Connor McMichael, Hendrix Lapierre Score, Bears Down Phantoms, 5-3

Screen cap: AHL TV The Hershey Bears downed the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, 5-3, Sunday night at the Giant Center in Hershey, PA. Hendrix Lapierre scored his 8th goal of the season and Connor McMichael scored his 5th goal with the 
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Connor McMichael, Hendrix Lapierre Score, Bears Down Phantoms, 5-3
Screen cap: AHL TV

The Hershey Bears downed the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, 5-3, Sunday night at the Giant Center in Hershey, PA. Hendrix Lapierre scored his 8th goal of the season and Connor McMichael scored his 5th goal with the Bears in the victory. With the win, the Bears record improves to 19-6-2-1 (41 points) on the season, the best record in the AHL.

HERSHEY BEARS LINEUP

Clay Stevenson (2-0-0-0, 1.45 GAA, .941 sv%) got the start in goal for the Bears. Sam Errson (9-7-1-0, 2.58 GAA, .917 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the Phantoms. The forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:

Mike Vecchione –Mike Sgarbossa – Ethen Frank
Henrik Borgstrom – Connor McMichael – Sam Anas
Mason Morelli – Hendrix Lapierre – Henrik Rybinski
Shane Gersich – Riley Sutter – Matt Strome

Aaron Ness – Logan Day
Gabriel Carlsson – Dylan McIlrath
Jake Massie – Vinny Iorio

Scratches: Garrett Pilon (lower body injury), Bobby Nardella (upper body injury), Kale Kessy, Julian Napravnik and Michael Kim.

Recalled/Re-assigned: The Capitals recalled Zach Fucale late on Saturday afternoon. As a result, “Paddie” Carey was signed by the Bears to a PTO on Saturday.

The Bears recalled Tyler Wall from ECHL South Carolina and released “Paddie” Carey from his PTO on Sunday.

The Bears also re-assigned defenseman Martin Has to South Carolina on Sunday.


FIRST PERIOD

The Phantoms were called for an early penalty, but the Bears were unable to convert, extending the Bears scoreless streak on the man advantage to 0 for 8 this weekend. They were 1 for 4 last weekend.

The Bears opened the scoring with a bomb by Aaron Ness (2) from the left point at 7:22 of the opening frame. Riley Sutter (3) had the lone helper. It was the 17th time the Bears scored first this season. They were 11-2-2-1 in the previous 16 games when they scored first.

Midway through the period forward Shane Gersich took a heavy hit into the boards and center Riley Sutter jumped right in to drop the gloves with Adam Ginning.

The first period concluded with the Bears leading, 1-0. Hershey led in shots 9-7 in the first frame. Hershey was 0 for 1 on the power play while Lehigh Valley did not have a man advantage in the first frame.


SECOND PERIOD

The Phantoms tied the game early in the middle frame on a 4-on-3 power play goal from Artem Anisimov (8) at 1:50 of the second period. Egor Zamula (4) had the lone helper.

The Phantoms took their first lead of the game on a shorthanded goal from Jordy Bellerive (2) at 10:01 of the second period. The goal was unassisted.

The Bears quickly tied the game 33 seconds later on a power play goal from Hendrix Lapierre (8) at 10:34 of the second period. Henrik Borgstrom (7) and Sam Anas (8) had the helpers. Lapierre had gone the last five games without a point.

The second period concluded with the game tied, 2-2. Lehigh Valley led in shots 12-4 in the middle frame and 19-13 after two periods. Hershey was 1 for 4 and Lehigh Valley 1 for 1 on the power play after two periods.


THIRD PERIOD

Henrik Rybinski did not return to the bench for the start of the third period.

The Phantoms were awarded an early power play in the final frame, but the Bears were able to kill the penalty.

The Phantoms regained the lead midway through the period on a wrap-around goal by Jordy Bellerive (3) at 9:28 of the final frame. Jackson Cates (5) had the assist.

The Bears tied the game on a goal from Mike Sgarbossa (10) at 13:59 of the frame. Ethen Frank (8) and Dylan McIlrath (6) had the assists.

Moments later the Bears regained the lead with a goal from Connor McMichael (5) late in the third period. McMichael would gather the puck at center ice, make two moves and fire a laser for the Bears’ fourth goal of the game. Henrik Borgstrom (8) had the lone helper.

Mike Vecchione would add a a late goal to make it 5-3. That would be the final.

The Bears are back in action on Wednesday when the same two teams do it again in Allentown. Puck drop is set for 7:15-ish PM.


SHAVINGS

  • AHL box score
  • Attendance: 8,279
  • Hershey led in shots 29-28.
  • Henrik Rybinski did not return for the third period.
  • Hershey was 1 for 5 and Lehigh Valley 1 for 2 on the power play.
  • Clay Stevenson stopped 25 of 28 for a .892 game save percentage.
  • Stars of the game: 1) Mike Sgarbossa, 2) Connor McMichael and 3) Jordy Bellerive
  • Mike Vecchione’s 300th professional game.
  • The Bears scored the first goal of the game for the 17th time this season (12-2-2-1)