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AHL Hershey Bears

Bears Bombard Penguins, Tie Season High Win Streak

March 5, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


HERSHEY, Pa. - Carter Camper notched a goal and two assists, Nathan Walker scored twice and the Hershey Bears allowed a season-low shot total in a 6-2 decision over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday night in front of a capacity crowd of 10,975 fans at GIANT Center.

After a scoreless first period in which the Bears smothered the Penguins defensively, Hershey exploded for three goals in the middle frame. Walker used his speed to fly down the right wing past the Penguins defense, cut to the crease and tuck a shot through the pads of Tristan Jarry at 2:10.

Christian Djoos buried a cross-crease feed from Camper for a power play goal at 6:11, giving the Bears a 2-0 advantage.

Camper completed his three-point period by scoring in a four-on-four situation. Aaron Ness left the right point and flew by the surprised Penguins defense, slipped a pass across the paint for Camper to lift home at 15:37, giving the Bears a 3-0 lead.

Moments after Dan Ellis made a beautiful glove save on Dustin Jeffrey, the returning Penguins forward would get the Penguins on the board with a slap shot from the right circle at 18:19.

But the Bears answered right back at 5:15 of the third. Dustin Gazley chopped a bouncing Sean Collins bouncing pass under the crossbar for another power play goal and a 4-1 lead.

Matthias Plachta would get in front of a Steve Oleksy shot from the right point and watched the puck deflect over Ellis' shoulder and into the net at 9:42, cutting the Bears' lead to 4-2.

But the Bears had another early response to that play when the checking line was deployed for a hard forechecking shift. Liam O'Brien and Garrett Mitchell battled behind the Penguins net to get the puck in front for Zach Sill, who ripped a shot over Jarry at 10:40 and a 5-2 Hershey lead.

A late penalty on Will O'Neill would give the Bears a sixth power play opportunity, and Walker would cap off the scoring with a shot that went down and in off the crossbar from the slot at 19:26.

Ellis made 12 saves on 14 shots to record his sixth consecutive victory and improved to 22-7-4 on the season. Jarry stopped 17 of 23 shots and fell to 12-7-3.

With the win, the Bears recorded their 20th victory on home ice (20-6-1-5) and matched their season high with five consecutive wins.

The Bears and Penguins will face off again tomorrow at 4:05 PM at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza. Fans may catch the broadcast beginning at 3:25 PM on the Bears Radio Network of affiliates WQIC-FM 100.1, WTKT-AM 1460, WOYK-AM 1350, via the Capitals Mobile App (Caps Radio 24/7), the iHeartRadio App (Fox Sports 1460 Harrisburg), and online at CapsRadio247.com or FoxSports1460.com.

The Bears' next home game is also against the Penguins on Sunday, March 20 at 5:00 PM. It's a Dietz and Watson Dollar Dog Night, and fans may purchase hot dogs for $1 at select concession stands. The Bears will wear special St. Patrick's Day theme jerseys that will be auctioned off live following the game. Tickets are available at the GIANT Center box office, by phone at 717-508-BEAR, or online at TicketMaster.com.

NOTES: The third-period assist for Chris Bourque was the veteran's 300th career assist in a Hershey sweater...The Bears allowed a season-low 14 shots on goal in the game...Hershey became the third team in the AHL to surpass 200 goals scored...Hershey picked up three more second-period goals for a league-leading total of 79...For just the second time this season, Hershey recorded three power play goals in a game...The Bears have outscored the Penguins 19-4 in four consecutive wins against the division rivals...The Bears scratched LW Paul Carey, D Mike Moore, C Chandler Stephenson and LW Jakub Vrana...The Penguins scratched LW Sahir Gill, D Barry Goers, LW Tom Sestito, LW Conor Sheary, C Oskar Sundqvist and LW Dominik Uher.

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