AHL Hershey Bears

Bears Drop OT Decision in Utica, 3-2

Published on March 1, 2019 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


(Utica, NY) - The Hershey Bears earned a hard fought standings point, but fell in overtime to the Utica Comets, 3-2, on Friday night at the Adirondack Bank Center. Devante Smith-Pelly earned his first point in his second game with the Chocolate and White in the losing effort.

Following a scoreless first period, both teams combined for three tallies in the middle stanza. Liam O'Brien started the scoring for Hershey after executing a transition play at 4:56. Along the left wing, Smith-Pelly sent a perfect pass to the middle of the ice for O'Brien, who blasted a quick shot past Utica goaltender Michael Leighton. The Comets answered back later in the period courtesy of a power play goal. After Mike Sgarbossa was called for slashing at 14:51, Zack MacEwen deflected a Reid Boucher shot on the backdoor for his 18th goal of the season at 15:17. Hershey's penalty kill finished the night 2-for-3.

Sgarbossa earned retribution before the period expired and put Hershey back in front on a power play goal of his own. At 17:06, Sgarbossa scored his 24th of the season on a wicked wrist shot from the left circle past Leighton. Hershey led 2-1 after 40 minutes and carried an 18-15 shot advantage into the dressing room.

Into the third, the Comets pushed mightily and found the equalizer at 5:14. From a sharp angle, Boucher found a small gap between Vanecek and the near post and potted his 26th goal of the season. Overtime was required with the Bears and Comets deadlocked at 2-2 after 60 minutes. Only 44 seconds into the sudden-death, Cam Darcy went hard to the net on a power move and tallied the overtime winner for Utica. The result marked the first time the Bears lost in the 3-on-3 sudden-death period this season.

Hershey's record moved to 32-21-1-3 in the loss, while Utica improved to 30-21-5-2. Final shots on goal were 26-23 Comets.

The Bears return to the ice tomorrow, Saturday Mar. 2 with a 7 p.m. home tilt against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. It's Penn State Health T-Shirt Night at Giant Center. All fans will receive a T-Shirt, courtesy of Penn State Health. Ticket information is available online at HersheyBears.com.

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