The Hershey Bears (39-16-6-1) roared out to a 3-0 lead in the first period on their way to an eventual 4-1 victory over the Bridgeport Islanders (14-42-4-3) on Wednesday night at Total Mortgage Arena, as the club continued its 2024-25 season, presented by Penn State Health.
Goaltender Garin Bjorklund made his American Hockey League debut for Hershey, stopping his first 11 shots and ultimately finishing with 26 saves to earn his first AHL victory.
Hershey finished its regular-season series against the Islanders with a 5-1-0-0 record. The Bears are now 6-1-1-1 during their franchise-record 10-game road trip, and will conclude the swing away from home on Saturday night at Utica.
NOTABLES:
- Ivan Miroshnichenko opened the game by scoring on Hershey’s first shot just 49 seconds into the contest with his 19th of the season.
- Mike Vecchione scored his 18th of the season at 8:29 with the Bears on the man advantage to give Hershey a 2-0 edge.
- Pierrick Dube made it 3-0 at 11:08 with his 17th of the season, and sealed the game with an empty-netter at 17:30 of the third period.
- Hendrix Lapierre assisted on both of Hershey’s first two goals as well as its final tally, extending his point streak to four games (1g, 6a).
- Garrett Roe provided assists on both of Dube’s goals.
- Cole Bardreau netted a shorthanded goal for the Islanders at 15:34 of the second period to cut Hershey’s lead to 3-1.
- Bears head coach Todd Nelson earned his 136th career win with Hershey to tie Don Penniston for seventh on the franchise list.
