Holtby shuts out Phantoms 4-0 in return to Hershey

Dmitri Kugryshev is all smiles after he scores his first career AHL goal! Photo by Kyle M.

The Adirondack Phantoms came into tonight’s game with just three wins in the season. But, for the first few minutes, they were standing strong against Hershey. The last thing the Bears needed was a loss to the last place team to kill their swagger.

Boyd Kane drew first blood late in the first period. Andrew Gordon later scored on the power play when he deflected a Kyle Greentree shot. Gordon leads the league in goals (with 15) and in points (with 29). After Gordon’s goal, Phantoms goaltender Johan Backlund was helped to the bench with seemingly a lower body injury. Nic Riopel replaced him in goal and there was no looking back.

Big congratulations to Dmitry Kugryshev who scored Hershey’s third goal of the game and his first career AHL goal! It’s been a long time coming for Kugryshev. Every game he seems to be getting more and more playing time and deservedly so. Mark French even tried mixing the lines up a little and playing Kugryshev on the top line with Gordon and Mathieu Perreault. Kugryshev’s confidence was through the roof for the rest of game. He’s a talented guy and is bound to be a serious threat once he fully adjusts to AHL life.

Hershey helped maintain their lead by scoring 32 seconds into the third period. It was Kane’s second goal of the night. Kane just loves playing against the Phantoms. He always seems to love harassing his former team.

The story of the night though is Braden Holtby‘s triumphant return to Hershey. After a fairly long call-up in Washington, he came back and took his rightful spot as the #1 goalie for the Bears. He stopped 28 of 28 shots and some of them were doozies. He seemed as comfortable as ever as Bears defeat Phantoms 4-0.

Hershey remains undefeated since the closed door meeting on Wednesday night. Like I said in the last recap, hopefully this is the start of a better, more consistent season.

Tonight’s Notes:

• Brian Fahey returned from Washington. He had one assist in the victory.
• It was fight night in Hershey today. Patrick Wellar defeated Matt Clackson in a good tilt. Clackson’s first fight against Hershey this season was the infamous battle against Sheldon Souray back in October.
• Trevor Bruess had not one, but two fights. The first fight against Zac Rinaldo did not go his way so he redeemed himself by taking down Logan Stephenson later in the game.
• Pinizzotto had the primary assist on both of Kane’s goals.
• The penalty kill unit was perfect yet again. Hershey has not allowed a power play goal in nine games so far this season. They have also not allowed a single power play goal in the past three games.

Video Highlights:

Lines and Pairings:

Willsie – Perreault – Gordon
Greentree – Beagle – Bouchard
Kane – Joudrey – Pinizzotto
G. McNeill – Buress – Kugryshev

Souray – Collins
Nycholat – Miskovic
Wellar – Fahey

Actual three stars of the game:

1. Braden Holtby (HER)
2. Boyd Kane (HER)
3. Steve Pinizzotto (HER)

Sweetest Hockey On Earth’s three stars of the game:

Have to agree with the actual three stars
1. Holtby: shutout
2. Kane: two goals
3. Pinizzotto: two primary assists

More Photos from Kyle M:

The team celebrates Boyd Kane’s first goal of the night.

Andrew Gordon pots his 15th goal of the season.

Dmitri Kugryshev scores his very first AHL goal!

The team congratulates Kugryshev with lots of pats on the head.

Celebrating Kane’s second goal of the night!

Celebrating the shutout with Holtby