The Hershey Bears defeated the Providence Bruins 4-3 in a thrilling shootout at the Giant Center. The game was filled with intensity, standout plays, and momentum shifts.
Period Highlights
1st Period:
Hershey dominated early, scoring three times.
Pierrick Dubé opened the scoring with a quick wrist shot.
Spencer Smallman capitalized on a setup from Hendrix Lapierre, who created space with a wide drive before delivering a perfect pass to the slot.
Mike Sgarbossa added a power-play goal with a one-timer from the right circle.
Providence got on the board late with a power-play goal by Patrick Brown, who deflected a point shot to cut Hershey’s lead to 3-1.
2nd Period:
Providence responded with a strong comeback:
Riley Tufte scored with a slick deke in the slot, bringing the Bruins within one.
Vinni Lettieri tied the game by pouncing on a rebound during sustained offensive pressure.
3rd Period & Overtime:
Both teams tightened defensively in the third period. Hershey’s Hunter Shepard made key saves, while Providence’s Michael DiPietro was equally sharp. Despite chances on both ends, neither team could score in overtime, sending the game to a shootout.
Shootout:
Hershey’s Luke Philp sealed the win with a decisive fourth-round shootout goal. Shepard stood tall, stopping all but one attempt from Providence.
Player Stats
Hershey Bears:
Hunter Shepard: 25 saves on 28 shots, pivotal in overtime and the shootout.
Ethen Frank: Recorded an assist and generated multiple scoring chances.
Hendrix Lapierre: Key playmaker in his return to Hershey, earning an assist on Smallman’s goal.
Luke Philp: Scored the shootout winner with a forehand-backhand deke.
Providence Bruins:
Michael DiPietro: 31 saves on 34 shots, strong in the second and third periods.
Patrick Brown: Scored a power-play goal in the first period.
Riley Tufte: Contributed a highlight-reel goal and provided a physical presence.
Vinni Lettieri: Tied the game in the second period with a rebound goal.
Special Teams
Hershey: 1-for-6 on the power play, showcasing strong puck movement early.
Providence: 1-for-5 on the power play, scoring their first goal with the man advantage.
The Bears’ victory marked a positive start to the New Year and gave momentum heading into their Teddy Bear Toss event.
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