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

February 22, 2019

Tonight, the Hershey Bears look to extend their current point streak to a franchise record 16th game, and extend their winning streak to 10 as they visit the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Hershey has already clinched the season-series against the Penguins with a 7-2-0-1 record in the previous 10 meetings. Both teams only meet once more before the end of the 2018-19 season on Mar. 19 at Giant Center. 
 
Hershey Bears (29-20-0-3) at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (25-21-5-2)
February 22, 2019 | 7:05 PM | Game 53 | Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
Referees: Andrew Bruggeman (22), Corey Syvret (42) 
Linesmen: Patrick Hanrahan (19), Bill Lyons (27)

Broadcast Information (Pre-game 6:35 p.m.)
RADIO: WQIC-100.1 FM, WOYK 1350-AM, Fox Sports 1460-AM, Voice of the Bears Zack Fisch on the call. 
LISTEN LIVE: Fox Sports AM-1460 Stream, Caps Radio 24/7
WATCH LIVE: AHLTV, Facebook Watch

ATLANTIC DIVISION STANDINGS

LAST TIME OUT: 
The Hershey Bears are fresh off a historic, 4-3 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms last Sunday night at the PPL Center. Hershey's victory tied a franchise record 15 game point streak (14-0-0-1). After Tyrell Goulbourne opened the scoring for the Phantoms at 7:38, the Chocolate and White rattled off four unanswered goals to grab a commanding 4-1 lead. Beck Malenstyn scored a pair of goals in the first period for his first professional multi-point and multi-goal game. Mike Sgarbossa added a power play strike at 6:28 of the second period, and Ryan Sproul joined the scoring only 1:52 later. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton also squeaked out a win last Sunday, beating out the Hartford Wolf Pack, 5-4 in overtime. After surrendering a 4-1 lead, Adam Johnson hit pay-dirt 1:40 into the sudden-death to lift the Penguins to two points. 

D-S-P:
On Thursday, the Washington Capitals announced forward Devante Smith-Pelly has been re-assigned to the Hershey Bears. Smith-Pelly has eight points (four goals, four assists) in 54 contests with the Capitals this season, and played a key part in Washington's 2018 run to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. He notched a goal in Games 3 and 4 of the Stanley Cup Final versus Vegas, and scored the tying goal in the deciding Game 5 victory.  Smith-Pelly has played 395 career NHL games with Anaheim, Montreal, New Jersey, and Washington, scoring 101 points (44 goals, 57 assists). The forward is not expected in Hershey's lineup tonight as he has not yet joined the team after yesterday's transaction. 

76 YEARS IN THE MAKING: 
The Hershey Bears current point streak of 15 games is tied for the longest streak in the franchise’s history. The Bears victory on Sunday at Lehigh Valley tied a 76-year-old mark set by the 1942-43 Bears, who went 11-0-4. In that stretch, Hershey didn't lose from Nov. 11 to Dec. 13, 1942. The longest point streak in AHL history belongs to the Norfolk Admirals, who won 28 straight games in 2012. Currently, Hershey's historic run is taking second-best to the AHL's Bakersfield Condors, who are riding a 15-game winning streak. 

WINNING THE TIGHT ONES: 
The Bears have had a knack for winning tight games so far this season. The Chocolate and White have won five straight one-goal contests, and seven of their last eight victories have been decided by the slim margin. Overall, the Bears are 16-3-0-3 in one-goal games, which is good for the third most wins in the AHL. 

VETERANS ON A TEAR: 
Hershey’s veteran players continue to lead the way offensively. Both Aaron Ness (seven assists) and Jayson Megna (three goals, two assists) are in the midst of five-game point streaks. Ness ranks fourth in the AHL in assists with 35. Forward Mike Sgarbossa has factored into the scoring in four straight games (two goals, two assists) and has 44 points, tying his career-high. Defender Ryan Sproul posted three points in Sunday’s win at Lehigh Valley, notching a trio of points for only the third time in his 305-game AHL career. Sproul has four game-winning goals this season, and all have occurred during the current point streak. 

BEARS BITES: 
Goaltender Ilya Samsonov’s next game will be his 100th professional appearance (73 KHL, 26 AHL)...A win versus Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday would give the Bears eight victories in the season series vs. the Baby Pens, something they have not done since 2009-10 (10-2-0-0)...Aaron Ness has tallied 12 assists in 10 meetings with the Baby Pens this season.