Bears Drop Final Meeting Against Albany, 5-3

HERSHEY, PA – Casey Wellman looks on during a game earlier in the season. Wellman brought Hershey within one during the Bears loss to Albany tonight (Tim Stough – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)

The Albany Devils have possessed Philipp Grubauer’s number all season long, and the frustrating trend continued Friday night. On February 24, the Devils hosted the Hershey Bears in the former home of the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in Atlantic City. The Devils buzzed Grubauer and yielded six goals en route to a 6-4 defeat on the boardwalk.

Over a month later, Times Union Center in Albany hosted the final Bears-Devils match up of the 2012-13 campaign. Grubauer left the game after surrendering three goals on seven shots, leading to an Albany 5-3 win.

All three goals for Hershey came via guys relatively new to the roster. Peter LeBlanc isn’t exactly a newcomer, but has only played 23 games for the Chocolate and White. He opened the scoring with his fifth goal as a Bear only 4:20 into the game. Seconds after a two-man advantage broke into a regular 5-on-4, LeBlanc scored on a point-blank chance in front of the net.

Boyd Kane from the trapezoid sent LeBlanc a quick pass, enabling him to beat Albany goaltender Keith Kinkaid. Hershey jumped to an early 8-2 shot advantage and were firing on all cylinders. But only 1:08 after the Bears drew first blood, a guy who usually draws blood in a different manner capitalized for the Devils. Cam Janssen, who is known for his fighting skill scored his first AHL goal since October 2005 at the Philadelphia Spectrum.

Janssen’s first tally of the season sparked three unanswered goals for the Devils, leading to a 3-1 lead and Philipp Grubauer’s departure from the game.

Only 3:18 into the middle frame, Darcy Zajac scored to suddenly give his team their first lead of the night. He deflected a rocket off the stick of Alexander Urbom after a failed attempt for the Bears to exit the defensive end.

Later with 12:56 left in the period, Devils captain Jay Leach scored his third of the campaign. He weaved into the slot and slid a shot through the five-hole of Grubauer to cap a short, but detrimental scoring run.

But with 7:24 remaining in the same stanza, Casey Wellman, who was acquired the same day as LeBlanc brought Hershey within one. Again on the power play, Joey Crabb sent a perfect pass from one face off circle to the other for Wellman to connect on a one-timer.

Wellman continues his excellent run since being sent to Hershey. In just 23 games, he has contributed 22 points for the Bears.

After 40 minutes, Hershey trailed 3-2 and became in serious danger of losing to Albany for the third time in four meetings. Dany Sabourin received the loss for giving in to the game-winning goal by Joe Whitney only 93 seconds into the third period. Whitney roped a perfect snap shot to the top-shelf, glove side on Sabourin. A shot not many goaltenders would have a chance on.

A Joey Crabb tally with 14:56 left in regulation gave the Bears hope, but it was later crushed on a 190-foot empty net goal for Albany. Leach scored his second of the night following a Hershey time out and face off in his defensive end. It was the final shot of Albany’s 16 in the game, and the last of five goals to ice a 5-3 win over the Bears.