After a weekend stay in Hershey, goaltender Justin Peters was recalled by the Washington Capitals early Monday morning. Peters hasn’t seen any game action in over a month, since former Bear Braden Holtby has played in 23 consecutive games. The Caps decided to gave Peters a chance to get some of the rust off before returning to the NHL, where he is scheduled to start on Saturday against the Dallas Stars.
HERSHEY, PA – Casey Wellman celebrates his ninth goal of the season during Hershey’s 2-1 win over the Admirals (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
Coming into a weird two game Tuesday-Wednesday back to back series of games for the Hershey Bears actually became a big two game set for the Chocolate and White. Coming into game one of two, Hershey was only four points behind first place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with two games in hand. The Bears played one of those two games tonight, looking to gain some ground on the Baby Pens before facing off against them on New Year’s Eve.
Kris Newbury, seen here during a game last season, leads the AHL in scoring with five points after two games. (Kyle Mace – Chocolate Hockey, file.)
The Bears are being scheduled tested right out of the gate this season. The first five and 9 of the first 11 games are on the road, including two trips to New England starting this weekend. Then the schedule takes an opposite turn with 10 of the following 13 games at Giant Center. That means a good start on the road will be of even more importance to the Chocolate and White.
All great things must come to an end. It’s an old, cliche saying, but it is also 100 percent true and fitting of the occasion. In a 3-1 loss to the Norfolk Admirals, the Bears’ eight season playoff streak has come to a crashing end. The Providence Bruins and Norfolk Admirals will grab the seventh and eighth seeds in the Eastern Conference.
The last time the Chocolate and White missed the postseason, it was the final year of the Colorado Avalanche affiliation.
Michael Latta, seen here earlier in the season, had a goal during Hershey’s 5-3 loss to Norfolk Wednesday night (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
As the Hershey Bears left South Central Pennsylvania Tuesday morning for Hampton Roads Virginia, they knew they were heading down south for arguably the two biggest games of their season against the Norfolk Admirals. The Admirals were tied in points with Hershey coming into Wednesday night’s game, but Hershey had the first tiebreaker, giving them the control of their destiny, but after the game, Norfolk now controls the final spot in the Eastern Conference as they topped Hershey, 5-3.
HERSHEY, PA – Philipp Grubauer makes a save on Devante Smith-Pelly during Hershey’s 3-2 loss to Norfolk Sunday night (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
Despite a recent slide the last few weeks, the Hershey Bears entered Sunday’s matinee against the Norfolk Admirals with a golden opportunity to reclaim a playoff spot. A win over the Admirals would put the Bears at eighth in the Eastern Conference with about a month to play.
Norfolk was held to 12 shots the entire night Saturday in Wilkes-Barre en route to a shutout loss. The Chocolate and White had 12 shots under their belt within the first period against Adirondack before cruising to a 4-1 win.
In Hershey’s 2014 St. Patrick’s Day spectacle, the Admirals squeezed past the Bears by a 3-2 final. It was a heartbreaking, regulation defeat for the Chocolate and White, which puts them four points behind eighth seed Norfolk.
During Paul Fixter’s coaching tenure with the Hershey Bears about a decade ago, he implemented a motto, “Earned, never given.” The phrase captured the minds of his players in effort to spread the message that all positive results on the ice have to be earned, and are rarely handed over on a silver platter.
But unfortunately on Saturday night, a border-line joke of a 3-1 Norfolk Admirals win over the Hershey Bears was more on the given side.
Your highlight of the night was in the second period during a tied 1-1 hockey game. Nate Schmidt appeared to be slew footed in the Hershey offensive end and went down to the ice in a heap of pain. The Admirals’ countered down ice on a 2-on-1 rush, setting the stage for a game-winning goal by Chris Wagner at 14:18 of the period.
It was a fun game to watch on television, listen in on radio, or even follow on twitter. But most of all, it was an excellent way to end a six-game skid.
The Hershey Bears traveled to Virginia Beach and throttled the Norfolk Admirals by a 3-2 count. It was their first game played of the season at the Norfolk Scope, and it had a homecoming feel for Bears’ Head Coach Mike Haviland. Haviland was an Admirals’ assistant coach last season and the head bench boss for the 2005-06 and 2006-07 campaigns.
Dane Byers scored a third period insurance marker, which later proved to be the game-winner in a 3-2 decision. With out of town help by the Utica Comets, the Bears now stand within one point of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and three points within the division lead.
HERSHEY, PA – Peter Holland celebrates a Norfolk goal en route to a post regulation win in Hershey (Kyle Mace/ Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
After back to back losses to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the task grew larger on Sunday with a duel against the 6-2-0-3 Norfolk Admirals. The lead affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks were led in the season’s opening month by goaltender John Gibson.
The Ducks’ prospective goalie entered play with a 4-1-2 record and an astonishing 1.44 goals against average, as well as a save percentage of 95.5 percent. Former Hershey center and 2006 Calder Cup champion Dave Steckel was listed on the Admirals’ roster wearing number 39. The Bears’ offense tallied three quick first period goals but surrendered a game tying marker with 1:02 left, leading to an Admirals’ shootout win.
HERSHEY, PA – Peter LeBlanc is joined by Connor Carrick and Chay Genoaway after LeBlanc’s goal in Hershey’s 4-2 win over Norfolk (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
After a highlight reel goal by Michael Latta in the dying minutes of the second period on Saturday, Hershey looked to be well on their way to their first win of the season at Giant Center. However a third period power surge by the visiting Hartford Wolf Pack held the Bears win-less for another night at home.
Sunday, Head Coach Mike Haviland looked for the 60 minute effort his club has been lacking the last four weeks. Against the opposing Norfolk Admirals, speed and intensity was a style of hockey Hershey played with for 60 minutes, leading to a 4-2 win over the Admirals.