The Hershey Bears (18-6-3-0) trailed 1-0 late in regulation, but Ethen Frank scored the tying goal, Clay Stevenson made a critical breakaway save in overtime, and Bogdan Trineyev completed the comeback with the game-winner in a 2-1 victory over the Syracuse Crunch (9-8-4-3) on Friday night at Upstate Medical University Arena, as the club continued its 2024-25 season, presented by Penn State Health.
NOTABLES:
SHOTS: HER 25, SYR 25
GOALTENDING: HER - Clay Stevenson, 24-for-25; SYR - Matt Tomkins, 23-for-25
POWER PLAY: HER - 0-for-4; SYR - 0-for-4
THEY SAID IT:
Bears head coach Todd Nelson on the team's play, the tying score by Ethen Frank and the game-winner by Bogdan Trineyev:
"We didn't get off to a good start, but we got better as the game went on and we found a way to finally score a goal with two minutes left to put us into overtime. First off, Mike Sgarbossa had that big face-off win to give us control, and we were patient while we played at 6-on-5. Sgarbs then made an excellent pass to Franky finding the seam, and Franky just hit the net; a good all-around play. And with the overtime goal, this great finish by Bogdan off a great play by [Iorio] and [Rybinski]. So what I liked about it is that we got stronger as the game went on and we did not panic, we just played our game."
Nelson on the play of Clay Stevenson:
"Excellent. He had to make some really big saves, and the goal that was scored on him was he was screened, didn't have a chance on it, but he made a lot of key saves the rest of the way. The glove save on the breakaway, you know, it was in a key moment of the game, obviously prevented a goal. Great save. And then the next face-off, all of a sudden we score. So Clay played a really good game."
Ethen Frank on his tying goal:
"It seemed like as we were getting down to the nitty-gritty the last couple minutes there, it seemed to be going in our favor. We had them kind of hemmed in a few times. They were just trying to live to fight another day and throwing pucks out and we just kept on them with good pressure, and Sgarbs made a great play, showed a lot of deception towards the shot to fool their guys on the ice, a great pass and I was fortunate enough to score."
Clay Stevenson on his approach to his breakaway save on Conor Sheary 1:16 into overtime:
"It's a pretty clean view from the far blue line, so, you know, honestly I've just been working on presenting bigger to the shooter on breakaways - like working with guys in practice - and closing in on him as he is getting closer to me and not thinking too much about it, just make a clean save and just battle for my guys. That's all I was thinking about."
Stevenson on how he's battled through a slow start to showing improvement over his last three outings:
Honestly, there's no secret behind it. I honestly believe in my foundation as a goalie and who I am as a person...maybe a couple games at the start, six goals against, five goals against, obviously those aren't what you want at the start of the year, but I trusted my foundation, I trusted my game, and with that I can find a way to be successful stopping those pucks more often than not. So honestly from then to now, not too much has changed. Just a different kind of different mentality into it, not thinking too much about the game. Perhaps that was probably a problem early on in the season, just thinking too much out there, but you know, you play free and that's it."
Bogdan Trineyev on what led to his game-winner:
"Before we scored, Mud made that great save, it gave us power heading into the next shift. Then great passing from Vinny and Ryby - without them I can't just score. They made it simple for me."
NEXT GAME:
The Bears continue the 2024-25 regular season, presented by Penn State Health, when they return home to host the Charlotte Checkers on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. at GIANT Center for Members 1st Bobblehead Night. All fans in attendance will receive a bobblehead of Bears captain Aaron Ness, presented by Members 1st Credit Union. Purchase tickets for the game by CLICKING HERE.
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