Photo via @TheHersheyBears
The Hershey Bears defeated the St. John’s IceCaps on Sunday afternoon to get a win out of back to back contests following a late 4-3 loss yesterday.
The game featured excellent chemistry by the line with Jakub Vrana, Travis Boyd, and Riley Barber. They combined to get the Bears on the board over halfway through the first when Barber made a picture perfect shot from the slot to put the Bears up 1-0.
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.
HERSHEY, PA – Stan Galiev celebrates his goal against Syracuse Saturday night. Galiev has had the last three goals for Hershey (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
After a huge win against archrivals Wilkes-Barre Wednesday night, the Hershey Bears looked to take that momentum into a two game weekend series. The Bears took on the Syracuse Crunch Saturday night, losing 4-1. They bounced back the next night against the St. John’s IceCaps and former Bears goalie Peter Budaj, with a 1-0 win.
HERSHEY, PA – Dane Byers looks at the scoreboard after St. John’s scores one of their two goals in route to their 2-0 win over Hershey (Kyle Mace – Chocolate Hockey)
It was the return of two former Bears Sunday night. Julien Brouillette, who spent three seasons in Hershey on the Bears blue line, and goalie Peter Budaj, who started his pro career in Hershey back in 2002.
Now in St. John’s, Brouillette, who started the game, and Budaj, who was the backup Sunday, were on a side the both were very familiar with in Giant Center: the winning side. The IceCaps, lead by goalie Connor Hellebuyck’s 33 saves, shutdown Hershey, allowing them to leave Chocolate Town, USA with the two points and a win.
HERSHEY, PA – Chay Genoway and David Leggio smile after Leggio’s final save in the shootout during Hershey’s win Saturday night (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
The infamous Arabic proverb, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” suggests two parties have the ability to work together, and overcome a common enemy. In the world of sports, the term could easily be applied currently to the Hershey Bears and their push to qualify for the 2014 Calder Cup Playoffs.
Entering Saturday night, the Bears and their I-81 Rivals from Wilkes-Barre both opposed a common enemy. The Penguins battled the eighth seed Norfolk Admirals, who sit in the conference’s final playoff spot, three points ahead of Hershey.
While the Pens attempted to provide a helping hand to the Chocolate and White, the Bears’ personal attention was focused on the St. John’s IceCaps. Wilkes-Barre followed through with a 2-1 victory over Norfolk, as the Bears topped St. John’s, 2-1 in a 12 round marathon shootout.
HERSHEY, PA – Former Bear Andrew Gordon celebrates a goal during St. John’s win over Hershey (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
When the appearance of one of the opposing players is the highlight of the evening, you know it was a long night for the Hershey Bears. Andrew Gordon returned to Hershey, this time as a member of the St. John’s IceCaps. Gordon got two ovations while doing his pre-game ritual on the bench and another when introduced as a part of the IceCaps starting lineup. His team then handed the Bears their 7th home loss in ten games 4-2.
Over the four seasons that he played in a Bears uniform, Andrew Gordon became one of the most popular players in the history of franchise. Wednesday night, Gordon will play in Giant Center for the first time since he was injured in first round of the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs. He will return to the ice in Chocolate Town, USA, but this time he’ll be a different team.
Connor Carrick looks on at a shot during Friday night’s game in which Hershey would lose to St. John’s, 5-1 (Photo via St. John’s IceCaps flickr page)
It took the Hershey Bears four games and 1,828 miles to find themselves and find their first win of the season. After a third straight loss on Friday night, Hershey looked like the team Bears fans were expecting to see on Saturday. The Bears scored four unanswered goals and Philipp Grubauer made 30 saves in route to a 4-0 win over the St. John’s IceCaps.
HERSHEY, PA – Patrice Cormier celebrates his goal in the second period during Hershey’s 3-1 loss (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
The Hershey Bears returned indoors for the first time since a January 18 duel against the Lake Erie Monsters. The Chocolate and White battled the St. John’s IceCaps for the fourth and final time this season. Hershey fell behind late in the second period, and fell to catch St. John’s in another 3-1 defeat.
Photo via the St. John’s IceCaps
Wednesday evening the Hershey Bears completed a two day sweep at Mile One Centre over the AHL affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets. Ten different Bears inked the score sheet, and Braden Holtby earned his 12th career shutout in a Hershey uniform leading to a 4-0 victory.