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AHL Hershey Bears

Game Preview: Bears Set for Mid-Week Contest in Bridgeport

March 28, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


(Bridgeport, CT) - The Hershey Bears make their final visit to the Webster Bank Arena this evening to battle the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at 7 p.m. The Chocolate and White have lost both games in Bridgeport this season by identical 3-1 scores. Tonight's game is the first of three games this week for the Bears as they also visit Utica on Friday, and return to Giant Center Saturday to host Laval.

Hershey Bears (28-31-4-5) at Bridgeport Sound Tigers (32-26-5-3)

Wednesday, March 28, 2018, 7 p.m.

Webster Bank Arena

RADIO: WQIC-100.1 FM, Fox Sports 1460-AM, WOYK 1350-AM

LISTEN LIVE: Fox Sports AM-1460 Stream

WATCH LIVE: AHLLive.com

LAST TIME OUT: Hershey dropped a 4-2 decision to the Hartford Wolf Pack last Sunday at the Giant Center. The Wolf Pack drew first blood as Vinni Lettieri scored on the power play at 3:21 to make it 1-0 in favor of Hartford. At 12:56, former Bear John Albert scored his first goal as a member of the Wolf Pack, beating Hershey netminder Vitek Vanecek to make it 2-0. In the second period, Zach Sill scored off a face-off for Hershey, but 1:10 later, Ryan Lindgren responded with a power play goal for Hartford to make it 3-1. Adam Tambellini added an empty net goal in a loss that eliminated the Bears from playoff contention. The Sound Tigers are coming off an impressive 6-3 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last Sunday. Bridgeport opened up a 4-0 lead and never looked back. The Sound Tigers got two goals from former Bear Ryan Bourque, and Travis St. Denis also potted a pair of tallies in a game the Sound Tigers went 3-for-11 on the power play.

LAST TIME VS. BRIDGEPORT: The Bears earned a 3-2 victory over Bridgeport at Giant Center on Mar. 16. The Bears bounced back after being shutout two consecutive games by earning their first win over the Sound Tigers this season. After Casey Bailey made it 1-0 in the second period, Hampus Gustafsson scored for the Bears to even the contest. Just a minute later, Josh Ho-Sang regained the lead for Bridgeport, and the Sound Tigers carried a 2-1 lead into the third period of play. However, the Bears battled back, as Liam O'Brien cashed in early in the third period, deflecting a Madison Bowey shot into the net for his 15th goal of the season to even the score. Anthony Peluso added the winning marker with 4:42 to play to give Hershey the victory. The Sound Tigers out shot Hershey, 28-26. Hershey went 0-for-3 on the power play while Bridgeport was 1-for-5.

SIMPSON SIZZLES: Hershey forward Wayne Simpson is playing some of his best hockey down the stretch. He has points in five straight games, posting seven points (one goal, six assists) in that span. The forward has 39 points (13 goals, 26 assists) in 68 games, just three goals, and 10 points, off of his career bests set last year with Providence. The winger has two assists in four games versus the Sound Tigers this season.

MISSING SOME KEY PIECES: Hershey's top player in the season series vs. Bridgeport will be on the sidelines for tonight's game. Forward Chris Bourque has four points (two goals, two assists) vs. the Sound Tigers this season, but he will not play tonight as he serves the final game of a three-game suspension. The Bears will have to rely on the offense of Travis Boyd (three assists vs. Bridgeport) and Liam O'Brien (two goals vs. Bridgeport) tonight. Hershey is also without Pheonix Copley who was recalled to Washington again yesterday. He is 1-1-1 vs. the Sound Tigers with a sensational 1.96 goals against average and a .929 save percentage.

RYAN'S BIG YEAR: Ryan Bourque's impressive campaign with Bridgeport has seen him score 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists) in 65 games this season. The winger from Boxford, Mass. has been an all situations player for Brent Thompson's Sound Tigers, scoring four power play goals, and one shorthanded goal. He's collected two game-winning goals, and is also +13 on the season. For Bourque, the 30 points is just seven points off his career-high of 37 points set in the 2012-13 season, a year in which he tallied 21 goals for Hartford. The younger Bourque is three assists from 100 in his AHL career.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Bridgeport's power play has feasted against Hershey, going 6-for-18 (33.3%) in the season series, while the Bears are just 2-for-17 (11.8%). Hershey's power play is cold coming into tonight's game, going 0-for-5 last Sunday, and falling into a 0-for-22 hole in the last seven games. Hershey will have a tough task vs. Bridgeport who has the 4th best penalty kill in the AHL at 84.8%.

BEARS-SOUND TIGERS FAST FACTS: Bridgeport has only been out shot by opponents 15 times this season, going 10-4-0-1 in those games. Hershey has been out shot 36 times, posting a 15-16-3-2 record in those games...The Sound Tigers are without Chris Gibson was 3-0-0 with a 1.31 goals against average vs. Hershey this season. He is currently with the New York Islanders...Bridgeport defender Kyle Burroughs was traded for Hershey's Connor Hobbs in juniors in a deal that saw Hobbs go to Regina and Burroughs to Medicine Hat...Bridgeport's Casey Bailey has nine points (five goals, four assists) in his last 10 games.

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