Hershey Bears’ Home Struggles Continue

HERSHEY – The third period presented the Hershey Bears (6-6-2-2) with a great chance for a weekend sweep over the Binghamton Senators (13-5), but they failed to come up with the victory. The Senators topped Hershey by a 5-1 score, catapulted by four third period goals in a game where the Bears controlled possession of the puck.

Hershey fell to 0-3 when tied after two periods and the power play continued to struggle at home, going 0-5 on the night. Over their last three games, Hershey’s man advantage unit is 1-17. The Bears outshot Binghamton 35-24, but fell to a 3-2-0-2 record when outshooting the opposition.

“We have to bear down,” said Hershey Bears head Coach Mike Haviland. “We have guys that are supposed to be goal scorers and (Hammond) made some great saves on them. When you’re all alone in slot there and you get that chance, we have to bear down.”

The Hershey Bears faced the W-B/Scranton Penguins for the second night in a row on Saturday. (Annie Erling Gofus/The Hockey Writers)
(Annie Erling Gofus/The Hockey Writers)

“I certainly don’t think that was the main reason why, we thought the game as going to be a little cuter than it was last night and we turned pucks over and didn’t get pucks behind them. Everything that was successful last night we got a way from tonight a little bit.”

Forwards Stephane Da Costa, Mark Stone, Andre Petersson (empty net) and Matt Puempel all tallied third period goals for Binghamton, with three of them coming in the final 4:11 of regulation. Winger Shane Price started the scoring at Giant Center Sunday evening, scoring 9:47 into the first period on the power play.

Hershey fell to 3-3-1-2 at home and 0-4 when scoring one goal.

“We have to get better at home,” explained Haviland. “We have to get points at home, when you’re (tied) 1-1 with twenty minutes left we have to find a way to get points in a hockey game.”

Forward Mike Hoffman dished out three assists for Binghamton, racking up his point total to a team lead 24 through 18 games.

“When you turn pucks over against a team that transitions so well you fuel their game,” Haviland said. “If you’re on the rush and you put pucks in the middle of the ice, they transition. Once they get a chance to go, they’re going and it’s 3-4 guys on the rush.”

Defenseman Patrick Wey scored the lone goal for Hershey, flipping a shot from the right point that found its way through traffic in front of Senators goalie Andrew Hammond (5-3). The Binghamton net minder recorded 34 saves on 35 shots in his eighth appearance in goal this season. It was Wey’s first career AHL goal, following his arrival from the Reading Royals of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL).

Patrick Wey (Flickr/Bridgetds)
Patrick Wey (Flickr/Bridgetds)

“I think it was (Nathan) Walker that rolled up with the puck,” Wey said. “Schilling made a nice play jumping down and opening that passing lane for Walker. I honestly just threw it on the net and I don’t know if it hit a skate or something, but I was pretty surprised that it went in. It was exciting.”

Philipp Grubauer (4-4-1) registered 19 saves on 23 shots for the Chocolate and White.

The Bears continue their five game home stand next week, with matchups against the St. John’s IceCaps, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Providence Bruins.

Game Notes

  1. Attendance: 7,248
  2. Bears Injuries: Tomas Kundratek and Connor Carrick (upper body, day-to-day)
  3. Hershey Healthy Scratches: Defensemen Connor Carrick, Patrick Wellar and forwards Jamie Johnson, Josh Brittain and Joel Rechlicz

Hershey Lines

Forwards

Nathan Walker-Jeff Taffe-Casey Wellman

Derek Whitmore-Ryan Stoa-Brandon Segal

Dane Byers-Peter LeBlanc-Garrett Mitchell

Matt Watkins-John Mitchell-Nicolas Deschamps

Defensemen

Cameron Schilling-Patrick Wey

Dmitry Orlov-David Kolomatis

Julien Brouillette-Chay Genoway

Three Stars

  1. Andrew Hammond (34 saves on 35 shots)
  2. Stephane Da Costa (goal, two assists, two shots on goal)
  3. Mike Hoffman (three assists, one shot on goal)

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