Pinizzotto and the Bears outlast Albany Devils, 3-2

Dany Sabourin rushes to make a save against the Albany Devils. Photo by the Albany Devils.

It was a quiet first period. In fact, it was a fairly quiet game against the Albany Devils.

The first goal of the game came exactly five minutes into the second period. Thankfully, Jay Beagle was able to counter with a goal just 31 seconds later, with an assist by Maxime Lacroix. The assist was Lacroix’s first AHL point of the season.

Trading back-and-forth goals, the Devils scored on the power play to regain their lead. But wait! How comfortable is Dmitri Kugryshev looking these days? He scored his second goal of the season to tie the game at two a piece before the end of the second period.

The hero of the night? Steve Pinizzotto. Showing the clutch guy he can be, he capitalized on an Albany turnover and scored the game-winning goal, unassisted, to give Hershey their first lead of the night. Thankfully, they only needed the lead once to maintain it and won 3-2.

So it may not have been the most exciting game but a win is a win. And wins are what Hershey needs.

Tonight’s Notes:

• Dany Sabourin was pretty good in net, stopping 22 of 24 shots. He seems to do better on the road than in front of the home crowd.
• After being boarded, Mathieu Perreault briefly left the game during the second period. Thankfully he returned and finished the game.
• Before the game, it was announced that Dylan Yeo was sent back down to South Carolina.
• Both Sean Collins and Lawrence Nycholat finished the night with a +3 rating. They were on ice for all three Hershey goals and not on ice during any of Albany’s goals.
• Not a great night for the power play unit, finishing 0-for-4.

Actual three stars of the game:

1. Steve Pinizzotto (HER)
2. David McIntyre (ALB)
3. Lawrence Nycholat (HER)

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

1. Pinizzotto: game-winning goal
2. Kugryshev: game-tying goal
3. Nycholat: on ice for all three Hershey goals