Hershey scraps to a 3-2 victory over Wilkes-Barre Scranton. Riley Barber with the game winning goal and two assists. Hershey scores three power play goals in the victory.
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BEARS WIN! In front of a sold out crowd, Riley Barber had three points and Vitek Vanecek stopped 26 shots as we beat the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 3-2. #HBH pic.twitter.com/a23tWFm3v9
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) December 22, 2018
The Hershey Bears (11-16-0-1) welcome the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins (15-11-3-1) to the Giant Center once again. The 7th time this season these two teams will face-off with Hershey winning the series 3-2-0-1 so far.
The Bears have struggled in their last ten games going 3-6-0-1 while the Penguins have been the opposite, going 7-3-0-0. Hershey also welcomes more newcomers do the defensive core. Cliff Watson and Steve Johnson were added on try out contracts over the last week. This is in addition to the try out contract with Joey Leach earlier this month.
1st Period:
The scoring opened early in the period for the Penguins. Jean-Sebasiten Dea found himself alone in the slot and put the puck past Vitek Vanecek. The goal was reviewed but confirmed by video replay. This was Dea’s first goal of the season which gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead.
#WBSPens Goal Video. @jsdea10 gets his first of the season in the AHL to put the Pens in front. pic.twitter.com/5jPvnGFP9x
— WBS Penguins (@WBSPenguins) December 22, 2018
Hershey responded on the power play three minutes later. Riley Barber fed the puck through several Penguins players and right on the tape of Mike Sgarbossa who put home an easy empty net goal. This goal was Sgarbossa’s 13th goal of the season. Ryan Sproul received the secondary assist. The game was tied 1-1.
The Bears received their second power play of the night. The puck was worked around the cycle when Aaron Ness made the decision to throw the puck on net from the point. Nathan Walker tipped the puck past Anthony Peters, giving Hershey a 2-1 lead.
Fun fact – The Bears are now 2-for-2 on the power play tonight thanks to this deflection by @NathanWalks10 #HBH #DefendTheDen pic.twitter.com/3mPPFUCmXw
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) December 22, 2018
Wilkes-Barre Scranton clawed their way back while on a 5 on 3 power play. Teddy Blueger tipped home a puck with no one covering him. This was his 10th goal of the season and tied the game 2-2.
Blueger ties for the team lead with his 10th goal of the season and we are tied 2-2 pic.twitter.com/p4HKiDdHcL
— WBS Penguins (@WBSPenguins) December 22, 2018
1st Period Shots: HER – 13, WBS – 8
1st Period Scoring:
1:07 – WBS: Jean-Sebastien Dea(1) ASST: Ryan Haggerty(11)
4:55 – HER: Mike Sgarbossa(13) ASST: Riley Barber(11), Ryan Sproul(6)(PP)
8:34 – HER: Nathan Walker(6) ASST: Aaron Ness(13), Riley Barber(12)(PP)
10:43 – WBS: Teddy Blueger(10) ASST: Garrett Wilson(7), Ethan Prow(9)(PP)
2nd Period:
Hershey controlled the period, not allowing many scoring chances while gaining many shots. Penguins goalie Anthony Peters was solid throughout the second period.
After 18 minutes of no scoring, Hershey found the back of the net for the third time on the power play. This time it was Riley Barber doing it himself. Barber scored his 10th goal on the season with a shot from the point that beat Peters clean. Hershey took the 3-2 lead.
There was only one goal in the 2nd period, and it came courtesy of central PA's favorite Barber 💈💈💈 #HBH #DefendTheDen pic.twitter.com/7uK2PDQqFD
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) December 22, 2018
Hershey ended the period with a penalty by Liam O’Brien going to the box for slashing. The Bears would start the third period with a 3-2 lead and on the penalty kill.
2nd Period Shots: HER – 15, WBS – 7
2nd Period Scoring:
18:27 – HER: Riley Barber(10) ASST: Mike Sgarbossa(10), Aaron Ness(14)(PP)
3rd Period:
After an early power play for Hershey that they did not capitalize on, the rest of the period went without any penalties. The Bears locked down the defensive zone entry and Vitek Vanecek stopped every shot.
Hershey won 3-2!
3rd Period Shots: HER – 5, WBS – 15
Overall Shots: HER – 33, WBS – 28
3rd Period Scoring:
None
Three Stars:
- HER: Riley Barber (GWG, 2 Assists)
- HER: Vitek Vanecek (26 Saves, Win)
- HER: Mike Sgarbossa (1 Goal, 1 Assist)
Official Box Score: https://theahl.com/stats/game-summary/1018777
Photos are courtesy of Cory Lyons. You can follow him on Twitter at @CoryLyonsAHL or on Instagram at @corylyonsphoto
