Home / Game Recap / Ivan Miroshnichenko records first multi-point game, Clay Stevenson records first AHL shutout in Bears’ 4-0 win over Phantoms

Ivan Miroshnichenko records first multi-point game, Clay Stevenson records first AHL shutout in Bears’ 4-0 win over Phantoms

By Ian Oland

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October 28, 2023 10:40 pm

The Hershey Bears have won five of their first seven games after defeating the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 4-0, Saturday.

Six Bears had milestones on the evening. Young players Ivan Miroshnichenko recorded his first career multi-point night, Ryan Hofer had his first AHL point, and Clay Stevenson earned his first AHL shutout. Veterans Mike Sgarbossa tallied his 400th career AHL point, Aaron Ness recorded his 300th career point, and Logan Day scored his first career goal as a member of the Hershey Bears.

Pierrick Dubé scored the Bears’ first goal of the night, burying a one-timer on the power play from the right circle. Miroshnichenko recorded his first point on the play, a secondary assist.

Following what appeared to be a demolition derby at the Bears’ blue line, Mike Vecchione made it 2-0 on an odd-man rush with 6:53 remaining. Aaron Ness recorded the primary assist with a beautiful cross-crease pass while Sgarbossa got the secondary apple.

Dubé scored his second of the night, benefitting from a stunning take to the net by Miroshnichenko. Miro peeled past a Phantoms defender down the left wing, only to be stopped on the doorstep. Dubé finished the play on the rebound, marking his second multi-point night as Bear early in the season. Ryan Hofer also registered his first pro point, a secondary assist, on the goal.

Day added an empty netter. The tally marked his first career regular season goal with Hershey after scoring three times during the Bears’ championship run.

Here are the full highlights from the game.

And the kids with their milestone pucks.

It’s worth noting Vincent Iorio did not play due to illness while Hendrix Lapierre did not suit up as well. These were the line combinations.

Hershey’s press release with its postgame recap is below.

BEARS, STEVENSON BLANK PHANTOMS 4-0

Hershey goalie makes 32 saves for first AHL shutout

(Hershey, PA – Oct. 28, 2023) – Pierrick Dubé scored twice and Clay Stevenson earned his first pro shutout to give the Hershey Bears (5-2-0-0) a 4-0 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (3-3-0-0) on Saturday night at GIANT Center.

BOX SCORE

Hershey took a 1-0 lead late in the opening period when Dubé hammered a one-timer at the right circle past Phantoms goalie Cal Petersen at 18:25 to give the Bears a power-play goal. The goal was Dubé’s second of the season, and came from Joe Snively and Ivan Miroshnichenko.

The Bears added to their lead in the second period when Mike Vecchione netted his third of the season at 6:53. Both assisting players hit milestones with their contributions: Aaron Ness earned his 300th career AHL point, while Mike Sgarbossa earned his 400th career AHL point.

Defensively, the Bears received major contributions on the penalty kill late in the second, as Nic Aubé-Kubel (double-minor for high-sticking, 19:29) and Ness (minor for slashing, 19:31) were sent to the box, but goaltender Stevenson and the PK unit limited Lehigh Valley to only five shots on goal over the life of the two infractions.

Hershey widened the lead to 3-0 midway through the third when Miroshnichenko drove to the net from the left wing, and the forward’s rebound was smashed in by Dubé for his second of the night at 10:02. Ryan Hofer earned the secondary assist on the goal for his first pro point.

Logan Day added an empty-net goal from Snively at 15:46 for his first of the season to make it 4-0.

Shots finished 32-29 in favor of the Phantoms. Stevenson made an AHL career-high 32 saves on 32 shots against for the shutout; Petersen went 25-for-28 in the defeat for Lehigh Valley. Hershey was 1-for-3 on the power play; the Phantoms went 0-for-8 with the man advantage.

Headline photo: Tori Hartman/Hershey Bears

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