Whitney Completes Thrilling Comeback in 3-2 Overtime Win
Published on February 11, 2018 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release
(Hershey, PA)- Wayne Simpson tied the game with 2.8 seconds left, and Joe Whitney scored his first goal as a Bear in a thrilling 3-2 overtime win over the Rochester Americans on Sunday evening at Giant Center.
A first period dominated by the Chocolate and White saw them rewarded with a lead after 20 minutes. After a Travis Boyd apparent goal in the opening minute was washed out due to incidental contact, Hershey responded with a power play strike. Following a Brendan Guhle slashing minor at 10:43, the Bears struck pay-dirt. Whitney positioned himself at the center-point and sent a pass towards Riley Barber positioned at the bottom of the left face off circle. Barber blasted his team leading 17th goal of the season into the net, off a sprawling Rochester goaltender Linus Ullmark. The Bears possessed a 14-5 shots advantage after 20 minutes.
In the middle frame, the Americans found the equalizer on Vitek Vanecek. At 14:31, Seth Griffith cut towards the cage from an angle along the left wing and stuffed a short side shot past Vanecek.
After scoring on the game's first power play, the Chocolate and White fanned on their next four chances in the first 40 minutes, including a 5-on-3 chance.
With only 2:37 left, Eric Cornel gave Rochester their first lead of the night. On an offensive zone entry, Kevin Porter sent a head-man pass to a streaking Cornel to the net, who tipped a quick shot past Vanecek for the late lead.
The Chocolate and White, however, showed resiliency in the final minute, and Simpson found the equalizer in the dying seconds. Simpson stormed up ice in the final seconds and cut into the slot area. After fanning on his initial shot, his second attempt stunned Ullmark and sent 8,869 fans into a frenzy at Giant Center.
Three-on-three sudden-death overtime became a requirement, and it set the stage for Whitney's first goal as a Hershey Bear in dramatic fashion. At 1:32 of the sudden-death, Ullmark squeezed a shot from Barber, but the puck squirted loose on the blue paint. Whitney won the race to the puck and slammed it into the empty net to complete the thrilling comeback. Whitney, just two days removed from being acquired from Hartford, finished the night with three points, as did his new linemate Barber.
The win for Hershey improved their record to 19-25-3-4. Rochester's losing steak extended to five games, sliding their record to 25-13-7-5.
Hershey returns to the ice on Friday, February 16 at 7:30 p.m. The Bears kickoff their Canadian road trip with a visit at the Laval Rocket for the first meeting in franchise history. The Voice of the Bears, Zack Fisch has the call on the Bears Radio Network.
American Hockey League Stories from February 11, 2018
- IceHogs Sign Former First-Rounder Henrik Samuelsson to PTO - Rockford IceHogs
- Gaudreau Scores Two as Ads Finish Weekend Sweep - Milwaukee Admirals
- Mangiapane's Three-Point Night Not Enough to Best Milwaukee - Stockton Heat
- Amerks Edged by Bears in Overtime - Rochester Americans
- Whitney Completes Thrilling Comeback in 3-2 Overtime Win - Hershey Bears
- Bridgeport scores twice on the power play in third straight setback - Bridgeport Islanders
- Wolves Captain Thompson Recalled on Emergency Basis by Vegas - Chicago Wolves
- Crunch Rally for 3-2 Win over Sound Tigers - Syracuse Crunch
- Kapla, Mandat Each Tally Goals in 5-2 Loss at Toronto - Binghamton Devils
- San Antonio Recalls Defenseman Nolan De Jong from Colorado Eagles - San Antonio Rampage
- Moose Leave Road behind with OT Loss at Cleveland - Manitoba Moose
- Penguins Bounce Back to Beat Bruins in Shootout, 3-2 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Gulls Take Sixth Straight Win, 4-1 - San Diego Gulls
- Monsters Topple First-Place Moose, 3-2 - Cleveland Monsters
- Penguins Comeback to Beat P-Bruins 3-2 in Shootout - Providence Bruins
- Minnesota Wild Recalls Defenseman Nick Seeler, Reassigns Defenseman Viktor Loov - Iowa Wild
- G Alex Lyon Recalled by Flyers, G John Muse Recalled to Lehigh Valley - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Sabres Recall Baptiste from Rochester - Rochester Americans
- Heat Conclude Midwest Trip in Milwaukee at 3PM Pacific - Stockton Heat
- Game Preview: Bears Welcome Rochester for Lone Meeting in Hershey - Hershey Bears
- Kloos Nets Deciding Goal as Wild Edge Hogs - Rockford IceHogs
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