Hershey Bears Weekly Notebook 12/20/22

HERSHEY, Pa. - The Hershey Bears (19-6-3) managed to turn around a sour start to their 3-in-3 rivalry weekend with back-to-back victories to finish the weekend strong.

Last Week

Friday, December 16: Hershey - 1 at W-B/Scranton - 3Friday night's Game Story

In Friday night’s game, the Penguins scored three goals on Zach Fucale and the Bears, two of them early in the first period and rolled to the 3-1 victory.

Gabriel Carlsson scored late in the game to ruin Dustin Tokarski’s shutout bid.

Fucale ended the night with 29 saves.

Saturday, December 17: Hershey - 2 at W-B/Scranton - 1 (OT)Saturday night's Game Story

Prior to Saturday’s contest, Fucale was recalled to Washington and backed up Charlie Lindgren for the Capitals as Hunter Shepard reportedly was injured during Washington’s morning skate.

The Bears signed LVC goaltending coach Padraig Carey to a PTO to back up Clay Stevenson in Wilkes-Barre. It was the third time Carey has been pressed into back-up action for Hershey, and the Bears have defeated the Penguins in all three contests after Saturday night's victory.

Mike Sgarbossa scored the game’s first goal as well as the overtime winner for Hershey.

Stevenson, making just his second AHL start, made 23 saves on the evening to earn the victory between the pipes.

Todd Nelson told InsideAHLHockey.com after Saturday's game, "I thought [Friday] night we didn't play bad at all. We played a decent game, but our compete wasn't as high as theirs, and I thought that was why they won the game. They were willing to do the little things - go to the net, blocking shots, they paid the price more than we did. We got the win [Saturday] night [because] we paid the price. It was a good win for our hockey team, it wasn't easy, [the Penguins] played stingy defensively, and they blocked a lot of shots, but it was a nice road win for our team."

Sunday, December 18: Lehigh Valley - 3 at Hershey - 5

Back at home Sunday evening, the Bears honored long-time trainer and member of the Hershey operational staff, Dan “Beaker” Stuck for his 35+ years of service to the Hershey Bears Hockey organization.

Following the ceremony, the Bears came out swinging, literally and figuratively. Aaron Ness scored the game’s opening tally and then seemed to become the focal point of the visitor's hits. A little over two minutes later, Riley Sutter took exception to one such hit and dropped the gloves with Adam Ginning.

At the end of the first, roughing penalties were assessed to Ness and Jordy Bellerive as the two teams exchanged some pleasantries before the officials were able to get everyone to their respective locker rooms.

In the second, LV took their first lead following a powerplay goal and a shorthanded goal, but Hendrix Lapierre tied the game with a powerplay goal of his own.

In the third, Bellerive once again put the visitors in front, but Nelson’s challenge to the bench ignited three Hershey goals in less than two minutes.

Sgarbossa tied the game on a two-on-one. That goal was followed by McMichael’s goal, and then a rebound goal for Vecchione rounded out the scoring with just over four minutes to play.

"I just kind of expressed the bench very loudly that next two-on-one we're shooting no matter what," Todd Nelson said after Sunday's win. "Sgarbossa came down and shot the puck and we scored. I just said, like, at least we have one chance and then we don't try to make a pass and [it] gets picked off and there's no chance at scoring a goal. So it's not a bad thing to want to shoot the puck. It might not be sexy or be the pretty play. It might not make ESPN, but it still counts."

Quotable

Head coach Todd Nelson on if he was expecting any potential Christmas presents from the team

"I will take two points on Wednesday night."

He also noted that many of the guys will be able to leave town to spend the holidays with families due to Hershey's schedule - with their lone game of the week Wednesday, December 21 and then a lengthier break for Christmas than most AHL teams with their next game coming Tuesday, December 27 against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

The Week Ahead

Just one game on the schedule for the Hershey Bears this week before Christmas this weekend with a Wednesday night road tilt against the Philadelphia Flyers' AHL affiliate on tap.

Wednesday, December 21: Hershey at Lehigh Valley, 7:15 p.m. ET

Team Leaders

Points: Mike Vecchione - 24 Goals: Mike Vecchione - 11 (T-19th in AHL) Assists: Mason Morelli - 15 +/-: Ethen Frank, Mike Vecchione +14 (T-6th in AHL) PIM: Kale Kessy - 63 (T-5th in AHL) Saves: Zach Fucale - 370 (15th in AHL) SV%: Hunter Shepard .932 SV% (3rd in AHL) GAA: Hunter Shepard 1.83 GAA (1st in AHL)

NOTE - Zach Fucale, Hunter Shepard and defensamen Lucas Johansen have been re-assigned to Hershey from Washington earlier this week. Stevenson has yet to hit the AHL’s “Qualified Goaltender” status of 480 minutes; he’s currently at 183:26.