Game Preview: Bears at Devils, 7:05 p.m.

March 10, 2018

Hershey Bears (25-27-4-5) at Binghamton Devils (19-30-7-3)
Saturday, March 10, 2018, 7:05 p.m. 
Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena

REFEREE: Jason Faist (26), Evgenii Romasko (39)
LINESMEN: Travis Gawryletz (67), Andy Petrus (26)

Broadcast Information (Pre-game 6:35 p.m.)
RADIO: WQIC-100.1 FM, Fox Sports 1460-AM, WOYK 1350-AM, Zack Fisch, the Voice of the Bears, on the call
LISTEN LIVE: Fox Sports AM-1460 Stream
WATCH LIVE: AHLLive.com

BEARS AT DEVILS: The Hershey Bears make their first and only visit this season to battle the Binghamton Devils. It's the club's first all-time meeting with the Binghamton Devils in New York. Both teams are well back of the playoff picture, but have been playing well of late, as Binghamton is 6-3-1-0 over the past ten games, while Hershey is 6-2-1-1.

LAST TIME OUT: The Bears are coming off a 2-1 win last night in Syracuse. After faltering on three power plays in the opening stanza, Tyler Graovac lit the lamp at 2:51 of the middle frame to make it 1-0 Hershey. The goal was Graovac’s 12th marker of the season and came on the power play. The Crunch tied the game on a power play of its own at 7:56 as Mathieu Joseph tallied his 11th goal of the year. In the third period, Hershey pulled away as Aaron Ness scored the game-winning goal at 13:22. Graovac assisted, giving him his fifth multi-point game of the season. Pheonix Copley was strong in goal, stopping 29 shots to earn the win. The Bears were 1-for-5 on the power play while Syracuse was 1-for-4. The Devils are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss last night on home ice to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Penguins jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but Jacob MacDonald scored at the 19:58 mark of the first period, and Michael Latta tied the game at 18:19 of the second period. Teddy Blueger had the overtime winning goal for the Penguins, spoiling a 29-save effort from Eddie Lack.

LAST TIME VS. BINGHAMTON: Hershey ended a three-game losing streak back on Dec. 23 when they defeated the Binghamton Devils, 5-2, at Giant Center. Hershey got multi-point games from five different players, including a pair of goals from forward Travis Boyd. The Bears took a 2-0 lead into the third period and scored three goals to seal the victory on home ice. Vitek Vanecek stopped 31 shots to earn his second straight win in goal, and the Bears earned their eighth win on home ice despite being outshot 33-23.

LOCK NESS MONSTER: Aaron Ness scored the game-winning goal in Hershey’s 2-1 victory last night in Syracuse. For the defender, it was his third game-winning goal of the season, a career-best for the Roseau, Minn. native. Three of Ness’ four goals this season have been game-winning tallies, and he has the winning marker in each of Hershey’s last two victories. Ness has 22 points (four goals, 18 assists) in just 40 games this season, and is five points away from tying his best season as a Bear when he struck for 27 points in 2015-16 in 62 games for the Chocolate and White.

GRAOVAC THE GIANT: Tyler Graovac rose to the occasion last night, positing a goal and an assist in the 2-1 victory. He now has points in seven of his past nine games (four goals, five assists). His goal last night was his third power play goal of the 2017-18 campaign. The center now has 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists) in 40 games with Hershey.

WE KNOW THOSE GUYS:. The Binghamton Devils feature a pair of former Hershey Bears in forwards Michael Latta and Tim Kennedy. Latta, acquired by the Capitals in the infamous Filip Forsberg/Martin Erat trade in 2013, skated in 61 career games with Hershey over two seasons, posting 37 points (15 goals, 22 assists). He scored last night for Binghamton, and in 43 games with Tucson and Binghamton this season, he has 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists). Kennedy played one season with Hershey in 2014-15, tallying a team-best in points (59) and assists (48). This year, he has scored 28 points (two goals, 26 assists) but has been held scoreless for four straight games.

INJURIES MOUNTING: Both forwards Jeremy Langlois (lower-body) and Riley Barber (upper-body) were injured in last night’s win in Syracuse. Both players are unlikely to play tonight. They join Connor Hobbs (upper-body) and Mathias Bau (lower-body) as players on the mend.