Bears Aim To Get Back To Playing 'Their Game'

HERSHEY, Pa. - For the first time this season, the Hershey Bears dropped all three games on the schedule for the week.

The losing skid started out Wednesday at home against Bridgeport. Despite a pair of shorthanded goals, the first from Shane Gersich, and a second just over eight minutes later from Brian Pinho, to start the game, the Islanders came roaring back with three straight goals to take the lead. Joe Snively scored with just over two minutes left in regulation to send the game into overtime. The two teams managed a combined three shots in the overtime period, forcing a shootout where Michael Dal Colle scored the only goal for Bridgeport in the 4-3 victory.

On Saturday, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal for Hershey and Garrett Pilon scored a powerplay goal, but just like Wednesday night, the two special teams' goals would not be enough as the Toronto Marlies emerged with a 4-3 overtime victory at Giant Center. Kody Clark’s penalty at the end of the second period proved costly as the Marlies took the lead early in the final period. Tobias Geisser tied the game with a seeing-eye shot from the center point which eventually led to overtime where Alex Steeves netted his second of the game for the victory.

With weather concerns on everyone’s mind, the Bears made the trip up I-81 hoping to salvage the weekend, but they fell 2-1 to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, capitalizing on a puck that was loose in the goal crease and registering Hershey’s lone goal of the evening. Once again, mistakes proved costly for Hershey as Mason Morelli’s minor led to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s PP goal in the second period and a turnover in the neutral zone led to the eventual game-winner midway through the third.

Special Teams Weekly Recap

Hershey PP was 1-for-6 (Pilon against Toronto)

Hershey PK was 9-for-11 (Gersich and Pinho scored shorthanded against Bridgeport; Jonsson-Fjallby scored shorthanded against Toronto)

Three Things

1. Special Teams Not Special Enough

On the week, Hershey recorded four special teams goals, but ended up on the losing end of all three games.

"It's disappointing for sure. We have to find ways to generate more offense 5-on-5," said Allen.

2. Miscues Abound

From not maintaining possession of the puck, to inconsistent passing and undisciplined penalties, the Bears limped through their worst week of the season to date.

Of Saturday's second period performance, Allen said, "I thought we started reaching, I thought we started lunging, I thought we started making hope plays, which doesn't bode well for us. We're just not that type of team. We have to stick to our guns and get back to our game."

3. Get Ready to Toss Those Bears

Saturday marks the 20th Teddy Bear Toss for Hershey.

Last time out, the Bears set a new World Record with 45,650 animals in 2019 against this year's opponent, the Hartford Wolf Pack. With the pandemic halting hockey last year, the team opted for a drive-thru collection, but the Bears are eagerly awaiting this season's toss with the hopes of beating their own record.

The animals are donated to over 25 local organizations. Players take great pride in being the guy to cause the fur to fly, so who will it be this year?