Regular Season Game 35: Hershey Bears 5, Bridgeport Sound Tigers 0 (1/3/16)

Box Score

Hershey (17-11-1-5) at Bridgeport (19-13-2-1)

Webster Bank Arena: Bridgeport, CT

Goalies: Ellis (9-5-3, 2.72) vs. Williams (7-7-0, 2.65)

1st Period
Scoring

18:33- HER Goal: Mitchell (5), Walker

Penalties

6:06- HER Penalty: Herbert for Slashing (2:00)

19:12- BRI Penalty: B. Holmstrom for Tripping (2:00)

2nd Period

Scoring

11:56- HER Goal (PPG): Bourque (12), Barber & Boyd

14:11- HER Goal: Collins (7), Gazley

Penalties

10:12- BRI Penalty: J. Holmstrom for Interference (2:00)

14:41- BRI Penalty: Carkner for Cross-Checking (2:00)

16:45- HER Penalty: Camper for Hooking (2:00)

3rd Period

Scoring

1:18- HER Goal: Bourque (13), Boyd

17:12- HER Goal: Gazley (6), Herbert

Penalties

7:28- BRI Penalty: Carkner for Fighting (5:00)

7:28- HER Penalty: O'Brien for Fighting (5:00)

9:41- HER Penalty: Bourque for Slashing (2:00)

Shots

HER: 12-13-7=32

BRI: 7-13-12=32

Recap

Going into this game, it wasn't sure if the momentum from the huge comeback last night would continue. That was answered emphatically in this one, as the Bears had a great gameplan and got a great performance from Dan Ellis. The first period would be light on events, but with 1:27 left in the period, the Bears got on the board. Garrett Mitchell scored his 5th of the season, from Nathan Walker. After the 1st, the Bears had the 12-7 shot advantage.

In the 2nd, the power play would finally wake up for the Bears. At the 11:56 mark, the lead was increased to two. Chris Bourque scored his 12th of the season, from Riley Barber & Travis Boyd. At the 14:11 mark, the lead would increase to three. Sean Collins scored his 7th of the season, from Dustin Gazley. Around 30 seconds later, a scary moment would happen as Hershey's captain Garrett Mitchell was hit head-first into the boards by Bridgeport's Matt Carkner. Mitchell was able to skate off the ice under his own power, so here's hoping he's okay. After the 2nd, the Bears had the 25-20 shot advantage.

In the 3rd, the lead would just grow bigger. 1:18 into the period, it was now 4-0. Chris Bourque scored his 2nd of the night (13th of season), from Travis Boyd (2nd assist of night). A fight would occur at the 7:28 mark (probably stemming from the hit on Mitchell) between Hershey's Liam O'Brien and Bridgeport's Matt Carkner. Towards the end of the period, the Bears would get one more to make it 5-0. Dustin Gazley scored his 6th of the season (2nd point of night), from Caleb Herbert. Dan Ellis finished with the 32-save shutout (Hershey also had 32 shots on goal).

Next Game: Friday at Rochester, 7:05

Note: I will be away this weekend, so it's likely that the posts for Friday and Saturday will be up around the same time that the post for Sunday's game is up. Apologies in advance!