The Hershey Bears saw their five-game winning streak come to an end against the Cleveland Monsters on Saturday, but Ilya Protas’s personal streaks remained alive after another sensational outing.
The 19-year-old Protas had a career-high three points, extending his point streak to five games. He also scored a goal in his fifth-straight game. Every player on the Bears’ all-Russian-speaking second line, consisting of Protas, Ivan Miroshnichenko, and Bogdan Trineyev, also scored for a second-straight game, earning the nickname “The Money Line” from Zack Fisch — the voice of the Bears– during the telecast.
Point 1 (Primary assist)
Protas’s first point of the night came on a primary assist on an Ivan Miroshnichenko goal. As Trineyev pressured a Monsters player along the wall, Ilya Protas picked off a deflected clearing attempt and fed Miroshnichenko in the slot with a beautiful backhanded pass. Miro appeared to beat Monsters goaltender Ivan Fedotov through his five hole at 5:48 of the second period, beginning Hershey’s comeback attempt after falling behind 3-0.
Point 2 (Goal)
Protas scored his seventh goal of the season and his fifth in as many games after the trio of forwards did a weave in the offensive zone. Miro gained the zone and then cut to the middle, essentially handing off a pass stick-to-stick with Trineyev. Trineyev then dropped the puck for Protas, who sniped a shot from the middle of the left circle past Fedotov. The tally narrowed Cleveland’s lead to 3-2 with 9:49 remaining.
Point 3 (Primary assist)
Protas’s prettiest play of the night came on his unbelievable assist setting up Trineyev’s sixth goal of the season. To create time for himself, Protas put the puck through his legs before backhanding the biscuit to Trineyev wide open in the slot
“I tried to make a play and got lucky,” Protas said at intermission to Hershey’s Jesse Liebman. “Hit him in a good spot.”
The Money Line now has six goals in two games since being put together by Bears head coach Derek King during practice last week.
Protas leads the team in points with 15 (7g, 8a) while Trineyev sits second with 12 (6g, 6a). Protas also leads the team in goals.
League-wide, Protas is in a three-way tie for fourth among most points for a rookie AHL player. Protas’s 15 points trail only Rockville’s Nick Lardis (18), Calgary’s Matvei Gridin (17), and Bakerfield’s Quinn Hutson (16).
