David Leggio Archives · Page 2 of 5

Hershey Silents Sound Tigers, Leap Admirals in Standings

April 6, 2014
Matt Trust
Game Recap

Bridgeport, CT – David Leggio celebrates Hershey’s 5-4 win with Cameron Schilling Sunday afternoon over the Sound Tigers (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)

In all honesty, the intensity of a hockey team on the cusp on clinching the 2014 Calder Cup Playoffs, in the season’s dying weeks is worthy of a documentary. But while the HBO Sports crew is off completing bigger and better projects, it’s now on our shoulders to recap the parade of American Hockey League events on Sunday.

The Hershey Bears entered the weekend finale with a game in hand against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The Tigers were noted as a team of unknown rookies all bidding for future stays in the AHL. The Bears-Sound Tigers matinee was scheduled for a 3pm start time, as well as a game between the seventh seed Albany Devils and Adirondack Phantoms. Hershey entered play only three points back from the Devils with one less game played.

Lastly, also in Connecticut, the Hartford Wolf Pack played host to the Norfolk Admirals. Norfolk entered one point in front of Hershey for the eighth and final playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. It was an absolute perfect standings night for the Bears, as shortly after an entertaining 5-4 win in Bridgeport, both Albany and Norfolk fell to their respective opposition in regulation.

Bears Reclaim Eighth Seed, Fight Off Pirates 3-2

April 2, 2014
Matt Trust
Game Recap

Kris Newbury, seen here earlier in the season, had the game winning goal during Hershey’s 3-2 win over Portland Wednesday night (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)

Entering the month of April, the Hershey Bears are aware the Calder Cup Playoffs will only be in their near future if they can string wins together away from Giant Center. To kick off the month, the Bears began their five game road-trip, the longest of the 2013-14 season.

Wednesday marked the first night of the lengthy road trip with a joust against the Portland Pirates. Already eliminated from possible playoff contention, the Pirates hoped to play the role of spoiler against the Chocolate and White.

Caleb Herbert made his professional hockey debut and tallied a goal and assist in a grand 3-2 victory. The win leaped the Bears into the eighth seed of the Eastern Conference standings, one point ahead of Norfolk.

Bears Blitz IceCaps in Marathon Shootout

March 30, 2014
Matt Trust
Game Recap

HERSHEY, PA – Chay Genoway and David Leggio smile after Leggio’s final save in the shootout during Hershey’s win Saturday night (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)

The infamous Arabic proverb, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” suggests two parties have the ability to work together, and overcome a common enemy. In the world of sports, the term could easily be applied currently to the Hershey Bears and their push to qualify for the 2014 Calder Cup Playoffs.

Entering Saturday night, the Bears and their I-81 Rivals from Wilkes-Barre both opposed a common enemy. The Penguins battled the eighth seed Norfolk Admirals, who sit in the conference’s final playoff spot, three points ahead of Hershey.

While the Pens attempted to provide a helping hand to the Chocolate and White, the Bears’ personal attention was focused on the St. John’s IceCaps. Wilkes-Barre followed through with a 2-1 victory over Norfolk, as the Bears topped St. John’s, 2-1 in a 12 round marathon shootout.

Bears Erupt in Third Period, Win Big Over Devils

March 28, 2014
Matt Trust
Game Recap

HERSHEY, PA – Dane Byers celebrates with Ryan Stoa after his goal in the third period during Hershey’s 4-1 win over Albany (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)

It was a rare Friday night home game on Giant Center ice, and nothing short of the biggest win of the season. Trailing 1-0 entering the final stanza against the Albany Devils, the Hershey Bears responded with four unanswered goals and cruised to an astonishing 4-1 win.

With out of town help provided by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the Bears are now within three points of the eighth and final playoff spot.

David Leggio’s 28 Saves Blank Bruins, 2-0

March 22, 2014
Matt Trust
Game Recap

David Leggio, seen here earlier in the season, posted a 28-save shutout against Providence Friday night to give Hershey a 2-0 win (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)

I don’t believe there is anything more daunting than having to play a hockey game of great importance, in the same arena that housed the end to Hershey’s season a year ago. But that was the adversity the Hershey Bears had to overcome Friday night at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island.

On the same rink where Hershey faced a first round elimination from the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs in May, it was a night of redemption. The Bears beat the eighth seeded Bruins by a 2-0 final thanks to a 28 save clean sheet by David Leggio.

Hershey entered the match five points behind Providence with two games in hand. With a two point night in the bag, the playoff possibilities are thankfully far from dead.

Battle of the Bears: Hershey Looks to Take Down the Providence Bruins

March 21, 2014
Matt Trust
Preview

Stan Galiev makes a move during Hershey’s loss earlier in the season to Providence (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)

Chocolate is sweet. Hockey is sweet. This website is sweet. Revenge is off the charts sweet. Tonight, an opportunity for revenge has presented itself to the Hershey Bears Hockey Club, and the opportunity is scheduled in Providence, Rhode Island against the Bruins.

Hershey Scores Four Unanswered, Cruise Past Phantoms

March 16, 2014
Matt Trust
Game Recap

HERSHEY, PA – Michael Latta joins teammates after Brandon Segal’s first period goal during Hershey’s 4-1 win over Adirondack (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)

It’s has been high riding for the Hershey Bears this season against the Northeast Division, entering Saturday with an a 7-3-2-1 record in 2013-14. But Cal Heeter and the Adirondack Phantoms have haunted the Bears this season with three wins in the previous four meetings.

With the Phantoms in the Eastern Conference dungeon, their playoff chances are fading away by the second. But for the Chocolate and White, all 16 games remaining entering Saturday have the significance of playoff games. Two points removed from the eighth seeded Albany Devils, Hershey sought a needed home-ice victory.

Four different Hershey goal scorers propelled them to a 4-1 victory over the Phantoms. It was the team’s 20th win on Giant Center ice this season.

Bombs Away: Bears Blast Admirals, Tighten East Division Standings

March 7, 2014
Matt Trust
Game Recap

It was a fun game to watch on television, listen in on radio, or even follow on twitter. But most of all, it was an excellent way to end a six-game skid.

The Hershey Bears traveled to Virginia Beach and throttled the Norfolk Admirals by a 3-2 count. It was their first game played of the season at the Norfolk Scope, and it had a homecoming feel for Bears’ Head Coach Mike Haviland. Haviland was an Admirals’ assistant coach last season and the head bench boss for the 2005-06 and 2006-07 campaigns.

Dane Byers scored a third period insurance marker, which later proved to be the game-winner in a 3-2 decision. With out of town help by the Utica Comets, the Bears now stand within one point of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and three points within the division lead.

Boychuk’s Hat-Trick Drops Hershey, 6-3

March 3, 2014
Matt Trust
Game Recap

HERSHEY, PA – Mike Haviland walks down the hallway after being ejected by David Banfield during Hershey’s loss to Charlotte Sunday night. (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)

With a snow storm approaching the central PA area Sunday night, it couldn’t have been a better time for Hershey’s first 4pm start time to a Sunday Giant Center tilt.

The Hershey Bears closed out their season series with the Charlotte Checkers Sunday in front of 9,942 fans at Giant Center.

On a night where the first 3,000 fans received a baseball cap promotion sponsored by Capital BlueCross, Charlotte’s Zach Boychuk notched a hat-trick in a 6-3 win over Hershey.

Hartford Ties Game Late, Blitz Past Bears in Shootout

March 1, 2014
Matt Trust
Game Recap

David Leggio, seen here earlier in the season, had 34 saves in Hershey’s shootout loss Friday night (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)

It was an odd Friday night around the American Hockey League to kickoff a three game weekend, and one that was slightly beneficial to the Hershey Bears Hockey Club despite a 2-1 shootout defeat to the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Peter LeBlanc scored Hershey’s lone goal with 1:04 remaining in an end-to-end second period. David Leggio was superb and earned third star honors from stopping 34 of 35 shots through 65 minutes.