The Hershey Bears enter this weekend's action with a 1-3 record after splitting a pair of games last weekend, losing in Bridgeport on Friday 4-2 and rebounding with a 3-1 victory over Rochester on Saturday in their home opener.
On Friday in Bridgeport, the Bears squared off against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers featuring former Bears Mark Wotton and Kip Brennan.
Defensively, the Bears had a satisfactory night in limiting the amount of shots on goal, keeping Bridgeport to a respectable 30 shots on goal.
Despite allowing the respectable shot total, the Bears were unsuccessful in limiting odd man scoring chances, leaving goaltender Frederic Cassivi all alone to fend for himself on numerous occassions.
The game featured four fights, including a fight between Ben Clymer and Drew Fata on Clymer's first shift as a Bear. Both Clymer and Fata traced the origins of that bout back to last season's Washington Capitals training camp, when Clymer and Fata's brother Rico squared off.
In the goal scoring department, it was college night for the Bears. Jamie Hunt (Mercyhurst) and Kyle Wilson (Colgate) each tallied power play goals, their first goals of the season.
On Saturday, the Bears opened up the home portion of their historic 70th AHL season by hosting the league's second most senior member, the Rochester Americans.
After a scoreless first period in which the Bears outshot the Americans by a huge margin (17-5), Ben Clymer gave the Bears the lead early in the second period with his first goal in a Hershey uniform.
Rochester's Kamil Kreps tied the game late in the second period with the Amerks on a 5-on-3 power play.
Jame Pollock's power play rooftop rocket gave the Bears a 2-1 lead early in the second period.
Ben Clymer's second goal of the game, a power play marker with the Bears enjoying a 5-on-3 power play, capped off the scoring in the game.
Defensively, the Bears enjoyed their most smothering defensive effort of the season, limiting the Amerks to a handful of quality scoring chances.
Frederic Cassivi responded to the defensive unit's fine performance by putting on a spectacular show, stopping 30 shots, several of the stellar variety.
Up next for the Bears are a pair of games this weekend.
Friday night finds the Bears on the road in Binghamton, NY against former Bear and Capital, Lawrence Nycholat.
Sunday night the Bears return to Giant Center for their second home outing of the season, hosting the Albany River Rats.
Bears statistical leaders:
Goals- Chris Bourque (3) PPG's- Bourque, Wilson, Clymer, Hunt, Pollock, Motzko (1) SHG's- NONE Assists- Barney, Wilson (3) Points- Bourque (5) PIMS- Louis Robitaille (19) Plus/Minus- Andrew Gordon, Malcolm MacMillan (+2)
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