Hershey Bears Weekly Notebook 11/2/22

HERSHEY, Pa. - The Hershey Bears (3-2-2) emerged from their first 3-in-3 of the season with three points, all of which they earned at Giant Center after suffering another road loss. Hershey is currently in 6th place in the Atlantic Division with eight points.

Last Week

Friday, October 28: Hershey - 2 at Hartford - 4

On Friday night, the WolfPack jumped out to a 3-0 lead en route to a 4-2 victory over the Bears in Hartford.

Ethen Frank scored a powerplay goal in the second period before suffering an injury that would sideline him for the remainder of the weekend.

Lucas Johansen tallied Hershey’s other goal, his first of the season, in the third period.

Zach Fucale made 23 saves for the Bears.

*Saturday, October 29: W-B/Scranton - 2 at Hershey - 1 (OT)

The Bears returned to Giant Center Saturday to host in-state rival Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

As with last week, the Bears jumped out to an early lead when Sonny Milano scored his second of the season in just his second week in Hershey.

The Penguins got the equalizer later in the first period, and the two teams battled scoreless through the remainder of regulation.

In overtime, a miscue by Hershey led to an open-net, game winner for the Penguins. Hunter Shepard made 27 saves on 29 shots for the Bears.

Sunday, October 30: Lehigh Valley - 1 at Hershey - 4

Hershey’s other in-state rival made the short trip down I-78 Sunday; it was the final game of a three-in-three for both clubs, and at times, it was very obvious that both teams had tired skaters, but the Bears showed their resolve in the third and earned a 4-1 victory.

Todd Nelson told InsideAHLHockey.com after the game , "You know, I think we played three games in three nights that last 20 minutes. The guys see the light at the end of the tunnel, and you know, we got to play desperate, like we dropped the first game of the weekend and lost four in a row going into this game. So we needed to win."

Mike Sgarbossa scored a pair of goals in the first period, but a Matt Strome penalty cut Hershey’s lead to one heading into the second period.

Both teams looked sluggish through the second, but Bobby Nardella and Mike Vecchione both scored insurance goals early in the third before a wild final minute where nine penalties were dolled out to four skaters.

Fucale earned the victory with 22 saves.

The Week Ahead

Hershey has a home-and-home series this weekend with the Penguins, the AHL’s final unbeaten team. The two teams play Saturday in Wilkes-Barre at 6:05. Sunday’s game at Giant Center is a 4:30 start.

Saturday, November 4: Hershey at W-B/Scranton, 6:05 p.m. ETSunday, November 5: W-B/Scranton at Hershey, 4:30 p.m. ET

Quotable

Forward Mike Sgarbossa on if he had to pick his own personal goal song:

"Oh, my I don't; I have no idea. Someone else would have to pick it. You know what, those questions (are) for the guys in there because they're a lot younger and more into the trends," Sgarbossa said, noting that he’d probably pick something from the classic rock genre that his father made him listen to in the car. "Yeah, I don't know. That's a question for the young guys. And then if someone would have made fun of it, I would have deflected it onto the guy that picked it."

Roster Recalls

The Washington Capitals announced they called up forwards Sonny Milano & Garrett Pilon  and defenseman Lucas Johansen Wednesday afternoon.

T.J. Oshie (lower body), John Carson (lower body) and Beck Malenstyn (upper body) were all placed on injured reserve (IR) by Washington to facilitate these call ups.

Meanwhile, Connor Brown (ACL surgery) was placed on long term injured reserve (LTIR).

Team Leaders

Points - Mike Vecchione - 8

Goals - Vecchione - 3

Assists - Morelli, Vecchione - 5

+/- - Morelli, Vecchione, Hendrix Lapierre, Bobby Nardella - +2

Penalty Minutes - Dylan McIlrath - 23 (T-6th in AHL)

Saves - Fucale - 97

Save % -Shepard - .921 (20th in AHL)

GAA - Fucale - 2.23 (15th in AHL)