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WILKES-BARRE TWP. — Throughout the week, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins insisted the Hershey Bears 0-5 start didn’t matter going into Wednesday’s contest.
But it did.
While the Bears sputtered with five losses during a seven-game road trip to open the season, and goaltender Vitek Vanecek put up paltry numbers, things were bound to turn around for Hershey at some point.
It only took two minutes for things to turn in Hershey’s favor on Wednesday, as the Bears struck first and held off a late Wilkes-Barre/Scranton push to win 3-2. The loss is the first of the season for the Penguins (3-1-0-0).
“I think they were the more desperate team,” said defenseman Chris Summers. “If you look at the standings, I know it’s early in the season, but any time you start 0-5 you’re going to be pushing to get that first win.”
The Penguins got off to a fast start, establishing the forecheck early and looking to dictate the pace. But it was Hershey that found the back of the net on their first shot with a goal from Axel Jonsson-Fjallby.
It wasn’t a good start to the season for Tristan Jarry, but he would settle down and keep the Bears off the board for the next 37 minutes until Liam O’Brien struck with 21 seconds left in the second period.
O’Brien’s goal came after he skated down the wall unabated and lofted a long wrist shot past Jarry.
Still, the Penguins weren’t rattled.
“We’ve got enough confidence in this team right now that if we get scored on guys aren’t freaking out,” Summers said.
The Penguins had opportunities, generating 30 shots on Vanecek after two periods. They also received three power play opportunities, but blanked on them all.
Head coach Clark Donatelli said his team was playing well, but they were lacking in one area.
“We could’ve had some net-front presence. They did a good job boxing us out. We have to get better there,” he said.
After two periods, it was clear that Hershey was the hungrier team.
But the Penguins weren’t finished.
Two minutes into the third period Tobias Lindberg scored his first as a Penguin when he punched the puck through Vanecek’s pads to make it 2-1.
After going on three consecutive power plays without a score, the Penguins connected on the fourth attempt when Garrett Wilson deflected a Sam Miletic shot to tie it, 2-2.
“It gives us a lot of life,” Donatelli said of the power play tally. “We put a lot of pressure on them.”
Momentum escaped the Penguins minutes later as the Bears refused to give up. This time it was former Penguin Jayson Megna who ripped a quick shot while Jarry was late getting over from the other post. Megna’s goal gave Hershey a 3-2 lead with 14 minutes left and the Penguins couldn’t muster another tying goal.
Vanecek stopped 40 shots on the night after allowing seven goals in his previous two starts. Summers said the Hershey netminder played well, but the Penguins needed to do a better job with shot placement and creating more traffic in front.
“I thought we made the goalie look good at times. A lot of shots in the chest and not the right amount of guys in front to take his eyes away,” Summers said. “Any time you put it in the goalie’s chest in this league, you’re going to make him look good.”
NOTES
– Ryan Haggerty was scratched with a lower body injury. He’s considered week-to-week. Ryan Horvat started in his place and earned an assist in his first game as a Penguin.
