Bears Wrap Up Busy Stretch With Pair Against Phantoms

Hershey Bears

Julie Beidler

Dec 21, 2021 — 4 min read

HERSHEY, Pa. - The Hershey Bears' busy game schedule continues this week as they finish up a five-games-in-six-days stretch with a home and home series against in-state rival Lehigh Valley Phantoms beginning Tuesday night at PPL Center.

In a rare Tuesday night game last week, the Bears dispatched of their other in-state rival, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, for the second time this season with a 4-1 road victory.

Joe Snively put Hershey on top midway through the first period, but it was not until late in the second that the Bears put the game out of reach for the Penguins with a pair of goals in 58 seconds. First Kody Clark sent the puck towards the net from below the goalline, deflecting it into the net. Then Axel Jonsson-Fjallby pulled off a swipe-and-score, stealing the puck as a Penguin defender was attempting to clear the zone and skating in unchecked, sending the Bears to the locker room 19 seconds later with a 3-0 lead.

After the Penguins scored late in the third, Matt Moulson responded to give Hershey a three-goal lead again with the game’s final goal.

Despite the victory, Hershey defender Cody Franson left the game early in the first with an apparent lower-body injury. Franson has been an integral part of Hershey’s success bringing a veteran presence to the blue-line and a wicked shot from the high point that has accounted for three of Hershey’s powerplay goals to date.

On Friday, the Bears traveled to MassMutual Center to take on the Springfield Thunderbirds in their first of five games in six days. Mike Vecchione and Matt Moulson scored for Hershey in the 2-0 victory. Joe Snively earned first star honors with assists on both goals. Snively’s hard work would earn him a recall to Washington which was not announced until Sunday but kept the team's leading scorer out of the lineup Saturday night. Phoenix Copley stopped 28 shots to earn the shutout.

Any thoughts of a letdown Saturday were quickly erased as the Bears scored three goals in the first period en route to an 8-3 victory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. It was the first time the Bears have scored eight goals in a game since March 23, 2016.

Kale Kessy led the scoring barrage that saw eight different Bears notch goals. Kody Clark, Ryan Dmowski, Vecchione, Bobby Nardella, Mason Morelli, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, and Shane Gersich all tallied for Hershey. Nardella and Jonsson-Fjallby both scored on the powerplay while Gersich scored shorthanded.

Copley, who started in back-to-back games, stopped 33 shots en route to a second victory in as many days.

Hershey was without Snively who Scott Allen prophetically said, “Joe Snively was slated to play tonight. There’s a strong possibility that he’s going to be playing tomorrow. It may not be in Hershey.”

On Sunday, it appeared that the Bears were headed for their third straight win, the second in as many days with eight defensemen in the lineup (Jake Massie and Eddie Wittchow played forward), as Hershey entered the third period with a 3-1 lead, but a late Rochester rally handed the Bears their first loss of the week.

Dmowski, Nardella, and Garrett Pilon scored, and Ryan Bednard suffered the loss in net for the Bears who were without the services of Zach Fucale (COVID protocol), Franson (LBI), Riley Sutter (UBI), Brian Pinho (UBI), and Snively (recall). Despite the circumstances, Allen was less than happy with the outcome.

Special Teams Weekly Recap

Hershey PP was 2-for-11 (Nardella and Jonsson-Fjallby against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - Dec. 18)

Hershey PK was 13-for-15 (Gersich scored shorthanded against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - Dec. 18)

Three Things

1. No Excuses

After Sunday’s come-from-behind loss, Allen and the Bears could have picked any number of excuses including playing their third game in three days, their fourth game in six days, or facing the prospect of two more games on the horizon, playing without a majority of their usual lineup.

"I'm always disappointed after a loss... it's six games in nine days. That's certainly not an easy task,” said Allen who pointed out that Monday was a rest/recovery day and that Mike Wagner, the training staff and equipment staff were working hard behind the scenes to enhance recovery. "I will not use the six games in nine days as an excuse," he concluded.

2. Jonsson-Fjallby Impresses

It has been a strange journey for Jonsson-Fjallby this season (claimed off waivers by Buffalo, but placed back on waivers after visa issues, reclaimed by Washington and assigned to Hershey, recalled by Washington, returned to Hershey) but despite it all, Jonsson-Fjallby seems to mesh with anyone on his line. He has six goals and seven assists.

"Axel has certainly been playing some strong hockey for us all year. He made some outstanding plays tonight. We're happy with the direction he's heading,” said Allen.

3. Snively Shines in DC Debut

With Snively out of the lineup Saturday and Allen’s evasive but honest response that the winger would likely be playing for a different team Sunday, it was pretty evident that the Virginia native would be making his NHL debut.

With parents in the stands, the speedster was sent out for the rookie lap and then delighted the crowd with a primary assist on Connor McMichael’s goal that occurred minutes after the Bears game ended.

In the post-game, Allen, after hearing that Snively had an assist said, "That's even better. You just softened the blow a little bit for me tonight. That's awesome. Thank-you.”