Still Searching: Penguins Drop Bears, 3-1

Cameron Schilling plays defense in his club’s 3-1 loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Facebook Page)

The Hershey Bears put an early close to their weekend last night with a 3-1 loss against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Mohegan Sun Arena. It marked the Bears’ fourth loss to the Pens this season in four attempts. Both teams meet once again on November 30 at Giant Center.

Derek Whitmore scored only 1:55 into the contest for the Chocolate and White, but were held in check for the rest of regulation. In and end-to-end first period, goaltenders David Leggio and Jeff Deslauriers began to steal the show with remarkable saves at each end.

But careless, defensive lapses would hang Leggio out to dry like laundry, leading to grade “A” chances for Wilkes-Barre to cash in.

With Hershey set up on the power play, Dmitry Orlov, positioned at the point threaded a screen pass across the blue line which Brian Gibbons intercepted. If “pick six” was a stat recorded in hockey, Orlov would be charged with one, as Gibbons walked in all alone and scored with a fancy breakaway move.

The Penguins added the game-winning-goal with 1:01 left in the opening frame when Nick Drazenovic scored. Following a second and third period long tennis match, Wilkes-Barre tallied a late third period insurance goal to cruise to a 3-1 home ice victory. Jayson Megna scored scored his fifth goal at the AHL level this season to secure the win.

Hershey’s power play went a dreadful 0-for-7 after a successful two game tilt in Charlotte.

The Bears return to the ice on November 23 against the Binghamton Senators.