The Hershey Bears returned home to conclude another busy week of game action. The Chocolate and White hosted the Charlotte Checkers in an effort to keep earning points. However, injuries added up on this night as Charlotte scored the only goal of the third period to take a 2-1 decision. Hunter Shepard put in a solid effort with 21 saves as the Bears get some well-deserved rest after a busy stretch.
Mike’s Missing
The Bears were dealt a bad hand before the game started as Mike Sgarbossa was ruled out due to injury. Sgarbossa took part in warmups, but Todd Nelson and his staff got the bad news and scrambled for answers. Ultimately, Zac Funk took his spot and the team elevated Garrett Roe to center the top line. Hershey looked to build upon a comeback effort on Friday in Syracuse in this game.
“I thought he was fine tonight. As a coaching staff, we didn’t find out until after warmups. We were in scramble mode to try and find our lines. Sgarbossa is part of our power play, so that had to get adjusted. Usually, you have a day of practice with the new group but that wasn’t the case tonight. It was scramble mode, definitely.”
Sgarbossa joined a number of top Hershey forwards on the shelf. The Bears missed Alex Limoges, who missed his fourth straight game due to injury. Pierrick Dubé recently missed action due to injury. Nelson admitted the lineup was a bit different, but it’s a group effort to get across the finish line.
“Anyone, really. You can’t totally rely on guys like Vecchione, Frank, Spencer Smallman, and Luke Philp all the time. Everybody has to come to the party. I thought the Sutter line was pretty good tonight; they generated the goal for us. When guys like that are out of the lineup, there’s not much chemistry especially without much practice time for the new guys. The power play looked sloppy tonight.”
“We didn’t give up a whole lot, but we didn’t generate a lot either.”
One Goal Game
Charlotte scored the decisive goal in the third period. On the tally, the referee got in the way of Hershey defender Ethan Bear. The pick allowed Oliver Okuliar to skate to prime real estate and bury the shot for his second goal of the game. It’s a missed play by the referee that allowed for an easy goal.
“Let’s call a spade a shovel, the referee picks our defenseman, and they have a wide-open lane to the net and that’s the difference in the game. They have to be better than that.”
“The ref told me that he didn’t have anywhere to go but picks our defenseman. They get a gift and they bury it.”
The problem was exacerbated by Hershey’s inability to capitalize on the power play. The missing personnel added up in the lack of results as the Bears were scoreless in four attempts. Two of those chances happened late in regulation with Hershey pushing for the tying goal.
Bruised Bears
For now, the Bears will enjoy some needed rest. Nelson mentioned giving the players time away from the rink to clear their heads after a lot of games. Hershey’s 28 games played is the most among any team in the AHL. Factor in the team playing plenty on the road and the late run into June last season, and rest is certainly needed. They’ve played 17 games in five weeks’ time, ten of which were away from home.
Rest and practice time have been at a premium since then. Now, the Bears have a full week away from game action to heal some bumps and bruises. They won’t play a weekday game until January 7, giving them the luxury of added preparation time. Although there’s no doubt plenty of areas to be improved upon, it’s impossible to deny the Bears have handled this stretch as well as possible.
