BEARS BURY PHANTOMS TO STAY PERFECT IN PRE-SEASON

October 3, 2014

HERSHEY, Pa. – Philipp Grubauer returned from NHL camp to post 34 saves and Stanislav Galiev came up with another game-winner as the Hershey Bears posted their second consecutive come-from-behind 3-1 victory over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Friday night at GIANT Center.

A fast-paced first period ended scoreless, with Grubauer turning aside all 12 shots he faced, including two in-close backhand shots by Lehigh Valley.  The Phantoms thwarted the lone power play of the period.

Lehigh Valley would again grab the game’s first goal working their second power play of the game.  Former Bears star Andrew Gordon lifted a backhand shot over a prone Grubauer at 12:50 of the second period, after Grubauer made the initial save on Shayne Gostisbehere’s point shot.

With time ticking down inside the period’s final minute and with Phantoms netminder Connor Knapp in to replace starter Martin Ouellette, the hosts would net the equalizer.  Tomas Kundratek tipped a short pass to the left side for a speeding Dustin Gazley, whose snap shot found the right side of the net past Knapp’s glove for his first of the pre-season.

24 seconds into the third period, the hero of Wednesday’s game in Allentown would come through again.  Galiev, off of a nice cross-ice pass from Tim Kennedy, blasted a shot past Knapp for a 2-1 Hershey lead.

Garrett Mitchell made his Hershey return a memorable one as well, potting the insurance marker by sliding a loose rebound past Knapp at 18:39 to seal the win.

Grubauer improves to 1-0 on the pre-season, while Knapp took the loss.  Ouellette earned no decision in stopping all shots faced.

The Bears (2-0-0-0) head northeast to battle the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (1-0-0-0) tomorrow night at 7:05 PM.  The two teams will conclude the pre-season in a 5:00 PM rematch on Sunday, October 5 at GIANT Center.  Individual tickets for Sunday’s game are $12 general admission.

Information on group tickets and season tickets for the 2014-2015 Hershey Bears regular season is available by calling (717) 508-BEAR.  Many different flexible plans are offered and start as low as $170.

NOTES: The Bears received RW Chris Conner, G Philipp Grubauer, C Kris Newbury, LW Nathan Walker and D Patrick Wey earlier in the day from the Washington Capitals… The Bears scratches were G Brandon Anderson, D Michal Cajkovsky, RW Jack Downing, D Wade Epp, C Brock Higgs, D Jon Landry, D Marcus Perrier, LW Nathan Walker and D Patrick Wey… The Phantoms scratches were D Steven Delisle, LW Andrew Johnston, RW Derek Mathers, LW Marcel Noebels, D Jesper Pettersson and G Anthony Stolarz…Hershey finished the night 0-for-2 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill…Three stars: 3-Grubauer, 2-Gazley, 1-Galiev.