Game Preview: Penguins at Bears, 7 p.m.
December 21, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release
(Hershey, PA) - Tonight, the Hershey Bears play host to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, AHL affiliate for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Both teams last met on Dec. 9 at Giant Center, when the Bears surrendered a 4-1 lead and dropped a 5-4 shootout decision. Tonight, Hershey looks to avoid tying a season-high, five-game losing streak.
Hershey Bears (11-16-0-2) vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (15-11-3-1)
December 21, 2018 | 7 PM | Game 30 | Giant Center
Referees: Guillaume Labonte (35), Mike Dietrich (15)
Linesmen: Colin Gates (3), Scott Pomento (25)
Tonight's Promotions:
Hersheypark Pass Night
Ticket Information: http://www.hersheybears.com/tickets/single-game.php
Broadcast Information (Pre-game 6:30 p.m.)
RADIO: WQIC-100.1 FM, Fox Sports 1460-AM, WOYK-1350 AM (Joined in-progress), Zack Fisch, the Voice of the Bears and Freddy Cassivi on the call.
LISTEN LIVE: Fox Sports AM-1460 Stream
WATCH LIVE: AHLTV, Facebook Watch
ATLANTIC DIVISION STANDINGS
LAST TIME OUT:
The Bears enter tonight's game looking to get back on track after suffering a 5-0 loss on Wednesday evening at Lehigh Valley. Hershey was blanked for the second consecutive game at the PPL Center as Alex Lyon turned aside all 18 Hershey shots. Vitek Vanecek stopped 29 shots in the losing effort. The Phantoms went 2-for-7 on the power play while Hershey was 0-for-3. The Penguins also played Wednesday, securing a 4-3 comeback victory over Bridgeport on home ice. Down 3-1, the Penguins scored twice in the final 5:17 of regulation to tie the game, and Kevin Czuczman provided the overtime winner at 2:24 of the extra session. Ethan Prow had a pair of goals for the Penguins while Sam Lafferty notched three assists. The Penguins out shot Bridgeport, 32-23.
SEASON SERIES VS. PENGUINS:
The Bears hold a 3-2-0-1 record versus the club's I-81 rival so far this season. However, the Penguins have won the past two matchups in the season series, defeating Hershey 3-1 at the Giant Center on Nov. 28, and scoring the final four goals of the game to overcome a 4-1 deficit in a 5-4 shootout win on Dec. 9. Power plays have not held much weight in the season series as each team has allowed just two power play goals in the six games, and both clubs boast a penalty kill above 90% in head-to-head action. The leading scorer in the season series is Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Teddy Blueger who has seven points (three goals, four assists) in the six contests. All three of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's wins versus Hershey this season have come from a different goaltender, while Vitek Vanecek leads the way for the Chocolate and White with a pair of wins and a 2.94 goals against average versus the Baby Pens.
IT'S FRIDAY:
Tonight marks Hershey's second home game of the season on a Friday night. The Chocolate and White won its previous Friday night contest at the Giant Center this season, rolling to a 6-1 victory over the Cleveland Monsters on Nov. 16. The Bears got goals from six different players that night, and Parker Milner stopped 30 shots to earn the win in goal. Overall this season, Hershey is 2-4-0-1 in Friday night games. After tonight, the Bears will play just one more Friday home game as they host Toronto on Mar. 15.
BUCK THE TREND:
The two teams enter tonight's game heading in opposite directions. The Bears are looking to overcome recent struggles that has seen them drop four straight games, and post a 3-6-0-1 record over the past 10 contests. In the four-game skid, Hershey has been outscored 20-7. The Penguins have collected a 7-3-0-0 record over the past 10 games, and have won four of their past five contests.
MIGHTY MEGNA:
Jayson Megna has feasted against his former team thus far this season. The veteran forward has collected a goal in each of the past three contests versus Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and has scored four of his seven goals this season versus the Penguins. Megna has collected points in seven of the past 10 games, tallying three goals and five assists in that span.
American Hockey League Stories from December 21, 2018
- Bridgeport rolls to biggest win of the season against first-place Charlotte on Friday - Bridgeport Islanders
- Wolf Pack Double Americans, 4-2 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Devils Score Four Unanswered in 6-3 Comeback Win over Bruins - Binghamton Devils
- Penguins Lose Close One to Bears, 3-2 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Broadhurst Nets Hat Trick as Monsters Throttle Senators, 6-3 - Cleveland Monsters
- Checkers Fall to Sound Tigers 6-1 - Charlotte Checkers
- Crunch Defeat Phantoms, 3-2, in Shootout - Syracuse Crunch
- Late Charge Not Enough to Get T-Birds Past Comets - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Power Play Thrives, Bears Edge Penguins - Hershey Bears
- Sens Fall to Cleveland in First Ever Meeting - Belleville Senators
- Gignac's Hat-Trick Powers Devils over P-Bruins - Providence Bruins
- Bachman, Demko Slam Door on T-Birds - Utica Comets
- Hogs to Host Blood Drive at the BMO Thursday, December 27 - Rockford IceHogs
- Devils Sign Forward Conor Riley to PTO - Binghamton Devils
- Senators Announce Boxing Day Sale - Belleville Senators
- Coyotes Recall Bunting from Tucson - Tucson Roadrunners
- Game #27 Preview: Tucson at San Jose - Tucson Roadrunners
- Amadio, Wagner, Walker Recalled by Kings - Ontario Reign
- Flames Assign Buddy Robinson to Stockton - Stockton Heat
- Marlies Set for Back-To-Back Games in Laval - Toronto Marlies
- Heat Open Road Swing with Wild - Stockton Heat
- Join the Griffins for a Bluetooth Speaker Giveaway and the 22nd Annual NYE Celebration - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Lindholm Called up to Avalanche, Eagles Recall Anderson - Colorado Eagles
- Bears Sign Defenseman Cliff Watson to Tryout Agreement - Hershey Bears
- Admirals Sign Pendenza, Carlson to PTOs - Milwaukee Admirals
- Game Day Build-Up: Senators at Monsters, December 21 - Belleville Senators
- AHL's Top Two Teams Go Head-To-Head this Weekend - Bridgeport Islanders
- Game Preview: Penguins at Bears, 7 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Canes Reassign Bishop to Charlotte - Charlotte Checkers
- American Hockey League Announces Suspension - AHL
- T-Birds Look to Extend Home Point Streak to Eight against Utica - Springfield Thunderbirds
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