HERSHEY, Pa — The Hershey Bears used a strong second period to smother the Providence Bruins 5-1 after 102,343 teddy bears and other stuffed animals were thrown on to the ice following the first Bears goal.
The teddy bear toss goal scored by Mike Sgarbossa would tie the game at one with just over five minutes remaining in the the opening period. It was the first of five unanswered goals scored for Hershey.
“It was a very good day,” Bears head coach Todd Nelson said. “The teddy bear toss worked out, we scored with just over five minutes left in the first period. And then what? We played a rather solid game today. This is one of our more complete games we’ve played all year.”
Matt Strome, Grant Cruikshank, and Spencer Smallman all scored in the explosive middle frame for Hershey.
Strome, the brother of Capitals star center Dylan Strome, would give the Bears a lead six minutes into the second period. Thirty seconds later, Cruikshank would double the lead. It was the fastest consecutive goals by Hershey this season.
Stromer breaks the deadlock to put us ahead!
🚨Strome
🍎Häman Aktell
🍏Smith https://t.co/Dj01FbKjn3 pic.twitter.com/VuSO4UJJ0Q— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) January 5, 2025
Crooky's first at home gets the boys going!
🚨Cruikshank
🍎Häman Aktell
🍏Strome https://t.co/lN40b2vnNc pic.twitter.com/tnPBfp0i6Z— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) January 5, 2025
“I think everyone was a little antsy to start the game,” Smallman said. “I know for myself, [Hendrix Lapierre] came down the wing, fed me backdoor on the first shift. Got a good shot off, but didn’t get it high enough. I think I may have been a little tense, little nervous in anticipation of all the teddy bears. I think Sgarbossa did a good job settling down and putting one in for us.”
The game wasn’t over yet. On the other end, the Bruins had a net front scramble and with Clay Stevenson out of position, Sgarbossa made a great defensive play to keep the lead at two.
The Bears would keep up the pressure in the third.
The Bruins took an undisciplined cross-checking penalty, as frustrations boiled over in an intense game. Smallman would score his second of the game halfway through the third to put icing on the cake as the Bears cruised to a weekend sweep of the Bruins.
Sgarbossa Scores Teddy Bear Toss Goal, Sends 102,343 Toys Flying!
