After losing 12 of 13 games, the Hershey Bears have re-found their footing. After defeating the Hartford Wolfpack 4-2, the streaky Bears have won their last five games and Friday, Nathan Walker played the role of hero.
The Australian forward scored two goals and tied a career high with three points, including the game-winner with less than two minutes left. Walker also led the Bears with five shots on goal
Goal 1
A little daylight. A little flick of the wrist. And another goal for Nathan Walker! Here's how the Bears scored their lone goal of the 2nd period #HBH pic.twitter.com/7mMtE6Dz4i
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) February 24, 2018
Walker’s first goal, his fifth of the season, started the game’s scoring early in the second period. After some hardwork by Walker’s trio, the Aussie hustled to get a loose puck and peeled towards the slot. Walker then fired a shot on net and beat goaltender Chris Nell.
The goal was assisted by Jeremy Langlois and the Wayne Train, Wayne Simpson.
Nathan Walker's fifth goal of the year puts Hershey ahead 1-0. Langlois and Simpson on the assists. pic.twitter.com/iG0bsWRW9z
— Sin Bin Bears (@SinBinBears) February 24, 2018
Goal 2
THE WIZARD OF AUZ! Watch Nathan Walker score late in the 3rd period to give the Hershey Bears a late lead they would never lose! #HBH pic.twitter.com/OSsdLBID74
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) February 24, 2018
Walker’s second goal came after the Wolfpack tied twice. Nine seconds after the Wolfpack made it 2-2, Walker took a pass from Tyler Graovac in the corner, spun, and shot the puck, hitting the back of the wine. It was the Bears third individual lead of the night.
Nathan Walker's second goal of the game restores Hershey's one goal lead at 3-2. Wow. pic.twitter.com/4O5XNS5O9V
— Sin Bin Bears (@SinBinBears) February 24, 2018
Walker would go for a hat trick later with the Wolfpack goalie pulled, but was hooked from behind. He would later assist on Jeremy Langlois’s empty-net goal.
With the Capitals struggling at the NHL level, Walker is heating up at the right time. The forward has 6 goals in his last 14 games and tallies in consecutive outings. The three-point game is his biggest individual effort in two seasons. Walker last had three points on March 23, 2016 against Lehigh Valley. Walker has scored three points two other times in his AHL career and never at the NHL level.
More from the Bears:
(Hartford, CT- February 23, 2018)- Nathan Walker scored twice, and late game heroics lead the Hershey Bears past the Hartford Wolf Pack, 4-2, at the XL Center on Friday night. The win extends Hershey’s season-long winning streak to five games, including four in a row away from Giant Center.
After a scoreless first period in which the Bears led in shots, 12-6, Walker opened the scoring for Hershey at 4:31 of the middle stanza. After Jeremy Langlois fought off pressure along the left-wing half wall, he centered a pass towards the high slot for Walker. With a screen set in front of Hartford goaltender Chris Nell, Walker snapped a wrist shot into the cage.
Hershey’s 1-0 lead stood until the later stages of the period. Hartford’s Cole Schneider roofed a sharp angle shot at 18:45 for his 11th goal of the season. The goal came following Hershey’s inability to add insurance on a 5-on-3 advantage for one minute.
Overtime appeared to be on the horizon, but Joe Whitney scored a dramatic, late goal off a face-off with 2:03 to play. In Whitney’s first game at Hartford since being traded to Hershey on February 9th, he struck against his former team at 17:57. Immediately following an offensive zone face-off, Travis Boyd pulled the puck back to Whitney’s tape. Whitney’s conversion was his 11th goal of the season and Boyd’s team-leading 27th assist.
Hartford called timeout immediately following the goal, won the center ice face-off, sent the puck into the Bears’ zone, and quickly pulled Nell for the extra attacker. On the 6-on-5 advantage, Hartford grabbed the momentum back and tied the contest at 18:23 courtesy of Scott Kosmachuk.
Just when it appeared overtime would be looming once more, the Bears scored nine seconds later for their third separate lead of the night. Tyler Graovac threw the puck in front from the corner, and Walker spun and fired a puck on edge past Nell to give Hershey a 3-2 lead.
Walker was sprung on a breakaway with an empty net, but was hooked from behind to breakup the opportunity for the hat-trick. Moments later, Walker found Langlois for the empty net tally at 19:33.
The thrilling 4-2 win for the Chocolate and White improved their record to 23-25-3-4, while the Hartford Wolf Pack fall to 25-24-4-3. Hershey outshot Hartford, 29-23.
The Hershey Bears continue their latest three in three stretch tomorrow night at Giant Center. For the first time ever in Hershey, the Bears will play host to the Rockford IceHogs. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Headline photo: @TheHersheyBears
