MARLIES POWER PAST BEARS

December 19, 2015

HERSHEY, Pa. – Toronto Marlies defenseman T.J. Brennan scored twice in the third period, helping to put the game out of reach and snapping the Hershey Bears’ seven-game home winning streak with a 6-2 victory on Saturday night at GIANT Center.

Aaron Ness would get his first Hershey goal to put the Bears in front just 4:25 into the contest.  Chris Bourque made a cross-ice pass to Madison Bowey, who skated to the left circle and set a backdoor pass to Ness for the easy deposit behind Marlies netminder Ray Emery.

Late in the period, Toronto would tie the game with a two-man advantage goal from Mark Arcobello.  Brennan sent a pass to Arcobello, who came through the slot slowly before ripping a shot past Dan Ellis at 15:14.

Just 29 seconds into the second frame, the Marlies grabbed the lead.  Zach Hyman hustled to grab a puck that squirted through Ellis’ pads off of a shot from Sam Carrick, and poked it over the line for his fifth of the season.

Brendan Leipsic made it 3-1 when his shot from the right of the crease was stopped nicely by a lunging Ellis, but the puck dropped loose and just over the goal line.  Upon review the goal stood at 8:11.

Just 1:20 later, Stuart Percy’s point shot found its way past Ellis’ glove, ending his night and bringing Justin Peters on in relief.

Moments later, Camper collected a long stretch pass from Bowey, skated behind the Toronto defense and ripped a shot under the crossbar at 10:53, bring the Bears within two.

But Brennan would take control in the third, scoring twice on two shots – once on a power play and later at even strength – to put the game away.

Ellis absorbed the loss with 11 saves on 15 shots in 29:31 of work.  Peters made 10 saves on 12 shots in relief and earned no decision.  Emery improved to 2-1-1 on the season with his first Toronto win, making 23 saves on 25 shots.  The Bears finished the night 0-for-2 on the power play and 3-for-5 on the penalty kill.

The Bears remain home to host the Syracuse Crunch tomorrow, December 20 at 5:00 PM.  All fans in attendance will receive a complimentary one-day pass to HERSHEYPARK valid through July 31, 2016.  The next class of the Hershey Bears Hockey Club Hall of Fame will be inducted prior to face-off, and all fans will receive a commemorative chocolate bar upon exiting courtesy of the Hershey Company.  The Bears will wear special AHL 80th anniversary jerseys that will be auctioned off live after the game.

Only limited seats remain for the game, and are available at the GIANT Center box office, by calling 717-508-BEAR or online at TicketMaster.com.