The Hershey Bears found the win column again on Saturday night. A gutsy effort by the team’s defense and goaltender Hunter Shepard lifted them to a 2-1 win over the Rochester Americans. Hershey continued to be without numerous key players, but just like the night prior, they found a way to win. Alex Limoges potted the game-winner 1:20 into overtime to extend Hershey’s point streak to five games.
Boxed In
Saturday’s game featured a boatload of special teams play. Hershey gave up a total of seven power play opportunities including two two-man advantage situations. Rochester capitalized on one of those chances as Isak Rosen scored his 12th goal of the season to open the scoring. It’d be the only shot to beat Shepard on this night as the Calder Cup MVP made 24 saves in the game.
Hershey had to kill off a full two minutes down two men. The Bears took an extra penalty from the bench as visible frustration boiled over into a dangerous situation. A big effort from the penalty kill helped to turn the tide. Hershey’s power play warmed to the task as the game wore on. The overtime winner did not go down as a power play tally, but happened as a Rochester skater exited the box.
In Trineyev We Trust
Hershey pushed back in the second period, firing 22 shots at goaltender Devon Levi (37 saves) in the frame. The shot volume helped them claw their way back into the game. Much like Friday’s game, it took a good shot and a bit of puck luck to even the score. Bogdan Trineyev tallied a goal for the third straight game, beating Levi from a sharp angle. The goal was reviewed as the net became dislodged during the play, but not enough to overturn the goal.
“His confidence level is there,” head coach Todd Nelson said of Trineyev. “He’s not afraid to shoot the puck, he scored from a sharp angle tonight. Trineyev plays a heavy game, outworking his opponents, and it’s nice to see him get rewarded with these goals.”
The teams battled late into regulation. Hershey nearly won the game with two seconds to spare, but the officials had blown the play dead. A sellout crowd of 10,579 at Giant Center made the whistle difficult to hear as Ivan Miroshnichenko stashed a puck past Levi. The goaltender had it just long enough in the eyes of the officials to consider the play dead. That sent the game to overtime even at one.
Liftoff For Limo
In overtime, the Bears got set up in the Americans’ end and got to work. Chase Priskie had another big night with two assists, this time skating to the high slot with a hard shot. The puck fluttered in the air and landed to Limoges planted atop the crease. The Viriginia native potted the loose puck for his third overtime winner and sixth game-winning goal this year. Hershey earns a break after playing five games in eight days including a lengthy trip home from Canada.
“He’s a smart player,” Nelson said of Limoges. “He puts himself in spots that allows him to score those big goals. It’s not by chance that he was standing there, he read the play and was in the right spot to score the goal.”
Goodman’s Final Game
Saturday’s game marked the last time longtime linesperson Bob Goodman would work a game. “Doctor Bob” as he’s known for his off-ice profession as an anesthesiologist has been a fixture on the lines for over 30 years. He’s local to the Hershey area, working his day job just down the road in Harrisburg. Hershey’s Vice President of Hockey Operations Bryan Helmer and AHL Vice President Hayley Moore presented him with gifts before the game. Among the gifts was a five-pound Hershey chocolate bar autographed by both teams.
Players from both teams lined up to shake Goodman’s hand after the game. Goodman is a tie to the old days at Hersheypark Arena, introduced to the AHL by Hershey legend Frank Mathers. He worked the 2011 AHL All-Star Game in Hershey as well as two Calder Cup Finals and three outdoor games.
“Trying to summarize 31 years in the league is pretty daunting to put into words,” Goodman said in an intermission feature. “It was truly appreciated towards the league to let me work this long. They’ve treated me so well and it’s wonderful to finish it out here in Hershey. For me, it’s special because I was born in Hershey, raised in Hershey, lived in Hershey my entire life. I sat in the stands in Hersheypark Arena and saw them win the Calder Cup in 1980. Then, I was able to come on the ice and officiate the games.”
“For me, it was really special to officiate the (outdoor) games at Hersheypark Stadium. It was the same place I played football with Hershey High School. Being able to go onto the ice and officiate those games was an incredible experience.”
Keep on Rolling
Hershey’s win moves them to 41-9-0-3 through 53 games played this season. The team wore specialty jerseys celebrating “FeBREWary” in their third and final such uniform for 2023-24. The uniforms were auctioned off with proceeds benefitting the Hershey Bears Cares Initiative. It’s a well-earned two days off for the Chocolate and White after playing five games in eight days.
Although it’s still early to start considering the postseason, the Bears are closing in on clinching a playoff berth. The Chocolate and White have a magic number of 13 points according to the AHL. The AHL typically starts showing those numbers starting in March, but the Bears are closing in on locking their spot in very early on.
