AHL Hershey Bears

Senators Snap Skid against Bears in Hershey Road Finale

Published on April 15, 2016 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


BINGHAMTON, N.Y. - Zach Sill and Riley Barber gave the Hershey Bears two separate leads in the game, but Ryan Rupert netted the eventual game-winning tally to help the Binghamton Senators spoil the visitors' road finale in a 4-2 final on Friday night at the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena.

After missing on two consecutive power play chances and after hitting two goal posts, the Bears managed to get the jump in the game. Sill collected a feed from Sean Collins, flew past the Senators defense and put a forehand-backhand move on Matt O'Connor at 14:36 for Sill's eighth goal of the season.

But Binghamton would answer with less than one minute left in the period. Dan Ellis would make a blocker save on a long slap shot by Casey Bailey, but the puck blooped straight up into the air and landed behind him near the post. Max McCormick found it and poked it over the line at 19:03 for the equalizer.

Hershey would take the lead early in the second, on a beautiful play by Barber. The rookie, one of the two players to hit a goal post in the opening period, also hit the crossbar with a move to the slot at 1:05. But this shot went down and in over O'Connor's glove for Barber's 25th goal of the season.

The Senators again responded with good pressure in the Hershey zone. Forcing a turnover, Phil Varone worked the puck to the right side for Jason Akeson. His pass found a cutting Matt Puempel for a tap-in at 9:45.

Binghamton's winning goal came just 1:14 into the third. McCormick sped past the Hershey defense and spotted Rupert heading to the crease. Rupert slipped a shot inside the right post, putting the Senators in front.

O'Connor would shut the door on Hershey in the third period, stopping all seven shots he faced, while the Senators' penalty killing units kept the Bears at bay on two of their six total power plays. Varone would then seal the win with an empty-net goal with one minute left in regulation.

Ellis stopped 26 of 29 shots but fell to 25-12-5 on the season. O'Connor won his 10th game, improving to 10-20-3 with a 20-save effort. Binghamton was unsuccessful on four power play chances.

The Bears return home to host the Lehigh Valley Phantoms tomorrow, April 16 at 7:00 PM. The first 5,000 fans will receive a Chris Bourque garden gnome figurine courtesy of Capital BlueCross. Individual tickets are available at the GIANT Center box office, by calling 717-508-BEAR or online at TicketMaster.com.

NOTES: Zach Sill became the Bears' 19th player to record 20 or more points this season, which ties Hershey's franchise record (19 players also recorded 20 or more points in the 1983-84 season)...Hershey saw its streak of five straight wins against the Senators snapped, and finished the season series 6-2-0-0 against Binghamton...Chris Bourque was voted the league's most valuable player earlier in the day...Hershey can clinch the Atlantic Division title with a win tomorrow...The Bears scratched LW Paul Carey, G Adam Carlson, LW Dustin Gazley, LW Dylan Margonari and D Mike Moore...The Senators scratched LW David Dziurzynski, F Kyle Flanagan, D Mark Fraser and RW Zack Stortini.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 15, 2016


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