The Hershey Bears are trending in the right direction. In their first action in about a week, the Bears took on the visiting Belleville Senators. Hershey piled up chances and eventually goals, taking a 4-1 decision on home ice. Head coach Todd Nelson sees the win as another step in the right direction, a comment that should put the league on notice. Clay Stevenson earned the win in goal with 14 saves on 15 shots faced.
Hard Work Bears Fruit
The Bears hit the ice flying on Friday night before a crowd of just over 10,000 at Giant Center. Hershey outshot their opponent 9-1, a mark that doesn’t include a litany of post hits and close calls. Finally, the Bears broke through with a goal on a two-man advantage as Alex Limoges scored his ninth goal of the season. Limoges somehow got a stick on a hard shot from Ivan Miroshnichenko to put the home team ahead before the end of the frame.
Hershey had a similarly strong second period, racking up 18 shots on Michael Simpson. They’d break through for their second tally on a nice passing play to Mike Vecchione for the finish. Mike Sgarbossa had the primary assist for his 300th helper at the AHL level. Vecchione, fresh off a hat trick, has four goals in his last two games played.
After a scare in the frame, Hershey pulled ahead for good with seconds to spare in the second. Ethan Bear took a shot from the point that was partially blocked in front. The puck bounced around in the vicinity of players from both sides. Eventually, Luke Philp was able to get a handle and slide the puck past the outstretched goaltender. It’s a nice reward for Philp, who has a point in each of his last two games as he looks to heat up for Hershey.
Hershey’s fourth line generated the fourth goal of the contest. They’d work hard along the boards in the offensive zone, with Matt Strome winning a battle to Brennan Saulnier. He’d chip a pass to captain Aaron Ness, who walked in and fired the puck home for his third of the year. Ness, who once tallied 50 assists for the Bears in 2018-19, has a point in three straight games.
Belleville Bruises
Both teams were missing significant personnel in Friday’s matchup, but none worse than the Senators in goal. Michael Simpson played just his fifth AHL game on Friday, was thrust into the limelight due to injuries and recalls. He only just turned pro this season, skating in five games for the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears. Backup Mark Sinclair has just four AHL games over three seasons and is with Belleville on a professional tryout agreement. Team captain and former Bear Garrett Pilon also missed the game due to injury.
Belleville’s goaltenders have been taken away in rapid succession. Malcolm Subban and Mads Sogaard are both out of action due to injury. Top netminder Leevi Merilainen has been up top in Ottawa, suffering a loss at the NHL level matchup between the two organizations on Thursday. It’s been a tough go of things for the Senators against some of the Atlantic Division’s best teams.
Hershey, meanwhile, laced up without the services of Spencer Smallman and Hardy Haman Aktell. Both players were ruled out due to injury ahead of puck drop. Top scoring forward Pierrick Dubé could not play as he served the first of five games of a suspension. The Bears were without the services of top scorer Ethen Frank on a recall. Hunter Shepard missed the game on recall, though it’s likely he’ll be back from Washington soon.
A Step in the Right Direction
“It was a good hockey game for our team,” Bears head coach Todd Nelson said. “Pretty good sixty minutes we played, let some bad details creep in towards the end of the second. We dialed it back in for the third, plenty of chances. All in all, it was a good sixty minutes. I was happy with everyone’s performance.”
“The bench was good today. If it’s not going your way, frustration can set in, but our bench was good. Guys were picking each other up, Saulnier could have had four tonight. I thought he played a really strong game, couldn’t buy a goal tonight.”
Nelson spoke at length about his team’s performance, lauding their recent stretch as a step in the right direction. Following the Christmas break, the Bears are 6-2-0-0 in eight games.
“First half, I think we were complacent a bit. Winning back-to-back, we thought maybe it was going to be easier for us. In reality, it got tougher because we’re a marked team. It seems like, after Christmas, we’ve been playing some good hockey with the exception of the Lehigh game. I challenged the guys; we talked about it quite a bit.”
“I like the way our team is trending right now. This is the team I expected to have in the first half. It wasn’t that bad, last time I checked around Christmas we’re in first place. We have some firepower out of the lineup right now. The guys that went in did a really good job and performed. I thought (the fourth line) was excellent tonight.”
Top Teams Face Off
Hershey will be tested in their next game when they take on the Rochester Americans. The Americans are looking for points to get back into first place in the North Division. They’re in a three-way battle for the top spot with Laval and Cleveland, with each club taking turns in the lead. All three teams plus Hershey are battling to be the top team in the Eastern Conference. Hershey will visit Laval on Wednesday in another tough North Division contest.
The Bears will be wearing special jerseys to commemorate their three back-to-back Calder Cup teams. The uniforms bear different elements of the jerseys worn by each team. Hershey plans to auction the jerseys off after the game with a portion of proceeds benefitting charity.
