Global Warming: Hot Chocolate Melt IceCaps, 2-1

Despite scoring the game winning goal, Tomas Kundratek is left out of the three stars during Hershey’s 2-1 win over St. John’s (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth, October, 2012)

After Tuesday’s close win over the St. John’s IceCaps, the Hershey Bears have now won six of their last eight games. Braden Holtby was once again on top of his game, stopping 32 of 33 St. John’s shots. Tomas Kundratek recorded the game-winning goal on the power play just 40 seconds into the third period, to give Hershey a 2-1 lead.

Jeff Taffe recorded an assist on both Bears’ goals, pulling him even with Keith Aucoin for second-most helpers in the AHL. The scoring opened midway through the opening stanza, when the struggling Hershey power play was given a 5-on-3 advantage for 26 seconds. At the 10:51 mark, Jon DiSalvatore cashed in on the power play to give the Bears an early 1-0 lead at an arena known as “The Rock”.

The IceCaps were down 1-0 following 20 minutes, and also turned to the power play to break Holtby’s early shutout bid. With 7:28 remaining in the middle period, Zach Redmond capitalized while a man up for St. John’s following a Patrick Wellar interference minor.

The 1-1 tie after two periods set the stage for Tomas Kundratek to score the game-winner only 40 seconds into the third period. Kundratek’s eighth tally of the season would lead the Bears back to a .500 record of 12-12-1-0.