Defense holds strong, help lead Hershey to a 2-1 victory over Providence. Steve Whitney with the game winning goal and Ilya Samsonov with the 22 save win.
Follow Cory Lyons on Twitter at @CoryLyonsAHL for live in game updates during all of Hershey’s home games.
The Hershey Bears (13-18-0-2) once again welcome the Providence Bruins (14-14-5-0) to the Giant Center. Last night the Bruins defeated the Bears 4-1. The game was closer than the score appeared. Hershey went into the third period with a 1-0 lead but lost it mid way through the third period. Providence eventually scored two empty net goals to close out the game. You can find the write up from last night here.
Ilya Samsonov got the start in net after Vitek Vanecek played the last two games for the Bears.
1st Period:
Hershey came out flying with big hit after big hit. Hampus Gustafsson set the ton for the Bears with a hit that frustrated the Bruins. Shortly after, Beck Malenstyn chipped the puck past the Bruins’ defense and found himself on a breakaway. Malenstyn slid the puck through the five hole of Zane McIntyre to give Hershey a 1-0 lead.
WHAT. A. GOAL. @malenstyn provided the Bears with a 1-0 lead on this nifty play #HBH #DefendTheDen pic.twitter.com/Lkzp24Dwtg
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) December 30, 2018
The period was filled with many more hits which left the crowd wanting more going into intermission.
1st Period Shots: HER – 5, PRO – 6
1st Period Scoring:
5:06 – HER: Beck Malenstyn(3) ASST: Brian Pinho(3)
2nd Period:
Hershey started the period down a man but that did not stop Liam O’Brien launching himself to a breakaway. Zane McIntyre stopped the attempt with a nice spread eagle save, keeping the game 1-0.
The Bruins hard work on the forecheck finally paid off. Providence forced Riley Barber to turn it over behind his own net which caused the puck to move out front of Ilya Samsonov and on to Karson Kuhlman’s stick. Kuhlman made no mistake and scored Providence’s first goal that tied the game at 1-1.
Just over a minute later, Hershey responded. Jayson Megna lead a 3 on 2 down the ice. Megna passed the puck to Aaron Ness in the slot who then passed it over to Steve Whitney. Whitney buried the puck in the net on the one timer. This was Whitney’s third goal of the season.
Well, that was pretty! Here's how Steve Whitney restored Hershey's lead! #HBH #DefendTheDen pic.twitter.com/xsWOthmDsb
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) December 30, 2018
Hershey went into the locker room with a 2-1 lead.
2nd Period Shots: HER – 8, PRO – 7
2nd Period Scoring:
11:16 – PRO: Karson Kuhlman(6) ASST: Trent Frederic(2), Cameron Hughes(10)
12:38 – HER: Steve Whitney(3) ASST: Aaron Ness(17), Jayson Megna(8)
3rd Period:
Hershey had the mindset to neutral zone trap the Bruins into turnover. The plan seemed to work. Providence had a hard time entering the zone the whole period with their only real chance happening just three minutes into the period when they rang the puck off of the post for the second time tonight.
Hershey went on to defeat Providence 2-1.
The next game for the Hershey Bears will be held at the Giant Center on Saturday, January 5th when the Grand Rapid Griffins make their first and only stop to Hershey this season.
3rd Period Shots: HER – 6, PRO – 10
Overall Shots: HER – 19, PRO – 23
3rd Period Scoring:
None
Three Stars:
- HER – Beck Malenstyn – 1 goal
- HER – Steve Whitney – 1 goal, GWG
- HER – Ilya Samsonov – 22 saves, win.
Official Box Score: https://theahl.com/stats/game-summary/1018838
These photos are courtesy of Cory Lyons. You can follow him on Twitter at @CoryLyonsAHL or on Instagram at @corylyonsphoto. Also follow our new account on Instagram at @CapitalsOutsider!
