Faceoff Factor

The Pens got out to the quick start they needed, when Jean-Phillipe Cote put a slap shot past goaltender Darren Machesney making it 1-0.

No more than 28 seconds later, Ryan Stone keeps a puck in the zone and finds Connor James in the slot, who one-times home his 2nd of the season.

Stone would later drop the gloves with Alexandre Giroux, who was tagged with the instigator penalty.

Hershey looked as powerful as ever, after they scored 3 unanswered goals, putting them back on top 3-2.

Then, on a powerplay Chris Minard tied up the game with in his 4th goal of the season, tipping Jon D’Aversa’s shot.

Momentum carried strong, and only five minutes later Stone zoomed in a goal of his own. The Pens now led 4-3.

Goaltender John Curry took a slap shot from Patrick McNeill up high, and left the game with an injury. Adam Berkhoel would replace him.

Minard added to the lead after making a nifty move past a Hershey defender, beating Machesney low with a backhand shot. Pens up 5-3.

It looked to be over, but with 22 seconds left in regulation Alexandre Giroux scored past the glove of Berkhoel.

The Bears pulled their goalie, but time ran out as the Pens defeated the Hershey Bears by a final score of 5-4.

This was the Bear’s first loss of the season, and today’s game shows the character and make-up of this Wilkes-Barre team.

Berkhoel was outstanding after replacing Curry, and made some acrobatic saves between the pipes.

The next game is Wednesday, October 22 at 7:00 against the Lowell Devils.