GAME STORY: W-B/Scranton - 1 at Hershey - 2 (Game 2 - 5/8/22)

HERSHEY, Pa. - The Hershey Bears forced a winner-take-all Game Three with a gutsy effort in front of their home fans at Giant Center Sunday evening, defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 2-1 to extend their season at least one more day.

Monday's Game Three will take place Monday night in Wilkes-Barre.

The Bears got on the board early in the 1st period, a power play re-direct from Beck Malenstyn, and the Giant Center crowd instilled extra energy into the home team as they managed a 12-6 edge in shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes.

A big save from Pheonix Copley on a 2-on-1, and a subsequent rebound stop proved to be huge as Dylan McIlrath extended the lead to 2-0 seconds later at the other end.

Felix Robert tallied for the Penguins shortly thereafter to get the game to 2-1, but Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was unable to find the equalizer in the third period despite a strong 30-save effort from goaltender Tommy Nappier.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Lineup Notes

Tommy Nappier got the start in net for the Penguins in Game 2 Sunday in Hershey. Samuel Harvey served as the team's backup.

Only one lineup change for the Penguins, as forward Jonathan Gruden was suspended for one game following his elbowing hit on Bears' forward Joe Snively in Friday night's Game 1. Sam Houde slotted into the lineup in the fourth line center position to fill-in for Gruden.

Penguins Scratches: Filip Lindberg, Taylor Fedun, Corey Andonovski, Niclas Almari, Michael Chaput, Nathan Legare, Colin Swoyer, Jonathan Gruden and Ty Glover

Lines/Pairings:

Filip Hallander - Sam Poulin - Valtteri Puustinen Felix Robert - Radim Zohorna - Alex Nylander Kasper Bjorkvist - Jordy Bellerive - Anthony Angello Jamie Devane - Sam Houde - Kyle Olson

Juuso Riikola - Mitch Reinke P-O Joseph - Will Reilly Cam Lee - Matt Bartkowski

Tommy Nappier - Samuel Harvey

Hershey Bears Lineup Notes

Pheonix Copley got the start in net for the Bears in Game 2, while Zach Fucale served as the team's backup. Hunter Shepard was called up to Washington to serve as the Captials' third goalie.

Two lineup changes from Friday's Game 1 for Hershey in Game 2, as injuries to Joe Snively and Kody Clark prevented those two from suiting up Sunday.

Bogdan Trineyev made his AHL debut on Hershey's top line alongside Garrett Pilon and Mike Sgarbossa, while Brett Leason returned from Washington and slotted in in Clark's spot on the second line right-wing position.

Bears Scratches: Clay Stevenson, Jake Massie, Vincent Iorio, Macoy Erkamps, Shane Gersich, Ethen Frank, Joe Snively, Riley Sutter, Matt Moulson, Brian Pinho, Julian Napravnik, Benton Maass, Kody Clark, Kevin Fitzgerald and Bear Hughes

Lines/Pairings:

Garrett Pilon - Mike Sgarbossa - Bogdan Trineyev Aliaksei Protas - Mike Vecchione - Brett Leason Beck Malenstyn - Mason Morelli -Marcus Vela Eddie Wittchow - Drake Rymsha - Kale Kessy

Lucas Johansen - Alex Alexeyev Tobias Geisser - Dylan McIlrath Bobby Nardella - Cody Franson

Pheonix Copley - Zach Fucale

GAME STORY

1st Period

I'm sure the message heading into Game 2 for the Penguins, in a hostile environment like Hershey, was to weather the storm.

They started strong, nearly scoring in the opening minute on a flurry of chances at the Bears' net, but from there an early period penalty on Sam Poulin allowed Hershey the first chance to grab momentum.

The Bears did just that, converting on the ensuing power play to take a 1-0 lead and send the Giant Center crowd into a frenzy. Bobby Nardella got the puck at the right point from Mason Morelli and flung one to the net through traffic. Beck Malenstyn was in position at the net-front to re-direct the puck past Tommy Nappier 4:07 into the game.

Hershey fed off the energy level from their home fans, keeping their foot on the gas and generated shots on goal with regularity - a stark comparison to their efforts from Game 1 on Friday night.

Their strong play with the puck forced the Penguins into taking some penalties as the period wore on, allowing Hershey to remain on the attack.

Credit to Nappier for making some tough saves amid heavy pressure and traffic in his crease to keep the Penguins afloat.

The feisty play picked up in the later stages of the period, with lots of pushing and shoving after essentially every stoppage in play. Things boiled over in the final minute of the period after Kyle Olson put a hit on Mike Vecchione after a whistle for offside was blown. The two teams came together and another pushing and shoving match ensued before matching roughing minors were assessed.

2nd Period

Things were much more evenly played in middle frame, as the pace and intensity picked up with every passing shift.

Quite a series of momentum swings in the middle of the period, as Phoenix Copley made a pair of saves on a 2-on-1 Penguins' rush at one end before Dylan McIlrath blasted one from the right point past Nappier at the other end just seconds later to put the Bears up 2-0.

Then, on the ensuing shift, Felix Robert stymied the Bears' momentum - getting behind the Bears' defense and re-directing an area pass from Alex Nylander to bring the Penguins back within one.

It seemed like Robert's goal turned the tides as the Penguins finished the period with momentum.

3rd Period

The final frame, despite no goals or penalties assessed in the period, was an entertaining back-and-forth between two teams playing playoff hockey. Every shift mattered, and as the time ticked off the clock the intensity continued to ramp up.

Credit to both goaltenders for keeping the score at 2-1 into the waning moments before Nappier headed to the bench for the extra attacker for the final two minutes.

The Penguins got set up in the offensive zone during the 6-on-5, but Copley made the necessary stops to preserve the 2-1 win for Hershey to force Monday night's Game Three.

GAME SUMMARY

1st Period

2:29: WBS - (PP) Poulin, minor (tripping) 4:07: HER - PPG Malenstyn (1) - Nardella, Morelli 11:48: WBS - (PP) Angello, minor (interference) 19:09: WBS - (PP) Poulin, minor (boarding) 19:24: WBS - Olson, minor (roughing) 19:24: HER - Pilon, minor (roughing) 19:43: HER - (PP) Franson, minor (slashing)

2nd Period

4:44: HER - (PP) Vela, minor (tripping) 10:16: HER - McIlrath (1) - Geisser, Wittchow 10:46: WBS - Robert (1) - Nylander, Zohorna

3rd Period

No Scoring/Penalties

BOXSCORE

W-B/Scranton  0 - 1 - 0 = 1 Hershey Bears 1 - 1 - 0 = 2

Shots

W-B/Scranton  6 - 10 - 7 = 23 Hershey Bears 12 - 12 - 8 = 32

Goalies

WBS: Tommy Nappier (30 saves - 32 shots) HER: Phoenix Copley (22 saves - 23 shots)

Power Play

WBS: 0-for-2 HER: 1-for-3

Penalty Kill

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