A day after Ethen Frank sent hats flying on the Hershey Bears’ banner-raising night, Ivan Miroshnichenko had his own milestone moment in a rematch against the Cleveland Monsters on Sunday.
Miroshnichenko scored once in the second period and twice in the third to complete the trick.
Miro’s first goal
With the Bears down 2-0, Miroshnichenko scored his first goal of the season 9:43 into the second period. The Capitals highly-rated prospect slammed a one-timer past Monsters goaltender Zach Sawchenko as a Bears’ 5-on-3 power-play turned into a 5-on-4. Mike Sgarbossa, one of the Capitals’ final cuts in camp, sent a perfect cross-ice pass to Miro in the Ovi Spot — the left circle.
Miro’s second goal
Miro found pay dirt again six minutes into the third as he set up shop in front of the net. From the end boards, Henrik Rybinski set up the winger wide open for a lay up.
Miro’s hat-trick goal
The Russian young star sent hats flying with a fortunate bounce off a Monsters defenseman’s skates. Instead of finding Sgarbossa at the far post, Miro’s pass chunked into the net to narrow Cleveland’s lead to 4-3 with 8:19 remaining in the game.
Not only did the effort mark Miro’s first career AHL hat trick, but it was also his first career multi-goal regular season game.
Miro’s offense would be all the Bears could muster in the team’s 6-3 loss to the Monsters. His opposite number 10, Luca Del Bel Belluz, had his own hat trick for Cleveland.
“It’s my first hat trick, so I’m happy for that – it’s a big moment for my career and family,” Miroshnichenko said postgame through a translation by Alex Suzdalev. “But it’s not okay, I think we had to be better. But it’s also the first game in the season. We’re still working on details and new guys. But 5 to 10 games in, I think we’ll be in a better place.”
After having three shots in his first game of the season, Miroshnichenko’s three goals represented his first three points of the season. He’s now tied for the team lead in goals with Ethen Frank. Miro skated with Henrik Rybinski and Spencer Smallman on the third line.
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