Crunch Blank Bears 5-0, Snap Giant Center Win Streak

HERSHEY, PA – Michael Latta and Joey Mormina have a friendly discussion during Saturday night’s game between Hershey and Syracuse (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)

Although the Hershey Bears entered Saturday ten places above the Syracuse Crunch in the Eastern Conference standings, four of their five previous meetings this season were decided by a lone goal.

Seeking their 13th consecutive victory on Giant Center ice, the winning streak snapped with a 5-0 defeat to the Syracuse Crunch.

The Bears were flat out of the starting gate, and Syracuse quickly took advantage in the opening minutes. Philipp Grubauer only 3:53 into the hockey game was handcuffed with a high shot from Luke Witkowski. The rebound bounced into the air off Grubauer’s chest, where he attempted to paddle the puck into the corner.

The pregame scouting reports failed to mention that Grubauer is a pull hitter, as he pulled the puck behind him and into the net. It’s a play that Grubauer likely perfects 99 out of a 100 attempts, but unfortunately it gave Syracuse their game-winning goal.

Less than six minutes later, former Bear Jon DiSalvatore extended his club’s lead to 2-0. He deflected a cross-ice pass from captain Mike Angelidis on a near 2-on-1 rush for his seventh goal of the 2013-14 campaign.

But really anyone who attended the game would agree a 5-0 final score is a bit harsh in reflecting the Bears’ effort. Hershey battled back, possessed the puck well offensively and strung several great offensive shifts together. The Bears eventually fired off six unanswered shots on goal to close out the period. Syracuse’s Allen York stopped everything that came his way en route to a 39 save clean sheet.

The Chocolate and White continued to press offensively into the second period, but an unfortunate bounce increased the Crunch lead to 3-0. Richard Panik touched the puck last after a small goal scrum developed, leading to a bouncing puck on edge into the net.

Hershey out shot Syracuse in the period 20-13 but trailed by a field goal after 40 minutes. With all the scoring chances, one might have had the feeling that if the Bears were going to pull off a miracle comeback, this would be the game.

But unfortunately the wind was taken out of Hershey’s sails in the third stanza with two more Crunch goals to round out a 5-0 final. Vladislav Namestnikov danced around Grubauer and scored in the low slot after another big rebound with 12:53 left.

Next it was Maxime Langelier-Parent to score with 7:06 remaining on an offensive zone rush.

Both teams will rematch tonight from Verizon Center in our nation’s capital. The Hershey Bears will be the quote-on-quote “away team” in their parent club’s home arena.

More photos from the game. All photos by Kyle Mace

Philipp Grubauer knocks the puck into his own net. It was that kind of night…

Now Coco, do you know how many fight there were last night?