The Hershey Bears didn’t play their best hockey this weekend but still managed to win every game of their three-in-three.
Hershey completed the sweep on Sunday, defeating the Providence Bruins 2-1 at Amica Mutual Pavilion.
The Bears got goals from their top goal-scorers, Ivan Miroshnichenko and Ethen Frank while Hunter Shepard won his fifth consecutive game to start the year, making 24 saves in the victory.
Like the first two games of the three-in-three, the Bears fell behind early. Vinni Lettieri capitalized on some confusion about what Bears players thought was a misdraw, beating an unprepared Shepard. After the referees discussed the play at center ice, they ruled it a good goal.
But Hershey fought back. In the second period, after Henrik Rybinski forced a turnover in the offensive zone, Miroshnichenko picked up a loose puck in the slot and beat Bruins goaltender Brandon Bussi for his sixth goal of the season. Bogdan Trineyev recorded the secondary assist.
Frank scored what would be the game-winner 20 seconds into the third period, ripping a hard shot past Bussi. The tally was his team-leading sixth marker of the season.
“We were just trying to start the period off right, get pucks deep, play a simple game,” Frank said to Jesse Liebman on FloHockey’s telecast of the game. “I got a lucky bounce off the ref and I wasn’t really trying to do much. Get the puck on net and I’m fortunate it went in.”
As for his emerging goals duel with Miroshnichenko, one of the Capitals top prospects, Frank said, “It’s unbelievable. He’s a great kid and he’s a pure goal-scorer. It’s a lot of fun watching him. I can definitely tell that we’re learning things from each other, for sure.”
Frank is now tied with one other player for second in the league in goals while Miro sits fourth. Of note, Zac Funk also made his AHL debut on Sunday.
Hershey will now have a long bus ride home from Rhode Island and only get two days off before a game at home against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Wednesday.
