Ivan Miroshnichenko looked Ovechkin-esque in Hershey’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Laval Rocket.
With the Bears down 2-0 in the second period, Miroshnichenko took the ice on Hershey’s power-play unit and assumed Alex Ovechkin’s usual spot in the left circle. And then the following happened.
Bears defenseman Logan Day sent a pass into Miroshnichenko’s wheelhouse for a one-timer. The shot dinked loudly off of the post.
The Bears recovered the puck and passed back to Day at the blue line. He sent the puck back to Miroshnichenko in Ovi’s office for a second attempt. He did not miss. Miroshnichenko rocketed the puck last Laval goaltender Jakob Dobeš to cut the Rocket’s lead in half.
The goal marked Miro’s second power-play goal of the season and it looked identical to a recent score by Ovi against the Avalanche — the 836th career goal of his career.
Not only is Miroshnichenko starting to look more like a young Ovi on the power play, he uses the same curve and stick model as Ovechkin after being gifted a handful to start the season.
Mirohshnichenko’s power-play strike broke a personal 18-game scoring drought for the rookie. His last tally was over two months ago on December 16th versus — ironically enough — the Rocket. Miroshnichenko now has 25 points (9G, 16A) in 45 games in his rookie AHL season. His point total is ranked sixth-best amongst the Bears. Miro has also played in four NHL games for the Capitals.
His goal would be the lone goal of the second period for both teams, sending the Bears into the third period down just 2-1.
While fellow young Russian Bogdan Trineyev would make a beautiful backhand move to tie the game for Bears in the third, Hershey eventually fell to the Rocket 3-2 in overtime.
The Bears’ still have the best record in the AHL of 39-9-0-3, leading the next closest team, the Milwaukee Admirals, by 12 standings points.
Here’s the full game recap via a Hershey Bears’ press release:
BEARS RALLY, BUT FALL TO ROCKET 3-2 IN SHOOTOUT
Hershey mounts comeback from 2-0 deficit with goals from Miroshnichenko and Trineyev
(Laval, QC – Feb. 21, 2024) – The Hershey Bears (39-9-0-3) rallied from a 2-0 deficit, but fell to the Laval Rocket (22-20-5-2) on Wednesday night at Place Bell.
The Chocolate and White wrapped up their recent five-game road trip with a record of 3-1-0-1, and Hershey is now 2-3 in the shootout this season. The Bears concluded their regular-season series with the Rocket with a 1-0-0-1 record. Hershey improved to 7-2-0-1 against the North Division this season.
Hershey had a chance to get on the board early at 4:04 of the first period when Mike Vecchione was awarded the first penalty shot of the season for the Bears, but goaltender Jakub Dobeš managed to stop the forward.
Laval then opened the scoring with a power-play goal from former Bear Philippe Maillet at 15:45 of the frame when he pounced the puck at the left circle and snapped it past Hunter Shepard.
The Rocket added to their lead with a strike from Jared Davidson at 18:42.
After being limited to just three shots in the opening frame, the Bears roared out of the gates in the second period, generating 17 shots on goal to establish a 20-19 edge.
Ivan Miroshnichenko got Hershey on the board with a power-play goal at 6:11 of the second period, as the forward’s initial one-timer struck the left post but was recovered, resulting in Garrett Roe moving the puck back to the point for Logan Day, who found Miroshnichenko at the left circle for another one-timer that blistered past Dobeš for the rookie’s ninth of the season.
In the third, Bogdan Trineyev tied the game when he took advantage of a Laval turnover and scored an unassisted goal at 6:11 for his sixth of the season, while Shepard turned aside all nine shots he faced in the frame to help the Bears secure an overtime point.
After the five-minute extra frame yielded no decision, the Bears and Rocket dueled in the shootout; in the third round, Logan Mailloux scored to put Laval ahead, and Joe Snively was denied by Dobeš to prevent Hershey from extending the game.
Shots finished 31-26 in favor of the Rocket. Shepard went 28-for-30 in the shootout loss for Hershey; Dobeš earned the win for Laval with a 24-for-26 effort. The Bears went 1-for-3 on the power play; the Rocket also went 1-for-3 with the man advantage.
