BEARS DISPATCH ADMIRALS IN FINAL HOME TILT OF 2014

December 30, 2014

HERSHEY, Pa. – Kris Newbury assisted on second-period goals by Garrett Mitchell and Casey Wellman, and Philipp Grubauer made 21 saves to help the score stand up as the Hershey Bears took a 2-1 decision from the Norfolk Admirals on Tuesday night at GIANT Center.
 
The Bears spent four minutes of the opening period on the penalty kill, and the league’s top-ranked units kept Norfolk at bay on both chances.  Norfolk killed off the Bears’ only opportunity of the period. 
 
Hershey would strike first after killing off 1:50 of a two-man disadvantage in the middle frame.  Coming out of the penalty box, Mitchell was sent in alone on a perfect pass from Newbury.  He deked John Gibson and deposited a backhander high into the Norfolk net at 8:50 for a 1-0 lead.
 
Newbury would be a part of another strong play shortly before the period ended, when he hustled to the goal line to beat out an icing call.  He quickly centered the puck, and Wellman snapped it into the net past a surprised Gibson at 19:46, giving the Bears a 2-0 advantage.
 
Grubauer was 32.4 seconds away from tying for the AHL’s shutout lead, but a Brendan Bell shot was padded to the left circle.  Louis Leblanc pounced on the rebound and fired it home to get Norfolk on the board. 
 
The Bears held on from there, improving to 16-11-4-1 on the season and pulling to within two points of division-leading Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, whom the Bears will face in the final game of the calendar year tomorrow, December 31.  Faceoff from Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza is at 3:05 PM.  Fans may listen to the game on the Bears Radio Network of affiliates WQIC-FM 100.1, WTKT-AM 1460, WOYK-AM 1350 and the iHeart Radio application (1460 AM) for smartphones.
 
The Bears then host the Penguins in the first game of 2015 on Saturday, January 3 at 7:00 PM.  Individual tickets for this and all remaining home games are available at the GIANT Center box office, online at TicketMaster.com or by calling 717-508-BEAR.
 
NOTES: The Bears scratched D Erik Burgdoerfer, LW Philippe Cornet, D Mike Moore, C Jim O’Brien, C Liam O’Brien, LW Tim Spencer and D Patrick Wey…The Admirals scratched D Josh Manson, RW Stefan Noesen and LW Brad Winchester…The Bears finished the night 0-for-4 on the power play and 4-for-4 on the penalty kill… The Bears scored their league-leading 22nd first-goal of the season, and improved to 13-6-3-0 when scoring first…Grubauer improved to 11-8-4 on the season, while Gibson made 22 saves and fell to 2-2-1…The Bears have points in their last five home games (3-0-2-0)…Three stars: 3-Grubauer, 2-Newbury, 1-Mitchell.