Photo: Syracuse Crunch

The Hershey Bears downed the Syracuse Crunch, 4-1 Saturday night at the Upstate Medical University Arena in Syracuse, New York. Shane Gersich opened the scoring in the first frame with his 6th goal of the season, Mike Sgarbossa added his 20th goal of the season in the middle frame and Julian Napravnik added his fourth goal of the season in the final frame. Connor McMichael extended his points streak to seven games.

The victory improves the Bears record to 38-16-5-3 (84 points) on the season and clinches a playoff spot for the 70th time in franchise history. They become the second team to clinch an AHL postseason berth.

LINEUP

Hunter Shepard (15-6-5-1, 2.18 GAA, .914 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the visiting Bears. Hugo Alnefelt (15-9-1-3, 2.53 GAA, .912 sv%) got the start in goal for the Crunch. The forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:

Mike Vecchione – Mike Sgarbossa – Ethen Frank
Joe Snively – Connor McMichael – Julian Napravnik
Mason Morelli – Hendrix Lapierre – Garrett Pilon
Beck Malenstyn – Riley Sutter – Shane Gersich

Gabriel Carlsson – Dylan McIlrath
Bobby Nardella – Aaron Ness
Lucas Johansen – Vincent Iorio

Scratches:  Jake Massie, Sam Anas, Henrik Borgstrom (upper body injury), Logan Day, Bogdan Trineyev, Henrik Rybinski and Matt Strome.

Recalls/Re-assignments: Zach Fucale and Gabriel Carlsson were re-assigned from Washington to Hershey on Thursday. Benton Maass and Clay Stevenson were re-assigned from Hershey to ECHL South Carolina on Friday.

FIRST PERIOD

The Bears opened the scoring with a goal from Shane Gersich (6) at 10:16 of the first period. Beck Malenstyn (3) had the lone assist.

Looks like the new curve’s paying off for @shane_gersich9 – it’s his sixth of the season!

🍎 Malenstyn pic.twitter.com/baeBwtC9KT

— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) March 25, 2023

Bears netminder Hunter Shepard made several nice stops in the first frame, keeping the Crunch off the scoreboard.

Vinny Iorio gets beat but Hunter Shepard says I got it. Twice! #ALLCAPS #HBH pic.twitter.com/CCgff2AYYA

— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) March 25, 2023

The first period concluded with the Bears holding onto the 1-0 lead. Shots were tied 9-9 in the first frame. Hershey was 0 for 2 on the power play while the Crunch did not have a man advantage in the first period.

SECOND PERIOD

The Bears extended their lead to 2-0 early in the second period. Mike Sgarbossa stole a puck at center ice and finished for his 20th goal of the season at 5:17 of the middle frame.

Hello, I’d like to report an absolute theft – Mike Sgarbossa’s got his 20th of the season!🤏 pic.twitter.com/YakPhUj1PK

— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) March 26, 2023

Dylan McIlrath and Daniel Walker dropped the gloves late in the second period.

Dylan McIlrath and Daniel Walker drop the gloves. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/NPXNCl8IOV

— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) March 26, 2023

The Crunch finally got on the scoreboard with 56 seconds remaining in the second period. Daniel Walcott (11) notched the tally, assisted by Gabriel Fortier (16) and Jack Thompson (13).

Wally gives the people what they want pic.twitter.com/UnCtG6pFfI

— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) March 26, 2023

And that was it for the middle frame.

THIRD PERIOD

The Bears regained their two-goal lead on Julian Napravnik’s fourth goal of the season. Gabriel Carlsson (13) and Connor McMichael (19) had the helpers. The assist extended McMichael’s consecutive game scoring streak to seven games.

Stay hot, @jnapr97 🔥🔥🔥

🍎 Carlsson
🍏 McMichael pic.twitter.com/csbhjpc20s

— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) March 26, 2023

Mike Vecchione added an empty net goal late to make it 4-1, and that would be the final.

SHAVINGS

• AHL box score
• Attendance: 6,230
• The Bears clinch a playoff berth for 70th time in franchise history.