Bears Rally, Head into All-Star Break with Shootout Win at Providence

With both teams coming off a victory the night prior, the game was scoreless draw in the first period with Hershey holding a 10-9 edge in shots. 

The scoreless deadlock was finally broken at the 17:42 mark of the middle frame on a goal from Hershey's Liam O'Brien. Beck Malenstyn set the goal up for Hershey, staying on his skates in the corner despite a heavy hit from Providence's Alex Petrovic. Malenstyn bounced off the check, wrapped the puck behind the net, and found an open O'Brien at the top of the crease. The veteran forward chipped a shot into the open net for his 8th goal of the season. Riley Sutter also assisted on the opening marker. 

Providence would take a lead in the third period on a pair of goals from Peter Cehlarik. The forward finally solved Hershey goalie Pheonix Copley, banking a shot off the netminder and into the net at 3:49. Cehlarik would put Providence ahead at 7:29, scoring on a slapshot on a delayed penalty. 

Providence's Jack Studnicka took a cross-checking penalty at 18:11, and the Bears would pull Copley to make it a 6-on-4 advantage. With 21.5 seconds to play, Maillet snapped a shot form the left wing past goaltender Max Lagace to pull Hershey even. 

After Hershey out shot Providence 7-2 in overtime, the game progressed to a shootout. Copley turned aside both shooters he faced, and Maillet scored in round one, while Christian Djoos ended the affair with the winner in round 2. 

With the win, Copley improved to 13-6-4. The Bears out shot the Bruins, 33-31. 

The Bears are back in action next on Friday, Jan. 31 at Bridgeport for a 7 p.m. puck drop from the Webster Bank Arena. The game may be heard on the Bears Radio Network and viewed on AHLTV.