For the twelfth and final time this regular season, the Bears took the ice against their rivals from the Northeast in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Hershey, still a point away from clinching the Atlantic Division after Wednesday’s over time loss to Syracuse (which you can read about here), made a few lineup changes from Wednesday, with Luke Philp coming in for Pierrick Dube and Ryan Chesley and Jon McDonald coming in on defense for Andrew Perrott and Ethan Bear.

Hunter Shepard would get the crease for his second straight start.

First Period

The Bears got out to another quick start tonight and one that was even better than the one Wednesday. Hershey would dominate the opening 15 minutes, and that period would see a goal come from the stick of Ivan Miroshnichenko.

That would be Miro’s 21st goal of the year, which leads the team. The second year growth from the young Russian has been clear and a huge part of why the Bears are first in the division. He should get a real good shot in Washington next season.

Wilkes-Barre would not get a shot until the 5 minute mark of the period, but they would capitalize on a sharp angle shot that beat Shepard to tie the game. It did seem to take a funky bounce, but in my eyes, that’s one that Shepard needs to have.

The Bears would easily kill off a late penalty and we would head into the second tied at one.

Second Period

The Bears would continue their first period dominance in the second. Wave after wave of chances would come for the Bears and it would pay off just over five minutes into the period.

Alex Limoges would steal the puck as the Penguins were attempting to break out and place an inch perfect pass onto the tape of Hendrix Lapierre, who made it 2-1.

The Bears would need to have their goalie come up big a couple of times this period. Hunter Shepard rebounded nicely from the soft goal he gave up in the first to make a couple of crucial saves that kept the Bears lead at 2-1.

Both teams would also trade late power play opportunities that neither would capitalize on heading into the third.

Third Period

Hershey would face some early adversity to start the third. An early interference call on Nicky Leivermann put the Bears shorthanded early, but Hershey’s penalty kill held strong, keeping the Penguins chances limited.

There were a few back and forth chances as the third dragged on, but with just over seven minutes to go it would be the Bears who would find that all important next goal. A crucial keep in by Ivan Miroshnichenko would find its way to Henrik Rybinski, who would find Vincent Iorio, who would complete the excellent display of passing to Bogdan Triveyev, who would get his 14th of the season to put Hershey up 3-1.

The Penguins would not go quietly though. With 3:59 left in the game, the puck would find Jake Beck all alone in front and Beck would make no mistake. He would put it through the five hole of Hunter Shepard to make it 3-2 Hershey.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton would continue to fight, but an excellent defensive stand from the fourth line would end in a Matt Strome empty net goal, that would give the Bears the 4-2 lead and a 4-2 win.

With the victory, the Bears clinched the Atlantic Division, giving them home ice for the first two rounds.

Postgame Quotables

“I like it a lot. They’re not getting broken up. They like playing with each other so that’s one line that won’t be broken up in the playoffs.” – Head Coach Todd Nelson on the second line of Hendrix Lapierre, Spencer Smallman and Alex Limoges.

“It was a long recovery, but I feel like I’ve got my legs from underneath me. Wednesday’s game felt pretty good and everything seemed to come together today.” – Jake Massie on his first two games back from injury.