Upon the return of Mark Dekanich to South Carolina, the Hershey Bears announced the Amateur Tryout of Adam Carlson. Carlson was on an ATO with South Carolina after the Washington Capitals signed him to a two year entry-level deal. The former Mercyhurst goaltender did not crack the lineup in the three games this weekend.
The week opened in a bad way for the Bears, dropping a game 5-1 to the Hartford Wolf Pack. Dan Ellis remained in for the whole game, stopping 27 of 32 shots.
Brady Skeji and former Hershey Bear Chris Brown put the Wolf Pack in front 2-0 before the Bears could respond with their lone goal of the contest.
Riley Barber collected a Chris Bourque pass in the slot before chipping a shot over Magnus Hellburg to crawl within one before the third period.
Unfortunately, that would be all the Bears got, as Marek Hrivik (PP), Nicklas Jensen, and Tyler Brown tallied for the home side at the XL Center.
Despite only 18 shots, 20 less than their hosts, the Bears squaeked out a 4-3 shootout win over the Providence Bruins Saturday.
Chris Breen and Mark Naclerio scored at 20 seconds and 128 seconds into the game for a fast two-goal advantage. Justin Peters settled into the game after that, allowing the Bears to begin the comeback.
Recently nominated for the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year, Nathan Walker muscled around at the front of the net on a power play, positioning himself for a tip-in on Jakub Vrana’s shot. His goal on Zane McIntyre was his 17th of the season and 40th point overall.
Austin Czarnik drew a penalty shot late in the first, but his shot went wide with Peters out to challenge at the top of his crease.
Czarnik then scored on the power play as one of 13 shots for the Bruins in the second period. Vrana responded with an extra-man tally of his own, one of three shots for the Bears in the period.
At 2:50 of the third, Vrana scored again to bring Hershey to a tie game. Peters and McIntyre kept the offense off the board for the next 22 minutes, forcing a shootout.
Chirstian Djoos in the first round had his goal cancelled out by Colton Hargrove in the bottom of the third round. Travis Boyd missed, Peters saved Justin Hickman’s shot, and Chandler Stephenson faked out McIntyre enough to open the five hole for a slow rolling shot. Czarnik could not finish off his fake-shot-to-the-backhand move, as the Bears escaped with both points.
The Chocolate and White entered Sunday knowing their playoff clinching scenario: gain one point against the Bruins and they will be in the playoffs. One point was all they got, losing in overtime to Providence.
Max Talbot took the centering feed from Alex Kokhlachev, walked down the slot, and hit the twine behind Ellis for a 1-0 lead less than three minutes into the first.
Both sides failed to crack the goaltenders until the Bears held the Bruins on with good forechecking. Christian Djoos corraled the rebound from Liam O’Brien’s wrister, circled back to the left faceoff circle, and wristed a shot of his own to the top shelf.
With the score tied, Hershey guranteed themselves a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs for the 66th time in franchise history. In the 22nd overtime played with the Bears this season, Chris Casto ended the game with a top-shelf shot 37 seconds into the 3-on-3 session.
NEXT WEEK
The Bears will welcome the Bridgeport Sound Tigers one final time on Friday night. Bridgeport would make the playoffs at its current standing, but playing the surging team has their sights on higher seeding. Friday’s contest is followed by another home-and-home series with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
CURRENT STANDING
70 games played, 39-19-5-7 (W-L-OTL-SOL), 90 points, 1st in Atlantic Division, 3rd in Eastern Conference
Ladies and gentlemen your 2015-2016 @TheHersheyBears #HBH #HBBC pic.twitter.com/2YIj9RSkdx
— Hershey Bears Booster Club (@HersheyBearsBC) March 29, 2016
