Hershey took the quick trip up I-81 this morning for a Sunday afternoon matinee against the division leaders, and their arch rival, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Bears came into this game looking to continue their momentum. They’ve won their last two, only letting up one goal in those two wins, with a 4-0 win over Charlotte last Saturday, and a 4-1 win over Bridgeport last night.
They came up against a Penguins team that’s had their first period of real struggle over the last week. The Baby Pens came in having lost three of their last four, including a 3-2 shootout loss to Utica last night.
Been a while since I’ve gotten to say this, but no changes on the forward or defensive end for the Bears from last night. The only change came in net, with Clay Stevenson getting the start. Garin Bjorklund also circled in as backup.
Postgame Takeaways
- The Bears had a lot of grade A chances in the first period. It was a very impressive first for Hershey coming less than 24 hours after last night.
- Hershey was maybe most impressive in their first on their penalty kill. Hershey had two breakaway opportunities shorthanded, but both were stonewalled by Sergei Murashov.
- This was Murashov’s first start against Hershey this year and he was as impressive against the Bears as he’s been against everyone else in the league. He won’t be in the AHL for long.
- Zach Gallant beat Clay Stevenson short side to put Wilkes-Barre up 1-0 just over seven minutes into the second. It was a weird angle, but it was one Clay would probably want back in what was another strong performance from Hershey’s number one goalie.
- The Penguins, on their third game in three nights, really turtled for the final 30 minutes of play. It was an impressive defensive performance that stonewalled Hershey’s offense for the rest of the night.
- It was not that long ago when Matt Dumba was considered one of the best young defensemen in the NHL. He’s found himself in Wilkes-Barre after being sent down by Pittsburgh and he’s now got four points in four games for the Baby Pens.
- His goal early in the third felt like a dagger with how well Murashov was playing. Just one of those nights where the puck was not finding the right spots for Hershey.
- The Bears were able to beat Murashov once tonight. It was Andrew Cristall’s shot towards the net that redirected off a Penguin and in.
- That goal makes tonight Cristall’s ninth straight game with at least one point.
- The last time a rookie ended the season as the Bears point leader was Connor McMichael in the COVID shortened 20-21 season. I cannot remember a recent season where rookies have finished first and second in points for the Bears, as Ilya Protas and Andrew Cristall are doing for Hershey now. The closest in recent seasons was when Travis Boyd and Riley Barber finished second and third in scoring for Hershey in the 15-16 season. Protas and Cristall will do it if they stay healthy and stay down in Hershey.
- Hershey’s penalty kill will go down as 3/4 today, but that was on a late Penguins power play where Hershey pulled the goalie to keep it even skater wise. I thought the Bears were very impressive in keeping Wilkes-Barre’s power play at bay tonight.
- Corey Schueneman was a real highlight defensively for the Bears. He continues to be an excellent addition. If they counted blocked shots in the AHL, he would’ve been credited with at least six and probably more.
The Chocolate Roar 