HERSHEY, PA – Philipp Grubauer looks back at the shootout winning goal during Hershey’s 5-4 loss (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
Sunday night’s Hershey Bears game may show up as an overtime shootout loss, but the Bears showed up with two of their best efforts of the season this weekend. Hershey lost to Binghamton 5-4, but picked up three of four standings points and have now picked up points in five of their last six games.
HERSHEY, PA – Philipp Grubauer stops a chance in close after defensive support provided by Dane Byers (Kyle Mace/ Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
Several days shy of the midway point in November, the Hershey Bears Hockey Club entered Saturday eyeing their third win of the season. The top affiliate for the New York Islanders, Bridgeport Sound Tigers came into the match up tied with Hershey in standings points near the Eastern Conference’s dungeon.
The Bears’ watched their two goal lead in the third period evaporate leading to another shootout at Giant Center. However despite a ten round marathon shootout with a combined 11 goals, Dane Byers netted the game-winner in the tenth round followed by a Philipp Grubuaer win to secure a 3-2 shootout win.
HERSHEY, PA – Peter Holland celebrates a Norfolk goal en route to a post regulation win in Hershey (Kyle Mace/ Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
After back to back losses to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the task grew larger on Sunday with a duel against the 6-2-0-3 Norfolk Admirals. The lead affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks were led in the season’s opening month by goaltender John Gibson.
The Ducks’ prospective goalie entered play with a 4-1-2 record and an astonishing 1.44 goals against average, as well as a save percentage of 95.5 percent. Former Hershey center and 2006 Calder Cup champion Dave Steckel was listed on the Admirals’ roster wearing number 39. The Bears’ offense tallied three quick first period goals but surrendered a game tying marker with 1:02 left, leading to an Admirals’ shootout win.
HERSHEY, PA – Zach Sill and Andrew Ebbett celebrate Ebbett’s third period short-handed goal to give Wilkes-Barre the 4-2 win (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
The marathon rivalry between the Hershey Bears and Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton Penguins kicked off a fifteenth season on October 12 in Wilkes-Barre. Two games into the season series, the Pens found themselves with an early two victory edge over the Chocolate and White.
Saturday night for the first time this season, both clubs squared off on Giant Center ice with the Bears determined for their first win against W-B/S in 2013-14. In T.J. Syner’s season debut, he involved himself in a spirited first period altercation before falling to the Penguins, 4-2.
Photo courtesy Official Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Facebook Page
The Hershey Bears probably wish the clock would run a little faster when they go to Wilkes-Barre. Friday night’s overtime loss was the second straight game, on the Penguins home ice, where the Bears lost in the closing moments of the game.
HERSHEY, PA – Peter LeBlanc is joined by Connor Carrick and Chay Genoaway after LeBlanc’s goal in Hershey’s 4-2 win over Norfolk (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
After a highlight reel goal by Michael Latta in the dying minutes of the second period on Saturday, Hershey looked to be well on their way to their first win of the season at Giant Center. However a third period power surge by the visiting Hartford Wolf Pack held the Bears win-less for another night at home.
Sunday, Head Coach Mike Haviland looked for the 60 minute effort his club has been lacking the last four weeks. Against the opposing Norfolk Admirals, speed and intensity was a style of hockey Hershey played with for 60 minutes, leading to a 4-2 win over the Admirals.
HERSHEY, PA – Dmitry Orlov (right) goes for the puck against Brodie Dupont during Hershey’s 4-3 loss to the Wolf Pack (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
Striding towards their first win on Giant Center ice since last Spring, the Hershey Bears reunited with the Hartford Wolf Pack. After dropping the team title “Connecticut Whale”, the Hartford based franchise restored the name “Wolf Pack” after a two year absence.
On a Penn State University football game day, 8,001 fans packed Giant Center to witness a Hershey third period collapse, which handed the Wolf Pack their sixth win of the campaign.
Two third period goals for the Pack opposed to none for Hershey led to a 4-3 defeat in front of the hometown crowd. The Bears’ record drops to 1-3-1-0 going into the weekend finale Sunday against Norfolk.
Connor Carrick looks on at a shot during Friday night’s game in which Hershey would lose to St. John’s, 5-1 (Photo via St. John’s IceCaps flickr page)
It took the Hershey Bears four games and 1,828 miles to find themselves and find their first win of the season. After a third straight loss on Friday night, Hershey looked like the team Bears fans were expecting to see on Saturday. The Bears scored four unanswered goals and Philipp Grubauer made 30 saves in route to a 4-0 win over the St. John’s IceCaps.
Wilkes-Barre, PA – Dominik Uher (left) and Connor Carrick skate towards the puck during Hershey’s loss to the Penguins (Steve Rusyn / Inside Hockey)
If you could ever imagine such an intense, playoff-like game in just the second contest of the regular season, it’s easy to picture the I-81 rivalry. To kickoff the 15th anniversary of the rivalry, the Bears visited Wilkes Barre Township for their first away meet of the campaign.
A late third period tactical mistake by Hershey’s only goal scorer, Tomas Kundratek handed the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins a 2-1 lead. An insurance marker seconds later by Zach Sill capped a 3-1 decision.
HERSHEY, PA – Brandon Manning scores the game winning goal for Adirondack during Hershey’s 2013 home opener (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
The spotlights shined at Giant Center for opening night between the Hershey Bears and Adirondack Phantoms to kick off the 2013-14 campaign. It began the final season the Phantoms will be sheltered in the ADK, as they are set to move into the new Lehigh Valley-based PPL Center next season.
Brandon Manning scored 3:22 into the sudden death overtime frame to down Hershey, 4-3.