David Leggio’s 28 Saves Blank Bruins, 2-0
David Leggio, seen here earlier in the season, posted a 28-save shutout against Providence Friday night to give Hershey a 2-0 win (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
I don’t believe there is anything more daunting than having to play a hockey game of great importance, in the same arena that housed the end to Hershey’s season a year ago. But that was the adversity the Hershey Bears had to overcome Friday night at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island.
On the same rink where Hershey faced a first round elimination from the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs in May, it was a night of redemption. The Bears beat the eighth seeded Bruins by a 2-0 final thanks to a 28 save clean sheet by David Leggio.
Hershey entered the match five points behind Providence with two games in hand. With a two point night in the bag, the playoff possibilities are thankfully far from dead.
Special teams was a key to success for the Chocolate and White, as both goals in the game were via power play, supported by a perfect 5-for-5 penalty kill.
With 4:46 left in the first period, David Kolomatis hit twine for Hershey. Kolomatis fired a shot from center point through a thick screen set in front of the net by Kris Newbury. The puck appeared to get deflected in front, but the goal was credited to Kolomatis with helpers to Casey Wellman and Newbury.
Ryan Stoa added his 14th goal of the campaign at the 13:02 mark of the second period to give his club a needed insurance marker. Seconds after a brief, 11 second 5-on-3 advantage turned into a 5-on-4, Stoa stuffed a quick shot, short side on Niklas Svedberg.
The 2-0 lead carried into the third period which later turned into the final score. Leggio was solid in net, but really a spectacular performance wasn’t needed to earn the shutout. The final frame displayed little stoppages, and the clock quickly became an enemy for the P-Bruins to climb back into the game.
The Hershey Bears continue their New England road trip with a game the next day in Worcester. Although the Sharks are only one placing behind the Bears in the Eastern Conference, there is an eight point spread between the two teams entering play.
It will be awfully tough for Worcester to make up all that ground and clinch a playoff spot with the amount of time left in the season. Regardless, the Sharks are 7-3-0-0 in their last ten games, and will view the match against Hershey as maybe a final opportunity for a playoff push.