Rapid Reaction: Defensive Effort Key to Bears Win Over Stars

It was another tight affair for the Hershey Bears on Saturday, picking up their second win of the season, and their second consecutive victory decided by one goal.

Thanks to Bogdan Trineyev’s third-period goal to break a 1-1 tie, Hershey came away with two points in its first-ever meeting with the Texas Stars in regular-season play.

Just as important was the team’s defensive effort.

Cal Petersen turned in a 24-save outing to earn his first win as a Bear, and several defensemen made key takeaways and blocks to limit Texas to 25 shots on goal, and just four in the third period.

Leon Muggli suited up for the first time this season, and got Hershey on the board in the second period less than two minutes after Ben Gleason gave the visitors a 1-0 lead.

Bears head coach Derek King was complimentary of Petersen’s effort.

“We have a lot of trust in him. We know what he can do, but the confidence— I think our guys have confidence, so they play with confidence because they know our goalie has their back,” King said. “You don’t always want to have to give up golden chances, but sometimes it happens, and hopefully he stops the puck, [or] whoever’s in net. [...] All we ask is that they give us a chance to win a hockey game, and that’s what he did tonight.”

Ryan Chesley agreed the team’s defensive structure and their goaltender stepped up.

“Everyone battled hard, did their jobs, and really collapsed in the D-zone to do our best to try to help out Cal,” Chesley said. “And when he needed to make the saves, he did. He was terrific tonight.”

The second-year blueliner himself stood out as the game went along, notably matching up at times against former Bear Mike Sgarbossa with some solid defensive efforts in the second and third periods.

“He had a couple puck plays where I was wondering what he was doing, but after that he settled in. And if you watch his game when he skates the puck out, instead of passing the puck out, it’s so much better for us, and he’s good at it,” King said. “And then he did defend well. So that’s what he’s going to have to do. He’s going to have to defend and then not worry about offense if he’s going to get to that next level.”

Chesley echoed his coach’s assessment.

“That aspect of my game going forward is going to be the most important, Chesley said. “That’s kind of going to be a staple of my game – really trying to focus on that and bring that every night.”

Written by Bears media specialist Jesse Liebman