Bears Drop Game 1 to Penguins, 3-0

May 6, 2022 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release

Wilkes-Barre, PA - The Hershey Bears were blanked, 3-0, by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in Game 1 of their first round playoff series on Friday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Tommy Nappier stopped all 23 Hershey shots to earn a shutout in his Calder Cup Playoff debut, and Hershey now faces a must win Game 2 at GIANT Center on Sunday to keep its season alive.

The Penguins carried the play in the first period, outshooting Hershey 15-3, and striking twice in a 31-second span to grab a 2-0 lead. Defenseman Will Reilly scored the game's opening goal at 8:34 to give the Penguins the early advantage. Jonathan Gruden's cross-rink pass was tipped, but it came to Reilly on the right wing, and he snapped a shot past Hershey goaltender Pheonix Copley to make it 1-0. Gruden and P.O. Joseph assisted on the tally.

At 9:05, the Pens scored again as Alex Nylander tipped a Radim Zohorna shot through Copley and into the net. Zohorna's shot from the deep slot hit Nylander's right skate and changed directions to fool the Hershey netminder.

Hershey generated more offense in the final two periods, including firing 11 shots in the third period, but the Bears failed to solve Nappier. With Cody Franson in the penalty box, and Copley pulled for an extra-attacker, Zohorna finished the win off for the Penguins with an empty net goal at 19:26.

The Bears went 0-for-3 on the power play, while Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was 1-for-2. The Penguins outshot the Bears, 31-23.

A must-win Game 2 at GIANT Center will be played on Sunday, May 8 at 5 p.m., and tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster. For more information, fans are encouraged to visit HersheyBears.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from May 6, 2022

• Eagles Announce Round Two Playoff Schedule - Colorado Eagles
• Admirals Take Game One Win - Milwaukee Admirals
• Condors to Face Stockton in Pacific Division Semifinals - Bakersfield Condors
• Reign Announce Pacific Division Semifinals Schedule - Ontario Reign
• Amerks Prevail in Overtime Again to Complete First-Round Sweep of Belleville - Rochester Americans
• Heat to Face Condors in Pacific Division Semifinals - Stockton Heat
• Hogs, Soderblom Sweep Stars in OT - Rockford IceHogs
• Novak Records Three Assists in Victory - Manitoba Moose
• Hogs, Soderblom Sweep Stars in OT - Rockford IceHogs
• Round Two Preview: Checkers vs Bridgeport - Charlotte Checkers
• Texas Stars Eliminated in Overtime Heartbreaker - Texas Stars
• Battle for Illinois Extends to Postseason as IceHogs and Wolves Clash in Central Division Semifinals Presented by BMO Harris Bank - Rockford IceHogs
• Rockford IceHogs and Wolves Clash in Central Division Semifinals Presented by BMO Harris Bank - Rockford IceHogs
• Wolves to Face Rockford in Central Division Semifinals - Chicago Wolves
• Nappier, Penguins Shut-Out Bears in Game 1 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
• Bears Drop Game 1 to Penguins, 3-0 - Hershey Bears
• Crunch Top Rocket, 5-3, in Game 1 - Syracuse Crunch
• Amerks Advance to Meet Utica in North Division Semifinals of 2022 Calder Cup Playoffs - Rochester Americans
• Gross Wins 'Eddie Shore Award' as AHL's Outstanding Defenseman - Colorado Eagles
• Colorado's Jordan Gross Voted Winner of AHL's Eddie Shore Award for 2021-22 - AHL
• Capitals Re-Assign Zach Fucale to Hershey - Hershey Bears
• Moose Recall Desrosiers - Manitoba Moose
• Wolves Add Elburn Native Lekkas - Chicago Wolves
• Playoff Game Day: Rochester at Belleville, May 6 - Belleville Senators
• Rochester Americans Game Preview: Friday, May 6 at Belleville: North Division Play-In Round - Game 2 - Rochester Americans
• Playoff Game 1 Preview: Bears at Penguins, 7:05 p.m. - Hershey Bears
• IceHogs Look to Advance to Central Division Semifinals with Win over Stars - Rockford IceHogs
• Pens and Bears Renew Playoff Rivalry - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
• Gulls Push into Overtime but Eliminated in Game Two - San Diego Gulls
• Reign Outlast San Diego to Advance to Second Round - Ontario Reign

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