Photo: Charlotte Checkers
The Hershey Bears defeated the Charlotte Checkers, 5-2 Friday night at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. The win gives the Bears a 1-0 lead in the Atlantic’s best-of-five semi-final series.
After a sloppy start, the Bears slowly started calling it quits and eventually opened the scoring late in the first period with a count of two. Mike Vecion. The Bears made it 2-0 after just two and a half minutes with a shot from Alexi Brutas To lead 2-0 at the first break.
The Bears quickly made it 4-0 early in the second period on goals from Hendrix Lapierre And Conor McMichael before the Checkers finally scored on a power play early in the middle frame to make it 4–1, the score went into the second break.
Checkers closed the gap to 4-2 halfway through the final frame but they couldn’t come close. Mike Sgarbosa He added an empty net goal to win 5-2.
Lined up
Hunter Shepard (20-8-5-1, 2.18 GAA, .916 sv%) Got the start between the pipes for the visiting Bears. Mac guzda (16-9-3-1, 2.88 GAA, . 897 sv%) Got the start in goal for the Checkers. Bears front lines and defensive pairs:
Mike Vecchione – Mike Sgarbosa – Ethene Frank
Joe Sinville – Connor McMichael – Garrett Bailon
Alexi Brotas – Hendrix Lapierre – Sam Anas
Beck Mallenstein – Riley Sutter – Mason Morelli
Gabriel Carlson – Dylan McElrath
Aaron Ness – Logan Day
Lukas Johansen – Vincent Yorio
Hunter Shepard
Zack Focale
scratches: Shane Gersh, Henrik Borgstrom, Henrik Rybinski, Matt Strom, Bobby Nardella, Bogdan Treniev, Julian Napravnik, Jake Massey, Ludwig Pearson, Drew Krebs, Alexander Suzdalev and Garin Bjorklund.
The first period
After a sloppy start, the Bears eventually opened the scoring late in the first period. Mike Sgarbossa hit a shot from the left side, which had previously been tipped over Mike Vecion For the first tally of the series at 14:12. Mike Sgarbosa (1) f Gabriel Carlson (1) He got help.
The bears strike first. Mike Sgarbossa angled sharp, Mike Vecchione directing it. # the capper #HBH pic.twitter.com/4K4AJ3z6rL
– Capitals Horizons (@jon_m_sorensen) April 28, 2023
The Bears quickly made it 2-0 with a close range shot Alexi Brutas At 16:43 of the first period. Anas himself (1) f Hendrix Lapierre (1) He had helpers.
Snake strikes! Alixi Protas makes it 2-0 Bears. #HBH # the capper pic.twitter.com/V9R7XJzF76
– Capitals Horizons (@jon_m_sorensen) April 28, 2023
The first frame ended with the Bears leading 2-0. The Bears also led in shooting, 6-5. Charlotte was 0-for-1 on the power play while the Bears had no man advantage in the first 20.
The second period
The Bears quickly made it 3-0 on a goal Hendrix Lapierre At 2:06 of the second period. Lapierre made a pass to Aliaksei Protas but the pass was redirected away from one of the checkers’ skates for the score. Anas himself (2 f Vincent Yorio (1) He got help.
Hendrix plays Charlotte! Hendrix Lapierre made it 3-0 early in the middle. Lucky redirect by Checkers d-man. #HBH # the capper pic.twitter.com/mPdZvuW2Hl
– Capitals Horizons (@jon_m_sorensen) April 28, 2023
Checkers pulled Mac guzda Immediately after Lapierre’s toll. replaced with GF Berube.
Conor McMichael He quickly made it 4-0 after less than two minutes. Jarrett Bailon (1) f Lucas Johansen (1) He got help.
Connor McMichael makes it 4-0 early in the second. #HBH # the capper pic.twitter.com/ZvOaWEmOQl
– Capitals Horizons (@jon_m_sorensen) April 29, 2023
Checkers finally got to the scoreboard with a strong play goal from Lucas Carlson (3) At 5:42. Alexi Hyponiemi (6) f Macky Samoskiewicz (3) He got help.
Carlson: You still do Carlson stuff pic.twitter.com/jgLa6BY0ec
– Charlotte Checkers (CheckersHockey) April 29, 2023
The second frame ended with the Bears leading 4-1. Hershey led the shots 9-6 in the second period and 15-11 after two periods.
Third period
Checkers closed the gap to 4-2 midway through the final frame on account of Who Santo Kinonen (2) At 8:52. Riley Nash (1) He has the only help.
Here we come… pic.twitter.com/pTaxYGECw6
– Charlotte Checkers (CheckersHockey) April 29, 2023
Checkers pulled JF Berube with three minutes remaining and the Bears’ Gabriel Carlsson was called out for a catch with 2:33 remaining to give the Checkers a 6-on-4 advantage. But Checkers was called for interference with 52 seconds left, nullifying the 6-on-4 advantage.
Mike Sgarbosa He added an empty net goal to win 5-2.
Game two of the best of five series will be Saturday night in Charlotte. Puck Drop is set to 7 p.m.
Carpentry
- AHL Box Points
- Attendance: 4,605
- The Bears last played on April 15. Checkers was last played on April 21st.
- Checkers Logan Hutscu is still out after Hendrix Lapierre was injured on April 11.