The Hershey Bears and the Bridgeport Islanders went into Friday’s game in similar situations. Despite a staggering 35-point gap in the standings, both teams suffered blowout losses recently. Both teams allowed nine goals in brutal losses. It’s no surprise that both teams entered the game with a fire lit under them, and the two sides traded goals. Hershey’s offense got the final blow in a 5-4 win at Giant Center. Ivan Miroshnichenko tallied a hat trick while All-Star Alex Limoges scored the game-winner. Hunter Shepard earned the win with 16 saves and some timely ones.
Bouncing Back
Both teams were on the receiving end of blowout losses. Hershey’s seven-game point streak ended in concerning fashion in a 9-0 loss to Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. On the same day, Bridgeport got rolled over in a 9-2 loss against Lehigh Valley. It’s the first time Hershey allowed nine goals in a game since 1998 in a weird day for both teams.
The strange circumstances seemed to carry over onto the ice in this game. Hershey got the start they were looking for, striking twice before the game was a minute old. Miroshnichenko scored on a rebound 18 seconds into play for the quick lead, the fastest goal of the season so far.
Then, just moments later, Hershey’s second line doubled the score. Pierrick DubĂ© and Hendrix Lapierre flew down the ice on an odd-man rush. Lapierre fed DubĂ© for his ninth goal of the season, getting the Bears back on the right track early on.
However, it was quickly proven to be a trickier game for both sides. It started when former Bear Brian Pinho cut the lead in half with his 18th goal of the season. Pinho, playing in his first game in two weeks, had a goal and an assist to spark his club and get back into this game. William Dufour scored shortly after to bring the game level at two.
Miro Magic
Like any good battle, the teams traded goals and punches. Bridgeport pulled ahead with the only power play goal off the stick of Gemel Smith. Hershey evened the score again with Miroshnichenko’s second of the night. The puck took a strange bounce off a faceoff right onto his stick, and he made no mistake in finding twine. Brennan Saulnier got into the action with a fight with Grant Hutton shortly after the goal.
Miroshnichenko finished the hat trick by sneaking a shot through the pads of Henrik Tikkanen early in the third. It’s his second hat trick of the season, with the first way back on game number two of the campaign. Bears head coach Todd Nelson said after the game that he challenged Miroshnichenko to rise to the occasion.
“I challenged (Miroshnichenko),” Nelson said. “If you want to score goals, get the opportunity, you have to work hard out there for 60 minutes. And his goals were a byproduct of him working hard tonight. And we’ve got to keep that consistent. That’s what we wanted to see from him.”
“He’s not going to score three goals every night, but if he has a consistent effort working hard out there, he’ll get rewarded with goals, and that’s what’s going to help him make the step to the National Hockey League.”
Bears Battle Through
The drama wasn’t over just yet. Bridgeport tied the game one more time at four, but Limoges broke the tie a minute later. Limoges, who is due to be on a plane to Coachella Valley after Saturday’s game, collected the puck with his skate to stick. In one swift motion, he beat the goaltender to put the Bears ahead for good.
Hershey got a boost from the return of several key players from injury, giving their lines significant punch. Mike Sgarbossa, Riley Sutter, Brennan Saulnier, and Brad Hunt all returned to the lineup after absences. It’s good news for the Bears, who found out hours before puck drop that they lost Hardy Haman Aktell. Hershey’s parent club in Washington put him on waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract. It leaves a gap in Hershey’s defensive group.
“We’re going to have to get some depth on defense. Management knows that; the trade deadline is coming up. The guys that left, we wish them well. The loss of Jake Massie stings a bit, it’s going to be long term. He’s out ten weeks, that brings us into playoff time and he’s been playing well for us. We don’t have a lot down in South Carolina. Management is going to be active here.”
Rematch Before the Break
The two teams are set to run it back for the final game before the All-Star break. After Saturday’s action is concluded, the AHL will have no games until February 7. With plenty of animosity brewing, it leaves two big points on the table for the winner before a well-deserved rest. The objective for Nelson’s team is to get back to their defensive prowess.
“We’ve got to be stingier. We’re allowing four goals; I want a better defensive effort from our group. I’d like to see our special teams improve, being consistent. We need to make sure we’re ready for 60 minutes (on Saturday).”
“We have one game before the break. It’ll be a challenge to make sure the guys are ready and have their heads in the game. I don’t want them to be thinking about Florida or wherever they’re going. I thought our puck battles we’re good tonight, but we need to cover rushes. Positive thing is that we got two points, but we have to keep the puck out of our net.”
Hershey banked two more points on a night where rivals Charlotte and Providence earned wins. The Bears stay six points ahead of both teams courtesy of Friday’s win. It’ll likely be a battle until all 72 games are played to determine a winner in the Atlantic Division.
