-assignments: The Capitals recalled Aliaksei Protas from Hershey on Tuesday.
FIRST PERIOD
The Rocket were awarded a double-minor power play less than five minutes into the contest when Mike Sgarbossa was called for high-sticking, but the Bears were able to stymie the league’s 6th-best power play for the entire four minutes.
Connor McMichael had a breakaway chance during the Rocket’s four-minute man-advantage, but couldn’t convert.
Shorthanded breakaway chance by Connor McMichael comes up short. He’s had a few of these breakaway chances in the last few games, but just hasn’t been able to convert. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/u3UXGSR0Gp
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) January 21, 2023
The Bears were awarded a 5-on-3 power play for 39 seconds late in the period, and they would make good use of the two-man advantage. Joe Snively (3) converted at 17:18 of the frame. Ethen Frank (13) and Mike Sgarbossa (20) had the helpers.
Joe Snipely! Joe Snively with his 3rd tally since returning to the Bears. This one comes on a 5-on-3 power play. Bears lead 1-0. #ALLCAPS #HBH pic.twitter.com/hqSGAOWUeX
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) January 21, 2023
The Bears added a late tally from Mike Sgarbossa (14) with six seconds remaining in the period.
The Score Boss Mike Sgarbossa makes it 2-0 with 5 seconds remaining in the opening frame. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/IMI4fgpHZO
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) January 21, 2023
The period concluded with the Bears leading 2-0. Hershey led in shots 14-8. Hershey was 1 for 2 and Laval 0 for 2 on the power play in the first 20 minutes.
SECOND PERIOD
Less than five minutes into the middle frame Dylan McIlrath and John Parker-Jones dropped the gloves.
Dylan McIlrath and John Parker-Jones drop the gloves. pic.twitter.com/k0MoM2iYd9
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) January 21, 2023
The Rocket got on the board with a 5-on-3 power play goal from Joël Teasdale (8) at 12:43. Anthony Richard (19) and William Trudeau (5) had the assists.
The Rocket quickly tied the game with 8 seconds remaining on their power play with a second tally from Joël Teasdale (9) (20) at 13:21. Anthony Richard (20) and William Trudeau (6) had the assists.
TEASER X2🚨🚨#GoRocket https://t.co/57AA6NJhhA pic.twitter.com/j3Fgsf2eSp
— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) January 21, 2023
Hendrix Lapierre whiffed on a shot late in the middle frame that led to a Rocket 3-0 breakaway, but Zach Fucale was up to the task.
Hendrix Lapierre whiffs on a shot, leading to a Rocket breakaway, but Zach Fucale comes up HUGE. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/LOms02QAgN
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) January 21, 2023
The second period ended tied 2-2. Laval led in shots 22-6 in the middle frame and 30-20 after two periods. Hershey was 1 for 2 and Laval 2 for 4 on the power play after two periods.
THIRD PERIOD
The Rocket had two power plays early in the final frame, including a stint at 5-on-3, but the Bears penalty kill was up to the task once again, keeping the score tied at 2-2.
The third period ultimately went without a tally, sending the game to overtime. Laval led in shots, 7-3 in the final period. The Bears were 1 for 2 and the Rocket 2 for 6 on the power play in regulation.
OVERTIME
The Rocket were awarded their seventh power play in the extra frame and would win the game with the 4-on-3 man advantage.
SHAVINGS
- AHL box score
- Attendance: 9,069
- The Rocket led in shots 41-27.
I watched this game. The Rocket puts up a lot of shots. The sequence in which Fucale took a puck off the helmet, refs didn’t stop the game, and then he stayed in and gave up 2 immediate goals. Not sure he still should have been in there. But aside from that he was solid.
Johansen REALLY impressed me in the overtime. He was really smooth moving around with the puck 3v3. Snively looked really good as well and Sutter had two punishing hits on one shift.
McMike missed another breakaway.
Play Rybinski!
I thought the penalties were WAY out of balance, 7-2?!
I thought the same about the goals Fucale gave up, but I think we’re both ridiculous deflections. He stood on his head down the stretch.
McMike has missed at least 4, maybe 5 breakaways in last two weeks. Not sure what’s going on with him. He usually nails those.
Stingrays made the Icemen pay for their sins 4 times in their 6-3 win. Bear Hughes assisted Martin Has on his second goal of the year. Rays’ PP is the best in the ECHL and I believe their second period is third most productive. Clay should be in net for the game against Atlanta tonight.
I searched for the Has goal but couldn’t find on social. The Bears broadcast last night mentioned it. I’ll give it another look.
They originally gave it to Turnbull on the broadcast. It’s around the 10min mark in the second.
Ah, I saw that one on their Twitter feed. Thanks.
Is this it?
No. Second Period: 10:00 Goal – 1:3. SC Equal Strength. Goal by Martin Haš assisted by Bear Hughes and Anthony Del Gaizo.
Sorry. But glad Carter Turnbull is getting some exposure. He leads the ECHL in goals. In 33 games has 21 goals and 14 assists. And he’s a rookie. 24 years old, 5’8″, former UConn captain, and under contract to the Rays.
It’s too bad the Caps don’t have a way to work Snively into their lineup in an offensive type role. He is very quick, has a lot of offensive talent and creates chances for himself and line mates. He plays a decent 200 ft game and the only glaring weakness is his size. He’s the type of player we would look for when I was still scouting full time that had all the tools to possibly break through.
I have always liked Snively and rooted for him. With Mantha, and then Milano, there just hasn’t been a spot for him since he didn’t fit on 4th line. He is under contract with Caps for another year so we’ll see if he can work his way in. There will be a lot of competition for 2LW and 3LW next season.
Cool that you scouted! Who did you do that for? Assume in hockey somewhere.
Yep, it was hockey related. Teams didn’t used to spend as much on full time scouts, flying them everywhere, and relied on ‘part time’ scouting where travel was more limited. Most of my time was with Philadelphia and Washington.