Game Story: W-B/Scranton - 0 at Hershey - 1 (1/20/24)

HERSHEY, Pa. - The eighth meeting between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Hershey Bears was a defensive battle, with the Bears coming off an overnight trip home from Hartford while the Penguins were idle on Friday night - setting up a bit of a sluggish affair.

The Penguins had the fresher legs and generated the better of chances in the hockey game, but ran into a hot goaltender in Clay Stevenson as the Bears' netminder notched his sixth shutout of the season to preserve Hershey's 1-0 lead to victory.

Ethen Frank tallied a 5-on-3 power play goal in the middle frame to break the scoreless tie, while Stevenson's 28-save blanking of the Penguins broke the Bears' record for shutouts by a rookie goaltender.

Penguins netminder Joel Blomqvist played valiantly, albeit in a losing effort - surrendering a 5-on-3 goal against in the middle period that proved to be the only tally of the contest.

Post-Game EXTRA!

Hershey head coach Todd Nelson

On getting the two points in an ugly one

"It was a tough one to watch, that's for sure. It was an ugly, ugly game. But we found a way to get it done. It was an emotional game for us last night against Hartford - a very good hockey team - and so there was a lot of emotion in that game. But the guys found a way to get done. You know, Wilkes had us hemmed in quite a bit in all three periods. But guys, give us, one, second efforts on block shots and also when we broke down Clay was there."

W-B/Scranton head coach JD Forrest

On another game where the feeling is they played well enough to win but didn't get the results.

"Yep."

On the frustration level to be playing well but not getting the end results.

"I mean, it's not easy. We have to have the fortitude to kind of stick with it because eventually those things go your way, when you play like we've been playing. We gave up a five on three goal. Like, I thought we did a good job defending the five on three too. It was kind of from an odd angle. I think when Joel went to push off the net moved, and he didn't get the push that he wanted to, but the nets were on the post. So it's a good goal. But it just kind of it kind of stunk how that one worked its way out."

GAME STORY

The two teams were engaged in a defensive battle in the opening period, with each team coming up unsuccessful on a power play opportunity.

The game remained scoreless well into the middle frame, with the Penguins generating the better chances - including at one point in the period an 11-3 edge in shots on goal.

Of note, an Austin Rueschoff chance at the net appeared destined to cross the goal line - only for Stevenson to miraculously fall onto his back and locate the loose puck in his crease.

Then, the Penguins got themselves into penalty trouble.

With back-to-back Penguins' penalties creating an extended five-on-three power play for the Bears, Hershey took their timeout to get everyone on the same page.

The timeout and reset appeared to work for Hershey, as they cashed in on the two-man advantage after Mike Sgarbossa slid a pass across to Frank in the right-wing circle.

A sliding Blomqvist nearly got into position to make the save, but in doing so the Penguins' goalie slid into his left post - causing the net to come off its peg just as Frank scored.

The referees at Giant Center reviewed the play before quickly pointing to center ice, confirming Frank's goal and the Bears' 1-0 lead with 6:50 left before the second intermission.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton continued to pressure in the third period, including a crucial power play opportunity with 5:49 left in regulation, but were unable to get one past Stevenson.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Lineup Notes

Joel Blomqvist got the start in net for the Penguins Saturday night in Hershey. Magnus Hellberg served as the team's backup goaltender.

Radim Zohorna made his regular season debut with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, with Jonathan Gruden () out up front.

Penguins Scratches: Garret Sparks, Taylor Fedun (veteran), Will Butcher (veteran), Jordan Frasca, Jonathan Gruden, Sam Houde (lower body), Dillon Hamaliuk, Raivis Ansons (lower body) and Avery Hayes

Lines/Pairings:

Alex Nylander - Peter Abbandonato - Vinnie Hinostroza Sam Poulin - Radim Zohorna - Jesse Puljujarvi Matt Filipe - Joona Koppanen - Austin Rueschhoff Jagger Joshua - Marc Johnstone - Corey Andonovski

Ty Smith - Dmitri Samorukov Jack Rathbone - Jack St. Ivany Xavier Ouellet - Owen Headrick

Joel Blomqvist (Backup: Magnus Hellberg)

Hershey Bears Lineup Notes

Clay Stevenson got the start in net for the Bears Saturday night, while Hunter Shepard served as the team's backup.

Bears scratches: Alex Limoges (upper body), Chase Priskie, Dmitry Osipov, Kevin O'Neil, Dylan McIlrath, Matt Strome and Garrett Roe

Lines/Pairings:

Joe Snively - Mike Sgarbossa - Ethen Frank Mike Vecchione - Jimmy Huntington - Pierrick Dube Ivan Miroshinchenko - Henrik Rybinski - Bogdan Trineyev Ryan Hofer - Riley Sutter - Tyson Empey

Aaron Ness - Logan Day Lucas Johansen - Vincent Iorio Hardy Haman Atkell - Jake Massie

Clay Stevenson (Backup: Hunter Shepard)

GAME SUMMARY

1st Period

6:37: HER - (PP) Empey, minor (checking to the head) 12:01: WBS - (PP) Samorukov, minor (hooking)

2nd Period

7:16: HER - (PP) bench minor, too many men (served by Hofer) 11:27: WBS - (PP) Filipe, minor (holding) 12:16: WBS - (PP) Andonovski, minor (high-sticking) 13:10: HER - PPG Frank (17) - Sgarbossa, Snively

3rd Period

14:11: HER - (PP) Vecchione, minor (high-sticking)

BOXSCORE

W-B/Scranton  0 - 0 - 0 = 0 Hershey Bears  0 - 1 - 0 = 1

Shots

W-B/Scranton  7 - 13 - 8 = 28 Hershey Bears  8 - 8 - 4 = 20

Goalies

WBS: Joel Blomqvist (19 saves - 20 shots) HER: Clay Stevenson (28 saves - 28 shots)

Power Play

WBS: 0-for-3 HER: 1-for-3

Penalty Kill

WBS: 3-for-3 HER: 2-for-3