Pesonen’s Late Strike Leads Albany Over Hershey

HERSHEY, PA – Harri Pesonen scores the game winning goal for Albany during their 3-2 win over Hershey (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)

On December 29, 1973, the Hershey Bears set a franchise record with 63 shots in a single game en route to an 11-2 win. Thirty nine years later, it was quite the opposite story when the Bears took on the Albany Devils at Giant Center. Rather than an 11-2 blowout, Albany battled their way to a 3-2 win in Hershey.

The Bears once again struck early for their third consecutive game. Eight minutes in, Jon DiSalvatore won a 1-on-1 offensive rush battle and raced towards the net with a short breakaway. Before he could pull the trigger for a shot the puck rolled off his stick. However seconds later, Garrett Mitchell fed a wide open DiSalvatore from the corner, who launched a one-timer into the cage to give Hershey a 1-0 lead.

It was the lone tally of the period for either side, as the Devils led in shots 12-10 after 20 minutes.

It took 32:18, but the Devils found the equalizer in the middle period on Braden Holtby. Tom Sestito tipped a snap shot from the point by Eric Gelinas to knot the game at 1-1. Both teams took a 1-1 tie into the dressing room after 40 minutes of hard hitting, back-and-forth hockey.

Both teams traded early goals in the opening minutes of the final stanza. First, Bobby Butler for the Devils avoided a holding call and walked the goal line on Holtby. He stuffed a shot short-side, to the roof of the net to give Albany a brief lead at the 2:53 mark. The lead was short live, as 45 seconds later Zach Hamill tallied his 10th goal of the campaign to quickly tie the game at 2-2.

Keith Kinkaid came out to play the angle on Alex Berry, who then dished the puck off to Zach Hamill to deposit it into a wide-open net.

But with 8:02 left in regulation, Albany again jumped in front to take a late lead. Harri Pesonen tallied on the rebound of a Bobby Butler  lazer to give the Devils their second lead of the night. It proved to be the game-winner as Albany cruised to a close 3-2 win at Giant Center.

More photos from tonight’s game:

Jon DiSalvatore celebrates his goal in the first period

The Devils celebrate Pesonen’s goal