Strong third period propels Hershey to the top of the Atlantic Division

Coming off the heels of a 3-0 shutout performance on the Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton Penguins Friday night, the Chocolate and White returned home to the Giant Center on Saturday, looking to keep rolling against the Springfield Thunderbirds.

Hershey carried the same energy that yielded them a win Friday night into the first twenty minutes of play against the T-Birds. They came out with physicality from the opening faceoff and activating the heavy forecheck in the offensive end, getting the Bears decent chances on Springfield’s Ryan Bednard. Despite this, the score would remain knotted at 0-0 after the first period.

The second period saw a lot more action from both sides. Hershey would get on the board early on in the period, as the slick Swedish forward Axel Jonsson-Fjallby netted his 11th goal of the season, putting the Bears up 1-0. Then midway through the period, Philippe Maillet also grabbed his 11th goal of the campaign, off of a sweet feed from Christian Djoos to give the Chocolate and White a two-goal advantage through the first 15 plus minutes of the middle frame. The lead got cut in half, as Henrik Borgstrom picked up his ninth goal of the season for the Thunderbirds, bringing the score to 2-1 heading into the third period.

The third period of Saturday night’s contest showed the rest of the American Hockey League that this Bears squad is to be feared. With a one goal lead to work with, and first place in the division at stake, the Chocolate and White dug in and kept the pressure coming all the way to the end.

The Bears Power Play went two for two in the final frame, with power play goals coming from Christian Djoos in the early stages of the third, and another from Phil Maillet in the final minutes to seal the deal for Hershey. Not only were the Bears very good on the Power Play tonight, but the PK went under the radar, going three for three and giving the Bears a chance throughout the game.

“Special teams are certainly a contributing factor, our PK, unsung hero once again tonight, some key kills in a tight 0-0 game, and then at a 2-1 game as well,” Head Coach Spencer Carbery mentioned post-game.

This team’s depth just can’t be touched it seems at times. With key members of the team out due to injury or illness, such as Sgarbossa, Ferehvary, and Lewington, the Chocolate and White dug deep with a next man up mentality, and have willed themselves to a first place position within the division.

Hershey is in action next tomorrow night in Lehigh Valley, as they look to avenge a loss from last Saturday’s contest at home against the Phantoms, and to continue to lead the Atlantic division in the process.