Bobby Nardella scores his first career professional goal, Vitek Vanecek shuts the door with 29 saves as Hershey defeats Lehigh Valley 3-1, their 6th straight victory.
The Hershey Bears (13-9-2-3) welcome the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (11-11-1-4) in their fifth meeting this season. Last time out, the Bears defeated the Phantoms in the Giant Center 1-0. Overall this season, Hershey is 3-0-1-0 against Lehigh Valley Phantoms with many more games to go. The Bears head into the game with an impressive streak of 26 straight penalty kills in a row. Last night, they had two different time where the Bears were down 5 on 3, but out lasted Bridgeport to keep the streak alive.
In net tonight for the Bears is Vitek Vanecek (7-4-1-1), who starts his second straight game in as many nights. Alex Lyon (6-7-2-0) gets the nod for Lehigh Valley.
Highlight Video
1st Period:
Hershey got off to a slow start. There were multiple times that the Bears struggled to get the puck out of their zone because Lehigh Valley created turn overs right at the blue line. Luckily for Hershey, Vitek Vanecek was on his game.
There have been a few already, but here is a nice save @vitacz15 had to make to keep the game scoreless.#HBH #HersheyBears #LVvsHER #DefendTheDen @CapsOutsider pic.twitter.com/pRTJOWnpyh
— Cory Lyons (@CoryLyonsAHL) December 15, 2019
Hershey went on the penalty kill with Liam O’Brien taking a tripping penalty late in the period. The Bears went on to kill the penalty which is now their 27th straight penalty kill in a row.
With less than two minutes remaining in the period, Hershey finally cracked Alex Lyon. Martin Fehervary shot the puck from the blue line and Axel Jonsson-Fjallby tipped the puck into the net. This is the first time Jonsson-Fjallby has scored at home this season and his 6th overall this year.
BEARS GOAL!!! @axelfjallby with the tip and his first goal at home this season! @TheHersheyBears lead 1-0 with 1:40 left in the first period.#HBH #HersheyBears #LVvsHER #DefendTheDen @CapsOutsider pic.twitter.com/GdCq5C8oa1
— Cory Lyons (@CoryLyonsAHL) December 15, 2019
Hershey went into the locker room with a 1-0 lead.
1st Period Shots: HER – 9, LV – 13
1st Period Scoring:
18:20 – HER: Goal – Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (6), Assist(s): Martin Fehervary (7), Brian Pinho (8).
2nd Period:
It took twenty seconds for the Hershey Bears to strike again. Christian Djoos found Garret Pilon in the slot on a short pass from the point. Pilon whiffed on the first attempt but made sure the second attempt went in the net. It was a goal that Lyon should have stopped. He was pulled before the next puck drop.
After two periods:@TheHersheyBears – 2@LVPhantoms – 0
Shots: HER – 9 LV – 8
Pilon scores early in the period for the only goal in the second.#HBH #HersheyBears #LVvsHER #DefendTheDen @CapsOutsider pic.twitter.com/pyOFbJYRzm
— Cory Lyons (@CoryLyonsAHL) December 15, 2019
Hershey went into the locker room with a 2-0 lead.
2nd Period Shots: HER – 9, LV – 8
2nd Period Scoring:
0:20 – HER: Goal – Garrett Pilon (3), Assist(s) – Christian Djoos (14), Joe Snively (5)
3rd Period:
After Tyler Lewington took a penalty to give Lehigh Valley a 5 on 3 advantage, Andy Andreoff beat Vitek Vanecek clean in the top corner. This cut the lead to 1 for Hershey.
The streak is over. @LVPhantoms score on the 5 on 3 power play and the game is now 2-1 @TheHersheyBears with 16:01 left to play in the third.#HBH #HersheyBears #LVvsHER #DefendTheDen @CapsOutsider pic.twitter.com/HrMng0WcTP
— Cory Lyons (@CoryLyonsAHL) December 16, 2019
The Bears took their lead back after receiving their first power play. Bobby Nardella scored his first career professional goal on a one timer from the point. The puck was tipped by a Phantom’s defenseman and past Jean-Francois Berube. This gave Hershey a 3-1 lead.
BEARS GOAL!!!! First career goal for Bobby Nardella! Bears lead 3-1 with 13:57 left in the third.#HBH #HersheyBears #LVvsHER #DefendTheDen @CapsOutsider pic.twitter.com/FgXTCB8u0R
— Cory Lyons (@CoryLyonsAHL) December 16, 2019
Lehigh Valley pulled their goalie with over five minutes remaining. It took a few big saves from Vanecek to keep the lead and none were better than this one.
Big saves from @vitacz15 at the end of the game to keep his 3-1 lead!#HBH #HersheyBears #LVvsHER #DefendTheDen @CapsOutsider pic.twitter.com/8dKAt3k0EO
— Cory Lyons (@CoryLyonsAHL) December 16, 2019
Here was the final call from Zack Fisch. “Look out Atlantic Division…Here come the Bears!”
Final Score: @TheHersheyBears – 3@LVPhantoms – 1
Three Stars:
1.) HER: Bobby Nardella – 1st Career Goal
2.) HER: Vitek Vanecek – 29 Saves, Win
3.) HER: Garrett Pilon – GWG6 straight wins! "Look out Atlantic Division..Here come the Bears!" ~ @zackfisch @CapsOutsider pic.twitter.com/mzLZM3iEw1
— Cory Lyons (@CoryLyonsAHL) December 16, 2019
Final Score: Hershey Bears – 3, Lehigh Valley Phantoms – 1
3rd Period Shots: HER – 3, LV – 9
Overall Shots: HER: 21, LV – 30
3rd Period Scoring:
2:49 – LV: Goal – Andy Andreoff (4), Assist(s) – German Rubtsov (7), Greg Carey (8) (PP)
5:37 – HER: Goal – Bobby Nardella (1), Assist(s) – Christian Djoos (15), Philippe Maillet (5) (PP)
Three Stars:
- HER: Bobby Nardella – 1st Career Goal
- HER: Vitek Vanecek – 29 Saves, Win
- HER: Garrett Pilon – 1 Goal, GWG
Official Box Score: https://theahl.com/stats/game-center/1020035
All photos in this post are courtesy of Cory Lyons. You can follow him on Twitter @CoryLyonsAHL.
