Bruins Spoil Teddy Bear Spectacle in Shootout

HERSHEY, PA – Seth Griffith scores on David Leggio during the shootout Saturday night (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)

The Hershey Bears were in search for home wins in consecutive days for the first time this season on Sunday. The Chocolate and White kicked off December with a 3-2 setback in a skills competion on their Hall of Fame Night, along with the annual Teddy Bear Toss spectacle.

National Hockey League legendary broadcaster Mike “Doc” Emrick again hosted the on-ice, pregame ceremony with inductions of Tim Tookey, Gordon ‘Red’ Henry, Arnie Kullman, Kenneth Hatt and J Bruce McKinney.

The Bears battled the Providence Bruins in a rematch of last spring’s Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The Teddy Bears would have to sit through the opening period without being lunged onto the Giant Center ice. Providence out shot Hershey 17-8 in the first period and fanned on two power play opportunities.

Despite being held to eight shots, most were glorious chances on frame that were denied by Bruins’ Niklas Svedberg. David Kolomatis and Peter LeBlanc both nearly tallied the first goal from the slot that would set forth an avalanche of bears.

Into the second period, Matt Watkins scored his first goal of the season leading to the annual Teddy Bear Toss delay. He received a pass in the slot from Michael Latta and beat Svedberg to the top-shelf.

But just seconds before the stanza’s final minute, Alexander Khokhlachev scored for Providence on their 26th attempt of the night. After a pass spit two men in Chocolate and White through the high-slot, Khokhlachev settled a bouncing puck and fired a quick shot past David Leggio.

In the third period, early goals were traded by both teams. First Joe Morrow received credit with a blast from the point through traffic that beat Leggio. Minutes later on their first power play of the night, Jeff Taffe scored the tenth power play goal at Giant Center this season.

Once again extra time was needed, including a shootout. Providence won the shootout in five rounds by a 3-1 count.