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 Hershey Bears

Bears Power Past Penguins to Claim Home Opener Victory

October 25, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


HERSHEY, Pa. - Tim Kennedy, Casey Wellman and Dustin Gazley all scored power-play goals, Tomas Kundratek posted three assists and Philipp Grubauer made 26 saves to power the Hershey Bears past the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 4-1 on Saturday night, in Hershey's opener at GIANT Center.

Following a beautiful opening night ceremony, the puck dropped on home ice for the first time in the five-game-old season. Stan Galiev got the best scoring chance of the game early, but his hard snap shot from the slot rang off of the right goal post.

The Bears would covert on their second power play of the period for the game's first goal. Kennedy collected a pass from Kundratek, and chipped a shot across the body of Penguins goaltender Matt Murray and into the upper-right corner of the net at 12:15. The goal was Kennedy's first in a Hershey sweater.

Just 40 seconds later, Bears captain Dane Byers - who returned to the lineup after a three-game injury absence - held the puck on a two-on-one rush. Skating down the left wing, his saucer pass attempt banked past Murray for a 2-0 lead.

Jayson Megna gave the Penguins some life by scoring just 24 seconds into the second period, depositing the rebound of a shot from Tom Kuhnhackl behind Grubauer to put the visitors on the board.

But Hershey would put a clamp on the contest with two more power play goals. The first came in a traditional manner, with Kundratek firing a slap-pass from the top of the left circle toward the slot. Wellman had his stick down for a perfect redirection past Murray at 15:31.

On a second Hershey man advantage, Gazley was taken down from behind on his way to Murray's net and was awarded a penalty shot. Gazley converted, deking Murray backhand-to-forehand at 18:26.

A chippy third period ended scoreless, with Hershey not registering a shot on goal until inside the final three minutes of play.

Grubauer improves to 2-2-0 on the young season, while Murray suffered his first loss, dropping to 1-1-0 with a 24-save effort.

Hershey will host the Lehigh Valley Phantoms tomorrow, October 26 at 5:00 PM. The Bears will wear special pink-trimmed warmup jerseys in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness that will be auctioned off silently. All fans are welcome to wear pink to the game to celebrate the team's annual Pink the Rink Night. Additionally, it is the first of several Dietz & Watson Dollar Dog Nights, on which fans may purchase hot dogs for $1 at select concession stands. Tickets for this game and all home contests may be purchased at the GIANT Center box office, by calling (717) 508-BEAR or online at TicketMaster.com.

NOTES: D Erik Burgdoerfer was recalled from ECHL South Carolina earlier in the day...The Bears scratches were D Erik Burgdoerfer, RW Chris Conner, LW Tim Spencer, D Patrick Wey and RW Tom Wilson... Wilkes-Barre/Scranton scratched G Jeff Zatkoff, RW Josh Archibald, D Alex Boak, D Nick D'Agostino, C Jean-Sebastien Dea, D Barry Goers, C Adam Payerl, LW Conor Sheary and LW Anton Zlobin...Three stars: 3-Byers, 2-Grubauer, 1-Kundratek ...Hershey finished the night 3-for-9 on the power play and 5-for-5 on the penalty kill...Hershey's last successful penalty shot was also against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (February 9, 2014, Dane Byers vs. Eric Hartzell).

Information on group tickets and season tickets for the 2014-2015 Hershey Bears regular season is available by calling (717) 508-BEAR. Many different flexible plans are offered and start as low as $170.


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