AHL Hershey Bears

Bears Recover, Storm Back to Defeat Bruins in Shootout

Published on April 2, 2016 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Jakub Vrana scored twice to bring the Hershey Bears back from a two-goal deficit, and Justin Peters stopped 34 of his final 35 shots against to propel the visitors to a 4-3 shootout victory on Saturday night at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

The Bruins scored on their first two shots of the contest, which were tricky deflections into traffic. Just 20 seconds into the game, Austin Czarnik redirected a shot from the left point by Chris Breen, and the puck got past Justin Peters for a 1-0 lead.

Breen set up the next goal at 2:08, firing toward the top of the crease where Mark Naclerio got a stick down to tip the puck through Peters' pads for Naclerio's first pro goal.

Hershey answered back on its only power play of the period. Nathan Walker muscled his way to the net front and tipped a Jakub Vrana pass behind Zane McIntyre at 7:02, for his 17th goal and 40th point of the season.

Peters would later deny Czarnik with a glove save on a breakaway, but Czarnik was hooked by Erik Burgdoerfer on the play, awarding him a penalty shot. Peters stoned that chance as well with a left-pad kick.

The Bruins earned a two-man power play chance in the second period and although they couldn't make use of the opportunity, just as Carter Camper returned to the ice from serving a penalty, the Bruins would cash in on the five-on-four. Skating down the left side on an odd-man rush, Czarnik snapped a shot over Peters' glove at 10:21, restoring the hosts' two-goal lead.

But once again, Hershey dug down and battled back. Vrana would deke around a defender and snap a shot over the arm of McIntyre at 17:24 for the second Bears power play goal of the night, and the Providence lead was cut to 3-2.

Vrana then knotted the score by powering to the top of the crease, lunging out and redirecting Travis Boyd's pass into the net at 2:50 of the third. Peters took over from there, stopping all 10 Bruins shots in the third period and all four excellent chances by the Bruins in overtime to force the shootout.

Christian Djoos netted his third shootout goal of the season to open the scoring, and the Bears were one save away from a win until Colton Hargrove lifted a shot over Peters' glove. In the fifth round, Chandler Stephenson slipped a shot behind McIntyre and Peters made a pad save on Czarnik to empty the bench in celebration.

Peters finished with 35 saves on 38 shots through 65 minutes to improve to 15-8-7. McIntyre made 14 saves in regulation and overtime and fell to 12-8-7. The Bears finished 2-for-3 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.

The Bears and Bruins face off at Dunkin' Donuts Center again tomorrow, April 3 at 3:05 PM. Fans may catch the broadcast beginning at 2:25 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), via the iHeartRadio App (Fox Sports 1460 Harrisburg), or online at CapsRadio247.com and FoxSports1460.com. Fans may watch the game live for a small fee at AHLLive.com.

Hershey returns home to face the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Friday, April 8 at 7:00 PM. The first 3,000 fans will receive a logo golf ball courtesy of Fairview Golf Course. Individual tickets are available at the GIANT Center box office, by calling (717) 508-BEAR or online at TicketMaster.com.

NOTES: Coupled with a Hartford Wolf Pack loss to the Portland Pirates, Hershey can clinch a playoff berth with one more point gained...Christian Djoos picked up his third shootout goal of the season, tying him for the AHL lead among defensemen...The Bears played their AHL-leading 21st overtime and 12th shootout...Hershey won its eighth game of the season when trailing after the first period (8-7-1-3) and seventh when trailing after two (7-16-1-4)...The Bears scratched LW Paul Carey, G Adam Carlson, LW Kevin Elgestal, RW Dustin Gazley, D Tyler Lewington and D Mike Moore...The Bruins scratched D Linus Arnesson, D Brandon Carlo, RW Andrew Cherniwchan, D Matt Irwin, LW Joonas Kemppainen, LW Zac Rinaldo, D Frankie Simonelli and G Malcolm Subban.

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