BAD NEWS BEARS

Hershey Bears 4 at GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 2

Oct. 21, 2017

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Chandler Stephenson’s hat trick powered the Hershey Bears to their first win of the season on Saturday, a 4-2 decision over the Grand Rapids Griffins at Van Andel Arena.

Stephenson added an assist as the Bears (1-3-0-1), who had not visited Grand Rapids since Dec. 22, 2005, also skated away with their first victory in seven all-time meetings with the Griffins.

With the loss, Grand Rapids’ record (2-3-0-1) dipped below the .500-mark for the first time in almost two years, since standing 7-8-0-1 on Nov. 27, 2015. The Griffins will try to even up that ledger on Wednesday when they host their first-ever clash against the Tucson Roadrunners at 7 p.m.

Colin Campbell gave the Griffins the lead 6:17 into the opening period, as his second goal of the season tied him with Turner Elson for the team’s scoring lead with seven points. Dylan McIlrath’s blast from the point rebounded below the left circle to Campbell, who quickly chipped the puck past Adam Carlson, a second-year pro who was making his AHL debut.

Grand Rapids eventually built a massive shot advantage that stood at 19-6 as the final minutes of the middle period ticked down, but Carlson – the fourth goalie in Hershey’s system, pressed into service due to injuries to the Bears’ regular tandem – kept the visitors in the game until they netted a shorthanded equalizer 2:42 before the second intermission. With Colby Williams whistled off on a four-minute high-sticking penalty, Stephenson picked up the puck in his own end and worked his way up the ice before beating Jared Coreau with a wrist shot from the top of the left circle.

Hershey carried that momentum into the third period and converted it into a 3-1 lead within the frame’s first seven minutes. At the 4:10 mark, Garrett Mitchell finished off an off-man rush by potting Chris Bourque’s feed from the bottom of the right circle. Stephenson tallied his second of the game 2:06 later when his centering attempt from the left side deflected off McIlrath’s stick and settled inside Coreau’s far post.

The Griffins cut their deficit to one with 12:58 left, once Matthew Ford’s goal was confirmed after a lengthy video review. Matt Carey scooped a long-range shot on net that Carlson couldn’t handle cleanly, and a hustling Ford dove to knock the rebound across the line just before he and Hershey forward Zach Sill slid into the goaltender, dislodging the net.

Stephenson finished off his hat trick with 3:42 remaining when he picked up a loose puck near the right boards, walked in alone on Coreau and ripped a shot through his five hole.

Carlson made 24 saves for his first AHL win, while Coreau answered with 17 in his first defeat of the season against two victories.

Notes: The only Griffin (2004-06) in the AHL’s Hall of Fame, former defenseman Bryan Helmer dropped the ceremonial puck and was welcomed back to Van Andel Arena before the game. Now Hershey’s VP of hockey operations, he was named an AHL Second Team All-Star and the Griffins’ Man of the Year in 2005-06, when he helped Grand Rapids capture the AHL’s regular season championship. A three-time Calder Cup Champion, he ranks first all time with 159 Calder Cup Playoff games played, and his regular season totals of 1,117 games, 435 assists and 564 points are each the most by a defenseman in the 82-year history of the league.

Three Stars: 1. HER Stephenson (three goals, assist); 2. HER Carlson (W, 24 saves); 3. GR Campbell (goal)