It was a Sunday evening showdown in Chocolatetown for the Bears against in-state rival Wilkes- Barre Scranton Penguins, where team toughness and timely scoring lifted the Chocolate and White to a 4-1 win in grand style. Hershey notched win no. 52 on the season – setting an American Hockey League record in a 72-game season previously held by the 2022-23 Calgary Wranglers (51 wins).
Over three weeks ago you could say the Hershey Bears locker room was heavy after a defeat to Utica. Head coach Todd Nelson, who always seems to know what moves to make called a team meeting. At the time Nelly said he just wanted to “nip a few things in the bud” before this team got to the playoffs.
Some coaches may hesitate to do that to a team that is cruising on their way to a number one seed in the East, and the Atlantic Division title.
Heading into Tuesday night at Giant Center, there was a palpable buzz around the arena. While part of that buzz was the Mike Vecchione bobblehead giveaway that night, the Bears form was part of that too.
Coming into the game, Hershey had won four straight games, and had secured a point in their last six, with the back to back batterings of (likely) playoff bound Cleveland on their own rink the highlights of that mini-streak.
One of the most common songs fans hear at sporting events is “Final Countdown” by Europe, and that is the theme for the Washington Capitals (36-27-9, 81 points) heading into the final 10 games of the season.
The Capitals, for the better part of two months, have embraced the playoff intensity a little earlier than they would’ve liked. Despite this season marked by roller coaster results, the locals find themselves in the second wild card spot following Thursday’s action.
Let’s start with a definition.
Immortalize – to confer enduring fame upon.
Using it in a sentence, “He will be forever immortalized in the history books.”
Here in Hershey, we can change that definition to a photo of Mike Vecchione.
A first place team, with sky high expectations yet when Todd Nelson looked inside his locker room he wasn’t 100% pleased where it’s mindset was heading into Saturday’s game against the Crunch.
“We had a come to Jesus meeting before the game with everybody, even the guys who were not playing, and we just talked about getting ready for playoffs,” said Nelson after the game on Saturday night.
Light the lamp! The Chocolate and White have punched their ticket to the Calder Cup Playoffs. Yes, on March 11th before anyone has time to consume any green beverages.
That’s good right? Absolutely.
Pencils down! Those were the directives all 32 NHL general managers received when 3 p.m. elapsed on Friday – signaling the anticipated trade deadline.
Depending on who you ask, the few moves made by Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan could yield various reactions.
During his press conference, MacLellan indicated that varying factors – such as market analysis differences and current standings position – were the reasons why the team did not go in full sell mode.
This week is a massive one for the Washington Capitals and the American Hockey League-leading Hershey Bears. The NHL’s trade deadline is 3 p.m. on Friday, March 8.
It only took Connor McMichael five games with the Hershey Bears to register his first professional hat trick, scoring all of the Bears’ goals on Saturday afternoon to lead Hershey to a 3-1 victory over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
The 19-year-old has impressed in his first four-game games with the Bears, but number five was special. McMichael got on the board first, cleaning up a rebound in front of Wilkes-Barre’s goalie Max Lagace on the power play to tie the game a 1-1.
“I felt pretty good tonight, and then obviously scoring in the first period it helps you out a lot,” said McMichael. “You just feel a lot more comfortable throughout the game, and you just build off that. My line and our defense that I was out there with played really well, and [Fucale] had a great game as well. It’s great to build up the first one and get a couple more.”
His second goal of the afternoon came on a breakaway, going glove side on Lagace to give the Bears the lead at 2-1. “I saw that there was a little opening on the glove side, and it took advantage of it.”
McMichael almost had the hat trick before the end of the second period, scoring on a delayed penalty but having the play called dead by a whistle before the puck crossed the line. But he made up for it, with a 120-foot empty-net goal to seal the victory for Hershey and his first professional hat trick.
“The puck follows him around,” said head coach Spencer Carbery after the game. “Somehow, someway, he’s just in the right place, right time, and he sees the game that way. And that’s something as a coach – you can’t teach that.
“The thing I think we’re going to learn to appreciate about Connor is he is a very intelligent player. He is adapting on the fly to pro hockey and learning things. I’ve already had a couple conversations with him about small, little things he has to start to do at the pro level he could get away with in the OHL and now are going to be essential to being successful not only in the NHL but in pro hockey in general.”
“I talk to Carbs basically every single day,” said McMichael. “It’s just little things like in the D zone, being more aggressive, some faceoff work. The coaching staff and the guys have been great with me so far.”
