SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Hershey Bears will look to bounce back from Wednesday's disappointing 3-0 shutout loss to Hartford when they face the Syracuse Crunch tonight (7pm on FOX43.2 Antenna TV) at Upstate Medical University Arena.
After dropping their first regulation road game and snapping a franchise-record 12-game road point streak, the Bears enter tonight's game with a strong motivation to return to their winning ways. Head coach Todd Nelson emphasized the need for improved attention to detail following the loss to the Wolf Pack.
"Just attention to detail – I thought we lacked it," Nelson said. "We had to make some adjustments with the way Hartford played. And as a coach, you want the guys to execute the game plan so you can see if it works or it does not work. So we had to address that after the second period, but by then it was too late."
The Bears bring a formidable road record into tonight's contest, boasting a .718 winning percentage (55-18-5-7) since Nelson took over as head coach in 2022. This season, they've already defeated the Crunch once, winning in a thrilling 5-4 shootout on November 23.
Goaltender Clay Stevenson is expected to start, looking to build on recent improved performances. After a challenging start to his season, Stevenson has stabilized his play, posting a 1.95 goals-against average and .918 save percentage in his last two outings.
Forward Mike Sgarbossa will be a player to watch, having carried a six-game point streak into Wednesday's game and historically performing well after being held scoreless.
While the Crunch currently sit sixth out of seven teams in the AHL's North Division, they will still be a tough opponent. Netminder Brandon Halverson ranks fifth in the league with a 1.88 goals-against average and tied for third with a .930 save percentage. Defenseman Derrick Pouliot adds offensive firepower from the blue line, ranking second among defensemen with 20 points.
PHOTOS | Bears vs. Crunch Morning Skate
Quick Notes
- The Bears are averaging 3.50 goals per game, ranking sixth in the AHL.
- Hershey leads the Eastern Conference with 12 wins when leading after two periods.
- The Bears have a league-leading 11 wins in one-goal games; last season the club set a franchise record with 24 victories earned by a single goal.
Special Teams
HER PP: 21.6% (6th) | HER PK: 82.0% (16th)
SYR PP: 16.5% (22nd) | SYR PK: 78.4% (27th)
Officials
Referees: Casey Terreri (75) & Brendan Schreider (20)
Linespersons: Devon Gale (97) & Antoine Bujold-Roux (20)
How to Watch
Tonight's game is on FOX43.2 Antenna TV. Live coverage from Syracuse begins at 7 p.m. Zack Fisch and Jesse Liebman will have the call. You can find Antenna TV on WPMT 43.2 over the air or on these cable channels:
Xfinity Ch. 247 and 1178
Verizon FiOS Ch. 463
Blue Ridge Ephrata Ch. 91
Blue Ridge Newberry/Duncannon Ch. 88