Early Lead Helps Rochester Take Down Hershey, 3-2
You can’t win ’em all. Although, when you’re playing the struggling Rochester Americans, you tend to think you can win it.
It looked like it was going to be really bad at first. By the end of the first period, the Bears were already down 2-0. Rochester scored once on the power play and once even strength to make it look like a rough night for Hershey. It didn’t help when the Amerks scored in the beginning of the next period on a rebound shot past Todd Ford.
At the end of this recap, you’ll find the lines and pairings, as usual. However, those lines didn’t last very long. By the end of the second period, the coaches were already doing some shuffling in order to combat the Amerks early lead.
With the Amerks up 3 goals to none and Boyd Kane going to the penalty box for two minutes, things started looking grim. Thankfully, the Bears refused to give us and started putting some pressure on Rochester, even while down a man. Zach Miskovic unleashed a big shot that Johann Kroll tipped along the way and the Bears ended Tyler Plante’s shutout with a short-handed goal. That is Kroll’s first goal and point of the season.
Things really got exciting when Jay Beagle brought the Bears within one goal of tying it. He approached the goal at an angle that was rapidly getting tighter and tighter. He had such a quick backhand shot that it was hard to tell he even shot at all until you saw the slow motion replay. Plante was just as fooled and suddenly it was 3-2 Rochester.
It was like the Bears got a second wind. They start skating faster and harder and Rochester responded by matching their pace. The two teams battled it out for the rest of the period but Hershey couldn’t complete the comeback. They came very close but had their shots blocked. They even hit iron a couple of times. Amerks win 3-2.
The Bears will be at home for the remainder of the weekend. Make sure you come out and cheer the team back to its winning ways.
Tonight’s Notes:
- Right before the team left for Rochester, Braden Holtby was deemed healthy enough to come and so Jared DeMichiel was returned to South Carolina.
- Josh Godfrey made his season debut. Unfortunately, he finished with a -2 rating and no points, but he still had a good showing. I’m definitely excited to see him play some more games.
- In the final minute, Steve Pinizzotto fell on the Amerks goaltender and was whistled for goaltender interference. Afterwards, he immediately went down to the tunnel and someone else served his penalty. We hope that this wasn’t because of injury; we all know that’s the last thing we need right now.
- How about some good news? Congratulations to Bryan Helmer for playing in his 1,000th regular season AHL game tonight. Way to go, Helmer!
Lines and Pairings:
Kane – Aucoin – Pinizzotto
Greentree – Willsie – de Kastrozza
Lacroix – Beagle – Bouchard
Kugryshev – Cruthers – Rome
Kroll – Collins
Yeo – Miskovic
Wellar – Godfrey
Actual three stars of the game:
1. Tyler Plante (RCH)
2. Jay Beagle (HER)
3. Michael Duco (RCH)
Sweetest Hockey On Earth’s three stars of the game:
1. Beagle: goal and assist
2. Kroll: first goal of the season
3. Willsie: had several good chances and led the team in shots on goal