Matthew Phillips made his Hershey Bears’ debut against the Charlotte Checkers on Saturday. And he was fantastic.
The 5-foot-8 right winger scored a goal and tallied an assist in the Bears’ 3-2 win, ending an uncharacteristic three-game losing streak for the team. Phillips missed the Bears’ game the night before because he was traveling.
Head coach Todd Nelson placed Phillips on the second line in his first game.
Tonight's projected lineup against the Checkers📝
Matthew Phillips makes his Bears debut tonight!
Catch today's broadcast:
📺 Antenna TV (@fox43.2)
🖥️ https://t.co/HaxQBmLCRZ
📻@FroggyValley, @foxsports1460am pic.twitter.com/0LvUGmsIaM— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) March 9, 2024
He scored 4:36 into the game after being a benefactor some hard work along the boards and some great passing. Pierrick Dubé stole the puck at the corner boards, finding Jimmy Huntington in front of the net. The center then bunted the puck over to Phillips who easily finished the play.
The goal marked Phillips first tally in the AHL since April 8, 2023 as a member of the Calgary Wranglers, the Flames’ AHL affiliate. Notably, Capitals’ assistant coach Mitch Love was the team’s bench boss back then.
Ten minutes and nineteen seconds later, Phillips registered a primary assist on Jimmy Huntington’s first goal of the night after winning a puck battle behind the net.
Huntington would score again 3:29 into the second period for what would be the game-winning goal.
Phillips is with the Bears after being put on waivers by the Pittsburgh Penguins and reclaimed by the Capitals on March 5. Because Phillips was on the Bears’ roster on Friday, he’s eligible to play in Hershey during the postseason.
According to Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery, Phillips could end up back in Washington at some point as the Capitals play their youth more down the stretch.
The Bears improved to 42-11-0-4 with the victory. Their next game comes Friday night in Utica.
