BEARS BATTLE BACK TO DEFEAT SOUND TIGERS

December 13, 2015

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Sean Collins’ power play goal evened the contest and forced extra time, and Justin Peters denied both shootout attempts along with 32 saves in the first 65 minutes, propelling the Hershey Bears to a 2-1 comeback win over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Sunday evening at Webster Bank Arena.

The teams battled through a scoreless first period, one that featured two penalty kills for the Bears and one for the Sound Tigers.

Several penalties would put the Bears’ killing units on the ice frequently in the middle frame and Bridgeport eventually broke through.  Ryan Pulock collected a pass from Jesse Graham and ripped a one-timer from the left circle past a screened Peters at 10:37.

Collins’ goal came on a third-period power play.  Set up at the top of the crease, he redirected a shot from Chris Bourque through the legs of goaltender Christopher Gibson at 2:23, tying the contest.

Hershey’s penalty kill, 7-for-8 on the night, allowed the match to remain even.  Each team got three good chances in overtime, including a last-second shot from Taylor Beck that Peters grabbed.

In the shootout, Dustin Gazley was denied as the first overall shooter and Peters forced Joe Whitney to shoot high.  Connor Carrick gave the Bears the lead, and Peters put the Bears in the drivers’ seat with a stop on Beck.  Travis Boyd would beat Gibson to the glove side, sending the Bears to victory.

Peters won his third consecutive start and improved to 8-3-3.  Gibson dropped to 10-4-2 with 28 saves on 29 shots, and one of three in the shootout.  Hershey finished 1-for-5 on the power play in the game, and locked down second place in the Atlantic Division improving to 14-6-1-5 and extending its point streak to six games (4-0-1-1).

The Bears head back to Allentown for another matchup with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Friday, December 18.  Face-off from the PPL Center is set for 7:05 PM.  Fans may listen to the broadcast beginning at 6:25 on the Bears Radio Network of affiliates WQIC-FM 100.1, WTKT-AM 1460, via the iHeartRadio App (Fox Sports 1460 Harrisburg), or online at FoxSports1460.com.  The game may be viewed for a small fee at AHLLive.com.

The Bears return home to host the Toronto Marlies on Saturday, December 19 at 7:00 PM.  The first 5,000 fans will receive a Bears-branded snow globe courtesy of UGI.  Individual tickets for this and all Bears home games are on sale at the GIANT Center box office, by calling 717-508-BEAR or online at TicketMaster.com.

NOTES: The Bears scratched D Christian Djoos, F Austin Fyten, RW Garrett Mitchell and LW Jakub Vrana…The Bears won their first shootout in six tries this season…Hershey snapped a five-game winless streak on the road, improving to 5-5-1-2…Chris Bourque extended his point streak to six games with his assist (3-6-9)…Riley Barber extended his point streak to three games with his assist (1-3-4).