MITCHELL'S LATE GOAL PROPELS BEARS PAST COMETS

October 23, 2015

UTICA, N.Y. – Garrett Mitchell forced a loose puck over the goal line with just 1:11 remaining in regulation and Justin Peters turned aside all 19 shots he faced, sending the Hershey Bears to a 1-0 win over the Utica Comets on Friday night at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

A scoreless opening period was highlighted by big saves from both goaltenders. Peters denied Alex Biega on a long-range point shot, not long before he turned aside Brendan Gaunce on a breakaway from the blue line.  Joe Cannata was up to the task as well in the Utica goal, making a point-blank pad save on Paul Carey inside the final three minutes.

Another period would pass without a goal to be had.  Cannata and Peters came up with game-savers again, this time with Peters making the bigger stop on a shorthanded breakaway by Blair Jones.

Both teams gave it their all in the third, and it was Hershey coming out on top.  Carey won a puck battle in the slot and dished back to the point, where Connor Carrick fired a shot toward the net.  Cannata put his glove down but Mitchell got one jab and slid the puck over the goal line for his first goal of the young season.

The Hershey penalty kill was a perfect four-for-four, which included just under a minute of a two-man disadvantage.  Utica killed off all five of the Bears’ opportunities.

Peters improved to 1-1-0 with the win, while Cannata fell to 1-3-0.

The Bears open the home portion of the schedule tomorrow, October 24 at 7:00 PM against the Hartford Wolf Pack.  The first 8,000 fans will receive a magnetic schedule courtesy of PNC Bank.  The 1980 Calder Cup championship team will be honored prior to the game in celebration of the 35th anniversary of the title.  The Bears will also wear special throwback jerseys, which will be auctioned off live following the game.

Individual tickets for this and all Bears home games may be purchased at the GIANT Center box office, by calling (717) 508-BEAR or online at TicketMaster.com.

NOTES: ; The Bears scratched D Christian Djoos and RW Caleb Herbert…The Comets scratched LW John Kurtz, D Evan McEneny, LW Mackenze Stewart, D Jordan Subban, C Curtis Valk and C Mike Zalewski…The Bears played in Utica for the first time since March 17, 1993, a 6-2 win against Martin Brodeur and the former Utica Devils…Justin Peters has two wins in his Hershey career, and both are shutouts.