HERSHEY, PA — Sometimes the best stories arrive without warning. Alex Suzdalev’s first career American Hockey League goal wasn’t just another notch on a stat sheet—it was the dagger that gave the Hershey Bears exactly what they needed when they needed it most.
The 21-year-old Russian-born winger broke a 1-1 deadlock with 13:03 remaining in the third period, firing a laser past Rochester goaltender Topias Leinonen to lift the Bears to a 2-1 victory over the Americans on Sunday evening at GIANT Center. Hershey (6-4-1) bounced back from Friday’s five-goal drubbing at the hands of Toronto, while Rochester (8-5-0) saw a solid road trip end with a whimper.
Ryan Chesley’s indirect pass off the boards created everything. The puck ricocheted perfectly to Suzdalev at 6:57 of the third, who found himself alongside linemate Bogdan Trineyev streaking into Rochester territory on a 2-on-1 rush. Suzdalev never hesitated—the moment demanded a shot, and he delivered a wicked wrister that caught Leinonen high glove side before the netminder could react.
“I think just being patient,” Suzdalev said afterward about earning more AHL time this season after spending most of last year in the ECHL with the South Carolina Stingrays. “Obviously I had time in South Carolina last year and I think I just took it positively and played lots and improved my game.”
The goal was Suzdalev’s third point in five games this season and couldn’t have come at a better time for the Bears, who desperately needed to erase the memory of Friday’s collapse against the Marlies.
Sam Bitten had set the tone early in his second game as a Bear. The forward, acquired from the St. Louis Blues organization earlier this week, knocked home Louie Belpedio’s point shot at 13:51 of the first period for his second goal in as many games since joining Hershey. Jon McDonald also collected an assist on the play.
Rochester’s response came quick. Trevor Kuntar capitalized on a Hershey defensive breakdown at 17:14, taking a feed from Jagger Joshua and Zach Metsa before racing in alone on a breakaway and beating Clay Stevenson to level the score before the first intermission.
The second period turned into a goaltending clinic. Rochester dominated the shot count 11-3, pinning Hershey in their own zone for long stretches. But Stevenson stood tall, turning aside all 11 attempts to keep the game deadlocked at 1-1. The Americans pressed relentlessly through the middle frame—when the Bears managed just three shots—but couldn’t solve the Hershey netminder.
After Suzdalev’s heroics, Hershey clamped down defensively, making life miserable for Rochester through the neutral zone.
“We made it hard for them to get through the neutral zone, which we always talk about,” head coach Derek King said afterward. “And we were good on the forecheck to slow them down.”
King’s decision to re-insert bigger, grittier players into the lineup paid dividends in the game’s final 13 minutes. “I know those guys are not going to cheat it,” King explained. “I know they’re going to get in the lanes, they’re going to block a shot, they’ll dive in front of anything for the team. So that’s why they’re out there.”
The Americans couldn’t generate quality chances down the stretch despite outshooting the Bears 23-21 overall. Stevenson finished with 22 saves over 60 minutes to earn his second consecutive win and improve to 3-3-0 on the season.
Hershey stayed disciplined throughout, taking just one penalty compared to Rochester’s three infractions. Neither team converted on the power play, with the Bears extending their penalty kill streak to five straight games without allowing a goal. The Americans’ Vsevolod Komarov was called for holding twice while Brendan Warren was whistled for tripping in the third.
The victory marked Hershey’s fifth straight win over Rochester dating back to Dec. 29, 2023, and their fourth consecutive home victory against the Amerks. This was the response King demanded after Friday’s embarrassment—the Bears made Rochester work for everything, won the special teams battle, and got timely goaltending when it mattered most.
Rochester came in riding momentum from a 6-4 win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday but couldn’t generate enough offense against a desperate Hershey team. Leinonen was solid in net with 19 saves on 21 shots over 58:09, but one breakdown on the 2-on-1 proved costly.
Hershey travels to face the Syracuse Crunch on Friday at 7 p.m., while Rochester heads home to regroup after dropping to 0-5 in their last five meetings with the Bears. The Bears return to GIANT Center on Sunday, Nov. 16 to host the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for their first Washington Capitals Night of the season—all fans in attendance will receive a 2026 Hersheypark Ticket valid for one-day admission through June 30, 2026.
Three Stars of the Game
⭐⭐⭐ Alex Suzdalev, Hershey – 1G, 1 shot, first career AHL goal, game-winner
⭐⭐ Clay Stevenson, Hershey – 22 saves on 23 shots, 11-for-11 in second period, W
⭐ Sam Bitten, Hershey – 1G, 1 shot, +1, second goal in two games with Bears
Key Player Stats
HERSHEY BEARS
- Sam Bitten: 1G, 1 shot, +1
- Alex Suzdalev: 1G, 1 shot, even
- Louie Belpedio: 1A, 3 shots, +1, 2 PIM
- Jon McDonald: 1A, 1 shot, +1
- Ryan Chesley: 1A, 0 shots, even
- Clay Stevenson: 22 saves on 23 shots (W, 3-3-0)
ROCHESTER AMERICANS
- Trevor Kuntar: 1G, 2 shots, even
- Jagger Joshua: 1A, 2 shots, even
- Zach Metsa: 1A, 2 shots, even
- Topias Leinonen: 19 saves on 21 shots (L)
- Vsevolod Komarov: 1 shot, 4 PIM (2 holding penalties)
SHOTS ON GOAL
| Period | HER | ROC |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 10 | 6 |
| 2nd | 3 | 11 |
| 3rd | 8 | 6 |
| Total | 21 | 23 |
SPECIAL TEAMS
- Power Play: HER 0-3, ROC 0-1
- Penalty Kill: HER 1-1 (100%), ROC 3-3 (100%)
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