For the first time since the Bears were eliminated in the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on May 7, professional hockey returned to Chocolatetown.
For the second straight year, the Washington Capitals took the short flight up to Harrisburg International Airport and played one of their now four preseason games in Hershey, once again against the Philadelphia Flyers.
In terms of the lineup, Bears fans would be treated to some familiar faces. While there was no Alex Ovechkin or Tom Wilson on the game roster, Bears fans got to see some of their own. Andrew Cristall, Bogdan Trineyev and Josh Dunne, who are all expected to be key contributors to the Bears this season, took the ice in front of the fans they are expected to play in front of for the majority of the year.
Former Bears in Ethen Frank and the Protas brothers Aliaksei and Ilya were all on the ice as well, along with Martin Fehervary and Dylan McIlrath on the back end. In fact, that was the five who would start the game at puck drop, putting five former Bears all on the ice for puck drop.
First Period
It wouldn’t start out well for the Capitals in the first. Early pressure for the Flyers paid off as they drew an early penalty and would score on the power play through Jack Studnicka. Studnicka was allowed to walk right in on starting goalie Charlie Lindgren and beat Lindgren blocker side to put Philly up 1-0 early.
Similar to last year, there was (not surprisingly) a strong Flyers contingent in the crowd as Giant Center sounded as loud as it ever has for a goal that was not scored by the home team. Crowd split was about 50/50 between red and orange colored jerseys in the crowd, unsurprising for Central Pennsylvania. It was a fantastic crowd though and every hockey fan in the building won with how this game was played.
However, Washington did not let the early goal against get to them. They would eventually turn up the pressure themselves and after getting a five-on-three and would convert through Aliaksei Protas, who put the puck as it sat on the line right behind Flyers starter Joseph Woll.
Washington was on that five-on-three because of the first flashpoint of the game. A huge, but legal hit by Dylan McIlrath on Noah Powell drew the ire of well known Phantoms captain and goon Garrett Wilson. Mac took care of Wilson and Wilson got the extra two minutes for instigation. The Caps took advantage there.
The Capitals would keep the pressure on from there as they settled and Ryan Leonard, who was flying around the ice all night, would snipe one past Woll with a beauty of a shot to put the Capitals up 2-1 late in the first. Leonard got PAID by the Capitals with a 8-year extension (which starts next season) that will pay him $10.5 million annually. Welcome to the new cap era with that contract everyone.
Second Period
Compared to the first, the second period started far more tame. Neither team had the early opportunities that were available in the prior period, and it would take a couple of bounces for the next big offensive opportunity to come.
A point shot would hit two sticks, and maybe a skate as well, as the puck fell right onto the stick of Cole Knuble (yes he is the son of Mike Knuble, if that makes you feel old, I’m sorry). Knuble had all net to look at and he made no mistake as he buried it to tie the game at two.
Just before the ten minute mark, Clay Stevenson entered the game for Charlie Lindgren. He got a nice ovation from all ends of the crowd.
Not long after, the second flashpoint moment of this game came, as Ryan Leonard was hit hard by Hunter McDonald on a zone entry. Like Mac’s earlier hit, it was legal, but Andrew Cristall took exception to that hit and decided to cross check McDonald in the head. You cannot do that and he was given a five minute major penalty, plus a game misconduct for his troubles.
I know Cristall has talked all offseason about being more physical and not getting pushed around. And I appreciate he wants to add an edge to his game. That was not the way to try and prove it though.
Washington, to their credit, killed the entirety of the five minute major and then 15 seconds later, Dylan Strome would get in on Joseph Woll unmarked to make it 3-2 Capitals, once again right before the end of the period.
Third Period
After what was a poor third period last night in Boston, this group of Capitals players responded with a great third period tonight. The Flyers group could get nothing going offensively, with the 5 minute penalty kill by the Capitals clearly shifting the momentum on the ice.
Washington would strike quick to start the third, with Jonny Brodzinski getting on the board. Brodzinski is seemingly competing with Ivan Miroshnichenko for a spot on the Capitals main roster this season, and he did his best tonight to separate himself to make the team.
Ryan Chesley would earn his third assist of the night on that Brodzinski goal. He played on his off-side tonight and really came into the game during the last thirty minutes. A strong developmental season from Chesley would be big for the Bears chances this season at competing for Calder Cup number 14. A great introduction to the season for the young defenseman.
Brodzinski would add a second, this time a shorthanded goal, to make it 5-2 Capitals and seal the deal for Washington. Spencer Carbery admitted postgame that he will have some tough decisions to make regarding the final spots on the roster, not just regarding Brodzinski and Miroshnichenko, but between Justin Holl and Dylan McIlrath as well.
The struggle for Carbery will be that Brodzinski, McIlrath and Holl are all done in terms of preseason games. The new NHL CBA rules now limit veteran NHL players to only two of the four preseason games. By playing tonight and last night in Boston, this was the last time those three players will get game action in a Capitals jersey this preseason. Those choices will greatly affect Hershey to start the season and injury could still play a role in those final decisions as well.
