The Toronto Marlies found out the hard way that it’s impossible to count out the Hershey Bears. The Marlies clawed back from a 2-1 deficit in the third period to take a 3-2 lead, but it didn’t last. Jimmy Huntington tied the game with 20 seconds to spare, and Joe Snively scored the winner with just over one second to give the Bears a 4-3 win. Hershey has points in eight straight games, with Sunday’s win being their fifth win in a row.
Four Named to Bears Hall of Fame
The Bears had a special ceremony before the game to induct four members of the 2023 Hershey Bears Hall of Fame class. Noted scorers Bruce Cline, Mark Lofthouse, and Tony Cassolato were joined by longtime off-ice personality Don Scott in this year’s group. With Calder Cups and too many points to count between the four, it was a truly legendary occasion. Hershey’s catalogue of famous players to honor is a lengthy one spanning 86 years, and there will always be deserving additions each year.
“As soon as (players) get to Hershey on day one, they know what the Bears are all about,” Bears head coach Todd Nelson said. “The history, how special it is to play here in front of these fans. They got to watch these four people get inducted and the impact they had on this organization. It shows how special this team has been for a long time, and the tradition carries on. It’s great for the guys to see, it’s special being a Hershey Bear and it’s a great place to be.”
“May I Offer You an Egg in These Trying Times?”
Both teams entered play off of emotional wins, and coupled with the ceremony, led to a long weekend. The Bears were fresh off of a dramatic 3-2 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, while the Marlies struck a 4-3 shootout win in Allentown. The teams would turn up the heat offensively as the game wore on, trading goals in a span of 17 seconds. Chase Priskie scored on a nice shot from the left face-off circle, countered quickly by a nice setup for Logan Shaw at the other end.
Priskie factored in on Hershey’s second goal, a perfect setup for Jimmy Huntington. His one-timer blasted by an outstretched Dennis Hildeby to put the Bears up by one after two periods. In the third period, Toronto muscled a power play goal courtesy of Joseph Blandisi on their fifth attempt of the night. They’d take the lead when Kieffer Bellows got loose and tallied his 18th goal of the season.
Not So Fast
The Marlies looked to make the lead stand up as the Bears pressed. With time winding down, Ivan Miroshnichenko put the puck towards the far side of the net. Huntington was there to deflect it home for his tenth goal of the season and his 100th AHL point. The two teams were heading to overtime in the Sweetest Place on Earth.
Hershey watched as Toronto played the possession game for much of the extra session. The Marlies took a shootout win against the Phantoms a day prior and had confidence should the game get that far. The Bears took the puck on one last rush, with Priskie leading the charge late in his shift. He dropped the puck to Joe Snively, whose wicked wrister ended the game with 1.2 seconds to play. Priskie finished the game with three points (one goal, two assists) and was the third star.
Cardiac Kids
It’s the fourth time in Hershey’s recent point streak that the Bears have won a game by one goal. The win moves the Bears to 34-7-0-2 and hits 70 points. Goaltender Hunter Shepard, who has climbed the ranks to fourth in the AHL, turned in a strong performance with 27 saves. Snively’s goal gives him seven points (one goal, six assists) in his last five games, bringing him into a tie for second on the team in scoring with 34 points. The Bears have thrived, but Nelson doesn’t want it to be a recurring event.
“It’s called playing with fire,” Nelson said. “You can look at it two ways. We get in those situations and we have to understand that we need to play the game the right way for sixty minutes. The positive is that we have the confidence that we can dig ourselves out of the hole. We don’t want to make a habit out of it. Shepard was unbelievable, the score could have been much worse.”
“We’re finding ways to win, that’s a sign of good character and leadership in the room.”
On the Road Again
Hershey embarks on a difficult stretch after this game. Seven of the team’s next eight games are on the road including a trip north of the border to Canada. One of those games includes a rematch with the Marlies on February 17. A number of Bears players and staff, including Nelson, will be part of the All-Star Game next weekend. In addition to action, Nelson plans to get a little relaxation in before the bulk of the trip starts.
“It’s a team accomplishment, I’m a byproduct of that. It’s an honor to represent Hershey at the All-Star game. We had a lot of fun last year, we’ll have fun last year. I think we’re going to spend a day in Napa Valley when it’s done. Might as well stay out there and head right back to Providence when we get back at it.”
