AHL Hershey Bears

Bears Roar Past Sound Tigers

Published on April 8, 2016 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


HERSHEY, Pa. - Aaron Ness tallied a goal and two assists against his former team to pace the offense while Dan Ellis came within minutes of a shutout, as the Hershey Bears collected their 40th win of the season with a 5-1 rout of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Friday night at GIANT Center.

A penalty against Bridgeport's Marc-Andre Cliche - who was playing his first game of the season for the visitors - would prove costly as the Bears were awarded a five-minute power play. They did some damage by scoring twice, first off of the stick of Chandler Stephenson. Using a defenseman as a screen, Stephenson sent an off-wing snap shot from the right circle off of the crossbar and down behind netminder Stephon Williams at 7:19.

Moments later, a Sound Tigers turnover on a clearing attempt landed right in the wheelhouse of Ness. The blueliner bombed a shot from the high slot past the outstretched arm of Williams at 9:02.

Williams prevented a 3-0 lead with a split glove save on a rebound chance by Travis Boyd shortly afterward.

The Bears would get that third goal in the middle frame, while killing a penalty. Garrett Mitchell collected a long pass from Erik Burgdoerfer, performed a curl-and-drag move and cut to the net to slip the puck behind Williams at 9:20.

The Bears added to their lead in the third when Ness collected a point-to-point pass from Chris Bourque, and then found Jakub Vrana with a long diagonal pass that Vrana ripped home at 2:58.

The line of Mitchell, Zach Sill and Liam O'Brien would then score the Bears' last goal. Furious forechecking kept Bridgeport in its own zone long enough for the trio to get a scoring chance. Mitchell turned a shot from the slot toward the net that was blocked, but O'Brien found the rebound and banged it home at 14:16.

Ellis made a nice save late on rookie Tanner Fritz but, for the first time in the game, the rebound came right to a Bridgeport opponent. Mike Halmo stepped into a slapper that beat Ellis high at 17:09, rounding out the scoring in the game.

Ellis ended with 25 saves on 26 shots and improved to 25-10-5 on the season. Williams stopped 19 of 24 and fell to 13-12-1. Hershey ended the night 2-for-4 on the power play and 6-for-6 on the penalty kill.

The Bears remain at home to host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins tomorrow, April 9 at 7:00 PM. Individual tickets are available at the GIANT Center box office, by calling (717) 508-BEAR or online at TicketMaster.com.

NOTES: Garrett Mitchell's goal was Hershey's eighth shorthanded goal of the season...The home team won for the first time in the season series...Hershey ends with a 4-1-0-1 record against Bridgeport in the regular season...The Bears scratched LW Paul Carey, C Carter Camper, G Adam Carlson, LW Kevin Elgestal, D Tyler Lewington and LW Dylan Margonari...The Sound Tigers scratched D Matt Carkner, RW Sebastien Collberg, D Kevin Czuczman, LW Ross Johnston, G Eamon McAdam, LW Andrew Rowe, C Kyle Schempp, LW Justin Vaive and LW Joe Whitney.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 8, 2016


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