Hershey Bears leading goal scorer Paul Carey is heading to New York to play for the Rangers. First reported by Aaron Ward of TSN, Carey signs a one-year, two-way contract ($650k NHL, $400k AHL) with the Rangers for the 2017-18 season.
You would never be able to guess Paul Carey has only played twelve playoff games in his professional career. The 28-year-old has had a successful career in both the AHL and NHL, including a career season with Hershey this year, but a recall to Washington as an extra body late in the year found him sitting a lot to finish off the year.
Madison Bowey celebrates his game winning overtime goal against Providence in game five of the Atlantic Divison Finals Sunday afternoon in Providence (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
The Hershey Bears faced a big challenge in Game 5 against the Providence Bruins Sunday afternoon. With a tied series, the Bears had the opportunity to come home with a lead or a deficit. They did just that thanks to another overtime win at Dunkin’ Donuts Center by a 3-2 final score.
Chris Bourque celebrates his GWOTG against Providence Friday Thursday night at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in the Atlantic Divison Finals (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
Pheonix Copley has been a big story for the Hershey Bears this season. He was brought in at the trade deadline to give the team a chance to win games, and if that wasn’t evident at any point this season, it was on Thursday night. The Bears won Game 3 in Providence behind 39 saves from Copley and two goals from Chris Bourque propelled the Bears to a 2-1 victory over the Bruins in the second overtime in as many games. Hershey leads the series two games to one.
This past weekend Paul Carey score eight points for the Hershey Bears, including a four-goal game and two multi-point performances. Those accomplishments have earned him AHL Player of the Week for the week ending March 19.
The Hershey Bears visited the Bridgeport Sound Tigers for the last time this season with a lot on the line with the teams separated by only two points in the standings. For the first time in four contests in Bridgeport, Hershey took the game on a clutch power play goal from Travis Boyd and won the game with an empty net goal by a final of 3-1.
Unlike both of the games the Bears played at home this weekend, this game was a defensive showdown as many of the contests between these two clubs have been. The game was scoreless for the entire first period, and it was scoreless until Bridgeport’s Ross Johnston beat Pheonix Copley early in the second period.
During a game in February 2010, Mathieu Perreault would score four goals against Bridgeport in a 9-2 clobbering of the Sound Tigers. That was the last time a Bears player scored four goals in a game. Over 2,500 days later, that “days since last four-goal game” poster got reset.
Paul Carey has been super hot as of late. But coming into Saturday night’s game, not may people would have predicted the performance he would put on. Midway through the first period, Carey would score his 20th and Hershey’s first goal of the game. Almost 20 minutes later, Carey would put home his second goal of the night. Then with nine minutes left in the third, Carey would complete the hat trick to put Hershey up for good.
Riley Barber celebrates with Paul Carey after Carey’s fourth goal of the game on Saturday night against Hartford. (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
The Hershey Bears defeated the Hartford Wolf Pack for the second time in as many nights behind four goals from Paul Carey. Hershey gets two more points to stay in fourth with rivals Bridgeport and Providence winning on this evening.
The Bears came out flying and were rewarded for their hard work as Carey picked up the puck and snapped a perfect shot over the glove of Mackenzie Skapski to make it 1-0 for the home team.
Christian Djoos celebrates his game winning overtime goal against Hartford on Friday night in Hershey. (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
The Hershey Bears hosted the Hartford Wolf Pack looking for 2 points and hopefully advancing into a playoff spot for the first time since January. A back and forth game ended up with an overtime winner from Christian Djoos to give the Bears a 4-3 win.
After a quiet first period, the Bears found themselves behind in the second as Hartford’s Matt Carey tipped in a point shot to give the Wolf Pack the first lead of the game.
Hershey responded under 50 seconds later, as Christian Djoos drove the slot and fed Paul Carey to tie the game at one apiece.
Parker Milner makes a save in the second period of Hershey’s Saturday night win against St. John’s. (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
Parker Milner made his first start in Chocolate Town for the Hershey Bears on Saturday night and impressed the 10,456 fans at Giant Center. 29 saves in his second win of the season promises Hershey they will win the week as they take down St. John’s, 5-2.