The Hershey Bears were able to snap their three-game skid Wednesday night in Utica, beating the Comets 4-2. Capitals prospect Nathan Walker scored two goals, including the game-winning tally. Recent ECHL call-up Domenic Monardo added two assists.
The Bears’ first goal was scored by Liam O’Brien on a fire drill in front of the net.Hershey would increase their lead later in the period on a Chris Bourque five-on-three power play goal with assists from Paul Carey and Jakub Vrana.
The assist marked Carey’s 12th point of the year in 13 games. Vrana’s assist would bring his season point total to ten. Walker now has four goals and four assists on the year. Bears Goalie Joe Cannata stopped a total of 19 shots against his former team.
Nathan Walker’s two goals
Liam O’Brien goal
.@ob61 draws first blood for @TheHersheyBears. #HERvsUTI pic.twitter.com/RQg9zQJke5
— AHL (@TheAHL) November 17, 2016
Full game highlights
Game recap
(UTICA, NY- November 16, 2016)- A fast start on the road and two goals from Nathan Walker propelled the Hershey Bears to 4-2 victory over the Utica Comets on Wednesday night at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. Hershey snapped a three-game skid and has now won the past five contests versus Utica. Former Utica goaltender Joe Cannata earned the win in goal for Hershey, stopping 19 shots against his former club.
The Bears jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening period. Forward Liam O’Brien struck for his first goal of the season at 8:27 on a scramble in front of the Utica net. Forward Domenic Monardo, just called up from South Carolina of the ECHL, poked the puck to the crease. O’Brien was parked on the right side of the goal and slid a shot past Utica netminder Richard Bachman to make it 1-0 Bears.
Hershey would double its lead on the power play at 14:32. Forward Chris Bourque scored his second goal of the season with Hershey on a five-on-three advantage. Paul Carey and Jakub Vrana assisted, as Bourque’s slap shot from the right wing beat Bachman over the pad.
Curtis Valk would cut the Bears lead in half in the second period, beating Cannata over the glove at 9:12 to make it 2-1. However, the Bears would respond to retake a two-goal lead. Monardo would continue his strong first impression with Hershey, setting up Walker for his first goal of the game. Monardo beat a Utica defender and fed a pass to Walker in the slot. The forward struck for his third goal of the season, beating Bachman over the glove at 14:29 to make it 3-1.
After Darren Archibald cut Hershey’s lead to just one goal only 1:25 into the third period, Walker had an answer again. O’Brien’s first shot was denied by Bachman, but Walker jammed the rebound past the goaltender’s right pad at 12:04 to make it 4-2 Hershey.
The Bears went 1-for-6 on the power play and held Utica to 0-for-4. Hershey outshot the Comets 31-21.
The Bears are back in action on Friday at the GIANT Center versus the Syracuse Crunch. It’s Dietz and Watson Dollar Dog Night and Faith and Family Night. The puck drops at 7 p.m.
