Bears Winning Streak Comes to End against Penguins

We close another chapter in the book of the rivalry. All photos by Kyle Mace.

Tonight was the sixth installment in the Hershey Bears/Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins story. The Bears had a chance to even the series up after going 2-3 before tonight.

The first period saw no goals, only some good chances. But as is typical with all Bears/Penguins games, there was plenty of the rough stuff going around. Patrick McNeill was the victim of a knee-on-knee hit from Nick Petersen. McNeill didn’t finish the first period but thankfully did return for the second.

Ryan Potulny went to the box for boarding in the second period but the Bears penalty kill stood up the Penguins. Potulny jumped back on the ice and scored the first goal of the night! He beat Scott Munroe with a fast shot and some help from a screen by his teammate.

The Penguins tied it up later with a shot from Ben Street. Braden Holtby was pressed right up against the post but the shot somehow squeaked through. Only one period to go and it was all tied up.

It only took 46 seconds for the Penguins to gain the lead. Eric Tangradi was left alone and he skated right up to the crease and scored on Holtby. Bryan Lerg extended the lead a few minutes later. Things were quickly unraveling for the Bears.

The game started winding down and the Bears looked thoroughly defeated. The Penguins were about to score an empty net goal when Graham Mink shoved the net off the pegs in frustration. The Penguins were awarded the goal anyway. Tomas Kundratek gave us a small silver lining with a very late goal.

So the Bears saw their winning streak come to an end. Their in-state rivals took over the third and the Bears just sat back. Bears lose 4-2.

Tonight’s Notes:

• Joel Rechlicz did not let us down tonight! He took on Ryan Schnell and delivered many big lefts. Great fight!
• Bad news: Chris Bourque (12 games) saw his point streak come to an end tonight.
• More bad news: the power play failed them when we needed them most. They have four opportunities and did not convert on any of them.
• Good news: The penalty kill unit was still great! They stopped all five of WBS’s power plays.
• More good news: With a goal tonight, Kundratek extended his point streak to five games!
• Scott Munroe was fantastic tonight. The Bears outshot the Penguins 35 to 27 but still ended up on the wrong side of the final score.
• Capitals coaches Dale Hunter and Jim Johnson were in Giant Center tonight, perhaps scouting their new team’s prospects.

Lines and Pairings:

Kane – Aucoin – Bourque
Micflikier – Potulny – Ford
Pope – Hanson – Mink
Lacroix – Carroll – Rechlicz

McNeill – Collins
Brouillette – Flemming
Wellar – Kundratek

Three stars of the game:

1. Eric Tangradi (WBS)
2. Scott Munroe (WBS)
3. Bryan Lerg (WBS)

More photos from tonight’s game:
We saw too many happy Penguins tonight.

Doug Yingst watches the game with Dale Hunter and Jim Johnson.

You know, I don’t think these teams like each other very much.

Holtby comes out pretty far to make the clear.

No one scores an empty net goal as long as Graham Mink is on the ice.

Kundratek eases the pain by scoring on Scott Munroe.

One of the highlights.

The Penguins earn another win against the Bears.