PHOTOS: Hershey Moves Within Two Points of First After Win Over Norfolk

HERSHEY, PA – Casey Wellman celebrates his ninth goal of the season during Hershey’s 2-1 win over the Admirals (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)

Coming into a weird two game Tuesday-Wednesday back to back series of games for the Hershey Bears actually became a big two game set for the Chocolate and White. Coming into game one of two, Hershey was only four points behind first place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with two games in hand. The Bears played one of those two games tonight, looking to gain some ground on the Baby Pens before facing off against them on New Year’s Eve.

After a slow first period other than a fight from Nathan Walker and a 10-minute misconduct to Garrett Mitchell, Hershey took over the second period after killing off a long 5-on-3. At the end of the penalties, Mitchell, who took a delay of game right after his misconduct, would get a one-on-one with goalie Josh Gibson. After a nice move and backhander, the puck found the back of the net for Mitchell’s first goal since the playoffs of 2013.

As time wound down in the second, Kris Newbury would out skate an icing, setting up Casey Wellman perfectly, giving the Bears a 2-0 lead heading into second intermission.

Philipp Grubauer would be a wall all night long, making saves on 21 of Norfolk’s 22 shots. The only puck that slipped past Grubi would be a 6-on-5 goal after Norfolk would pull their goalie. But Hershey was able to hold off the Ads, giving the Bears a 2-1 win, two points, and placing them only two points behind WBS.

More photos from the game:

Former Bear and member of the 2005-06 Calder Cup team David Steckel, now captain for the Admirals, returned to Giant Center and won a bunch of faceoffs. (Shocking, we know.)

Dustin Gazley takes a shot on Josh Gibson during the first period

“Party on Wayne!” “Party on Garth!”