Photo credit: Rachel Cohen
It’s probably best not to draw any conclusions about the Hershey Bears after first five games. The Bears have only earned 3 of a potential 10 points in the opening two weeks of the season.
Friday night they lost again on the road, 3-1 to the Connecticut Whale.
HERSHEY, PA – Referee Ryan Hersey signals a goal after a video review overturns a called off goal in overtime for Binghamton (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
A night after getting their home opener spoiled by the hands of the Rochester Americans, the Hershey Bears battled for redemption against the Binghamton Senators. Philipp Grubauer made his long awaited debut in goal for the Chocolate and White, and he showed exactly why he is a prospect in the Capitals organization. Although Grubauer looked at the top of his game, an instant replay deciding goal by Hugh Jessiman with 6.5 seconds left in overtime was the decisive factor, as the Sens beat the Bears, 2-1.
HERSHEY, PA – Americans’ Evan Rankin celebrates Marcus Foligno’s goal in the third period (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
Saturday night at Giant Center the Hershey Bears squared off with the second oldest franchise in the American Hockey League, the Rochester Americans. It wasn’t just a hockey game, but a celebration among Hershey Bears fans, players and staff members. Saturday the Bears celebrated 75 years of hockey.
HERSHEY, PA – Dany Sabourin works out during training camp (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
Entering into Friday, the Binghamton Senators carried in a 2-0 season record. Although it is only week two, the B-Sens find themselves in a position they haven’t been in often the past three seasons, despite winning Calder in 2011: Top of the East Division Standings. Dany Sabourin and the Hershey Bears entered the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena for the first time this season, looking to spoil the party.
If the Hershey Bears were to pick a location to open their season on the road, it likely would have been Syracuse. The last five seasons the Onondaga County War Memorial has been a very successful road rink for the Bears. Entering Saturday’s match-up, the Bears have posted a 8-1-0-1 record in Syracuse dating back to the 2007-08 season. But the winning pattern didn’t hold up Saturday night as former Norfolk Admiral, Cory Conacher posted two points and earned first star honors in a 4-3 Crunch with over Hershey. It was the first opening night loss for Hershey dating back to October 2007.
Robert Bortuzzo jumps into the celebration pile after the Penguin’s second goal (All photos by Kyle Mace)
After a rough start to the series, the Hershey Bears came back and won back to back game to send the series back to Wilkes-Barre. After a good first period, the Bears gave up two goals in seven seconds to the Baby Pens to drop the series in five game, losing by a score of 2-1.
Bears Graham Mink (left) and Zach Miskovic (right) celebrate with Cameron Schilling after Schilling’s goal during Friday’s game (Photo by Kyle Mace)
There was a confidence among the Hershey Bears that we hadn’t seen in quite a while, on Friday night. It was a resolve to show their fans and themselves that this team wasn’t about to let the season end, as easily as it looked to be ending after the first two games of the series. The Bears beat the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins on Friday night 4-1 to even the best of five series at two games each.
Ryan Potulny (left) celebrates his GWOTG with teammates Graham Mink (center) and Boyd Kane (Photo by Kyle Mace)
The Hershey Bears came into tonight’s game one loss from elimination and having their 2012 Calder Cup hopes come to a crashing ending. A loss would also be the first time in 46 years the Bears have been swept in a three game, first round series with the last happening in 1966. But after tonight’s game, we will have to wait until year 47 to see if that happens.
The Bears came out to a quick start, scoring 2 goals, but having Wilkes-Barre go toe-to-toe with them and tie it up ever time Hershey would take the lead, but when you go to overtime, you cannot come back and tie it up. And that is exactly what happened tonight. After 60 minutes of play, all Hershey would need is another 2:57 to cut Wilkes-Barre’s two game lead in half and stay alive in the Calder Cup playoffs, after a 4-3 win over the Baby Pens.
Mark French argues with the officials. All photos by Kyle Mace.
Down one game, the Bears had a chance to tie up the series before returning home.
…unfortunately it didn’t go quite as planned. I won’t upset you with the details, but the Bears left the first period down four goals. Between deflections, rebounds, and just plain getting out-worked, the Penguins owned Dany Sabourin and the first period and set the tone for the rest of the game.
Dany Sabourin sees a shot enter his net. All photos by Kyle Mace.
The quest for the 12th Calder Cup began tonight. Even though the Bears are viewed as the underdogs in the series, we know that they’re not going down without a fight (literally and figuratively).
It wasn’t a strong start for the Bears. After twenty minutes, they only had three shots on goal and were down one goal. It could’ve been worse, however. Dany Sabourin was back and doing his best to keep his team in it. The Penguin goal came from Colin McDonald just ten seconds into their first power play of the night.