Mitchell’s Two Goals Snaps Bears’ Losing Woes

HERSHEY, PA – Garrett Mitchell scores his second goal of the game (Tim Stough – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)

A night after being ruffed up in Syracuse, New York, the Hershey Bears returned home looking to snap a three-game win-less streak against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Ryan Potulny, returning from injury played his first game at Giant Center since the home opener on October 20. Potulny failed to tally a point in front of his home town crowd, but the Bears beat the Penguins for the third consecutive game, 4-1.

At the 12:19 mark Garrett Mitchell was tripped on a shorthanded breakaway and was rewarded a penalty shot by referee Geoff Miller. Mitchell all alone fired a wrist shot that beat Brad Thiessen to the top shelf, giving the Bears a 1-0 lead. Similar to the first six weeks of the season, the Bears were able to generate offensive zone pressure while even-strength, but continued to struggle getting shots on net.

After 20 minutes Hershey led 1-0, but only generated five shots on net.

Hungry for the equalizer,  at the 8:10 mark of the second frame former Norfolk Admiral Trevor Smith tallied on Braden Holtby. Smith received a crisp, cross-ice feed from Beau Bennett, which was slam dunked into the net moments later.

But with 4:31 left in the middle period, Garrett Mitchell scored his second goal of the night, giving the Bears a 2-1 lead. He backhanded a shot that sneaked underneath the cross-bar, and reviewed as a goal.

The Bears combined momentum following Mitchell’s goal, plus a late power play to find a third goal with four-tenths of a second remaining in the second period. With Thiessen down, Tomas Kundratek picked up a loose puck and fired it into the net with under a second left on the clock to give the Bears a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes.

Hershey showed threat to tally a fourth goal in the final period, but were denied by Brad Thiessen the rest of the way. Boyd Kane hit the empty net with 30 seconds left to seal a 4-1 win for Hershey over Wilkes-Barre.

Post game video
Mitchell

Holtby

More photos from tonight’s game

Jon DiSalvatore plays the puck behind the net

DAAA BEARS