Game Preview: Bears at Marlies, 3 p.m.

February 18, 2018

Hershey Bears (21-25-3-4) at Toronto Marlies (38-12-0-1)
Monday, February 19, 2018, 3 p.m. 
Air Canada Centre

REFEREES: Mitch Dunning (18), Tyler Puddifant (9)
LINESMEN: Adam Harris (53), Tyson Baker (92)

Broadcast Information (Pre-game 2:30 p.m.)
RADIO: WQIC-100.1 FM, Fox Sports 1460-AM,  Zack Fisch, the Voice of the Bears, on the call
LISTEN LIVE: Fox Sports AM-1460 Stream
WATCH LIVE: AHLLive.com

AHL STANDINGS

BEARS AT MARLIES: The Hershey Bears look to extend their win streak to a season-high four games this afternoon as they battle the Toronto Marlies. Today is the final meeting in the season series between the two teams, and the game will be played at Air Canada Centre, the home of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs. The surging Bears will face a tough test as the Marlies are the AHL’s best team with 77 points, and they have gone 8-1-0-1 over the past 10 games.

LAST TIME OUT: The Hershey Bears are coming off a 3-0 victory over the Belleville Senators on Saturday evening at the Yardmen Arena. In Hershey’s first ever visit to Belleville, the Bears opened up a quick 1-0 lead. Defender Connor Hobbs scored just 4:03 into the game to give the visitors the advantage. The Bears doubled the lead midway through the second period as Wayne Simpson scored his 11th goal of the season at 8:21 to make it 2-0 for the Chocolate and White. Tyler Graovac and Mathias Bau assisted on the tally. Pheonix Copley stopped all 28 shots he faced for Hershey, and the Tyler Lewington added an empty net goal at 18:48 of the third period to seal Hershey’s third straight victory. The Marlies were also in action on Saturday night as they earned a 4-2 win at Laval. The Marlies trailed 2-1 entering the third period, but the AHL’s best team scored three unanswered goals in the game’s final period to earn the victory. Andreas Johansson had a goal and two assists, while Miro Aaltonen scored twice. Calvin Pickard stopped 31 shots to earn the win in goal.

LAST TIME VS. MARLIES: The Bears and Marlies last played on Nov. 4 at Giant Center in Hershey. Toronto scored a 4-1 victory in a game they outshot Hershey 35-22. Ben Smith scored twice for the Marlies, and Dmytro Timashov and Mason Marchment also added goals. Hershey’s lone goal was scored late in the first period by captain Garrett Mitchell. Toronto went 1-for-7 on the power play, while the Bears were 0-for-6. Adam Carlson took the loss in goal for the Bears as he stopped 31 shots. Garret Sparks earned the win between the pipes for the Marlies, denying 21 Hershey shots.

CONNOR CASHS IN: Hershey defender Connor Hobbs scored his second professional goal in Saturday’s win at Belleville. Hobbs scored Hershey’s opening goal in the 3-0 win, meaning that each of his two goals this season have been game-winning markers. The goal was Hobbs’ first since Oct. 28 when he deposited a late go-ahead goal to give the Bears a 3-2 win over Providence at Giant Center. His most recent goal on Saturday ended his  23-game goalless drought. The offensive potential is there for the fifth round selection of Washington as Hobbs scored 31 goals, and 85 points, last season with the WHL’s Regina Pats.

BARBER IS BACK: Hershey forward Riley Barber returns to the lineup this afternoon for the Bears. Barber was suspended for Saturday’s game after he received an instigation penalty in the last five minutes of Friday’s game at Laval. The penalty carried an automatic one-game suspension. He received a fighting major, instigating minor, and a game misconduct Friday. It was his first professional fight. Barber’s return will be significant for Hershey as the forward leads the club in goals (17), power play goals (9), and a game-winning goals (5).

SILL BACK AT THE ACC: Hershey’s game this afternoon is at the Air Canada Centre, the home of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs. For Hershey forward Zach Sill, the ACC was a building he used to call home. The scrappy center played 21 games with the Maple Leafs during the 2014-15 season, collecting one assist and 24 penalty minutes. Sill was obtained by Toronto on Feb. 25, 2015 from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a deal that saw forward Daniel Winnik go the other way. Following his stint in Toronto, Sill signed with the Capitals in the summer of 2015, and is currently in his third season with Hershey. The forward has 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 53 games this year.

LEAGUE LEADERS: The Marlies are not only the top team in the AHL with a 38-12-0-1 record, but the club also boasts some of the best players in the league. Forward Andreas Johnsson is second in the AHL in goals (23) and third in points (46). Forward Ben Smith is the AHL’s leader with seven game-winning goals on the campaign. Goaltenders Garret Sparks (1.73, .939) and Calvin Pickard (1.86, .931) have the first and second best goals against average and save percentage numbers in the AHL. Sparks is third in wins (20) among goaltenders. Team wise, the Marlies have the league’s best penalty kill at 89.8%.

BEARS-MARLIES FAST FACTS: Hershey’s Anthony Peluso, an Ontario native, is expected to have over 40 friends and family at the game today. The forward is looking to play his first game since Feb. 9 at Lehigh Valley…Goaltender Pheonix Copley’s shutout on Saturday was his first of the season, his fourth as a Bear, and the eighth of his AHL career…Hershey’s penalty kill is 9-for-9 over the past three games…The Bears won the club’s last visit to Toronto as Hershey claimed a 2-1 win at the Ricoh Coliseum on Apr. 8, 2017. Chandler Stephenson scored the game-winning goal at 19:51 of the third period and netminder Pheonix Copley was sensational with 29 saves.