BEARS STORM BACK, DEFEAT CRUNCH IN OVERTIME

December 21, 2015

HERSHEY, Pa. – Sean Collins started the Hershey Bears’ third-period comeback and then finished it with a goal 25 seconds into overtime, sending the hosts to a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over the Syracuse Crunch on Sunday evening in front of 10,089 fans at GIANT Center.

The Bears would have a steep hill to climb in this game, finding themselves down 3-0 after one period with all three goals coming on the Crunch power play.  With Aaron Ness serving a penalty, Tye McGinn set up at the top of the crease to redirect a pass from Adam Erne behind Justin Peters at 8:06.

Erne would make it 2-0, collecting a cross-ice pass and ripping a snap shot under the crossbar and in at 10:45.

McGinn scored his second of the night with a wrist shot from the slot through a screen at 13:21, giving the Crunch a 3-0 advantage.  Peters would play out the period but would be replaced by Dan Ellis at the start of the second.

Ryan Stanton got the Bears on the board at 13:39, firing a slap shot into the upper-right corner behind Adam Wilcox off of a nice feed by Carter Camper.

Just 1:03 later, Chandler Stephenson started a three-point night by beating Wilcox with a wrist shot and cutting the Bears’ deficit to 3-2.

On an early third-period power play, Christian Djoos would be challenged by two Syracuse forwards and coughed up the puck at the point.  Jeff Tambellini collected a head-man pass from Philippe Paradis and slipped a shot between Ellis’ pads for a shorthanded goal and a 4-2 lead.

Collins’ first of two goals came at the 9:00 mark, as he and teammate Mike Moore took the puck to the paint.  Collins tried to tuck the puck over to Moore but the puck banked in off of a Crunch defenseman, bringing the Bears back within one.

Djoos redeemed himself when he and Dustin Gazley combined on a nifty give-and-go play in the right corner.  Djoos sent a pass down the right wall to Gazley and then headed to the slot.  Gazley gave it back to Djoos who ripped a shot past Wilcox at 11:22, tying the game.

Collins finished things off by getting past the Syracuse defense after receiving a feed from Stephenson, and taking a low shot that beat Wilcox through the pads.

Ellis made seven saves on eight shots in relief of Peters and earned the win, improving to 7-4-3.  Wilcox turned away 39 of 44 shots in the loss.  The Bears finished 0-for-5 on the power play and 3-for-6 on the penalty kill. 

The Bears are back after the holiday break to host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday, December 26 at 7:00 PM.  It’s a Dietz and Watson Dollar Dog Night, and all fans may purchase hot dogs for $1 at select concession stands.  Tickets are available at the GIANT Center box office, by calling 717-508-BEAR or online at TicketMaster.com.