Game Preview: Sound Tigers at Bears, 7 p.m.
March 2, 2019 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release
(Hershey, PA) - The Hershey Bears look for their ninth consecutive home ice victory tonight in a 7 p.m. tilt against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Hershey returns home after three straight games on the road, recording three of six possible standings points (1-1-1-0).
Hershey Bears (32-21-1-3) vs Bridgeport Sound Tigers (33-18-5-2)
March 2, 2019 | 7 PM | Game 58 | Giant Center
Referees: Michael Duco (58), Mathieu Menniti (30)
Linesmen: Scott Pomento (25), Richard Jondo (55)
Tonight's Promotions:
Penn State Health T-Shirt Night (All Fans)
Healthcare 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, Zack Fisch, the Voice of the Bears, Mitch Lamoureux and Jim Jones on the call.
LISTEN LIVE: Fox Sports AM-1460 Stream, Caps Radio 24/7
WATCH LIVE: AHLTV
ATLANTIC DIVISION STANDINGS
LAST TIME OUT:
The Hershey Bears return home after falling in sudden-death overtime for the first time this season, losing 3-2 to the Utica Comets at the Adirondack Bank Center. Liam O'Brien opened the scoring for the Bears at 4:56 of the second period after finishing a perfect cross-ice pass from Devante Smith-Pelly. Zack MacEwen tied the game for the Comets on the power play, but Mike Sgarbossa scored on a power play of his own before the period expired at 17:06. Reid Boucher tied the score with a sharp angle snipe past Vitek Vanecek early in the third to help force overtime. Only 44 seconds into the sudden-death, Cam Darcy cut to the net and scored on Vanecek to win the game for Utica. On the other side. the Bridgeport Sound Tigers return to action for the first time in six days, last skating on Feb. 24 in a 5-1 win over the Bears at Webster Bank Arena. Chris Bourque scored the eventual game-winner in the first period for the Sound Tigers.
CHANCE FOR RETRIBUTION:
Tonight marks the second meeting between Hershey and Bridgeport over the past week. Last Sunday, the Sound Tigers snapped Hershey's franchise-record 17-game point streak, and an 11-game win streak, with a 5-1 victory over the Chocolate and White at the Webster Bank Arena. Bridgeport jumped out to a 4-0 lead through the first 40 minutes, and the lone goal of the game for Hershey came in the final minute of the contest from Juuso Ikonen. Hershey is 1-2-0-0 versus the Sound Tigers this season. Bridgeport claimed a 2-1 win over Hershey in the second game of the season on Oct. 7 in their lone other visit to Giant Center. The Sound Tigers, who have not played since last Sunday, feature former Hershey Bears Chris and Ryan Bourque on the roster. The elder Bourque has two goals versus his former club this season.
DSP'S FIRST AS A BEAR:
Bears forward Devante Smith-Pelly is expected to make his home debut tonight representing the Chocolate and White. Last night, Smith-Pelly recorded his first point as a member of the Bears, earning the primary assist on Liam O'Brien's first period goal. Prior to the play, it had been nearly five years since Smith-Pelly's last assist at the American Hockey League level. On Mar. 16, 2014, Smith-Pelly earned the primary helper on an Emerson Etem goal at 17:22 of the first period in a Norfolk Admirals 3-2 win over the Bears at Giant Center.
MILESTONE FOR NESS:
Aaron Ness recorded his 200th professional assist last night after receiving credit for a helper on Mike Sgarbossa's second period goal. Following last night, he now has five NHL assists and 195 in the AHL, with 95 of those coming with the Chocolate and White. Ness' assist last night also marked his 37th of the season, tying a career-best set in the 2014-15 season with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Entering tonight, Ness sits tied for third among all AHL players in assists, and tied for the most among AHL defensemen with Toronto's Calle Rosen.
SAMMY STRONG:
Entering tonight's game, Hershey netminder Ilya Samsonov has earned six straight victories. Samsonov has allowed two or less goals in his past eight starts. Since the goaltender changed from #1 to #35, Samsonov has been one of the AHL's best goalies, going 10-0-0-1 in 12 games, posting the league's best goals against average in the stretch of 1.35 (among goalies with more than 100 minutes played). He also has a .945 save percentage and two shutouts in that span. He won his previous start versus the Sound Tigers this season, stopping 20 shots in a 4-1 win at Bridgeport on Jan. 21.
American Hockey League Stories from March 2, 2019
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- Iowa Snaps Bakersfield's Record Win Streak with 1-0 Shutout - Iowa Wild
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