The Bears wrap up a four-game road swing tonight as a rivalry matchup opens a home-and-home set with the Penguins.

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — The Hershey Bears close their four-game road trip tonight against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, hoping to capitalize on momentum from their 4-3 overtime victory at Utica last Saturday.

The Bears enter the matchup struggling in the season series against the Penguins. Hershey sits at 1-4-0-1 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season, with four games remaining in the series, including a final home contest Saturday. Tonight’s game marks the start of a home-and-home set between the two Atlantic Division rivals.

Hershey’s Ivan Miroshnichenko delivered his best offensive performance of the season. The 2022 first-round pick scored twice, including the overtime winner, and added an assist in the Utica victory. Miroshnichenko has logged nine points in his last nine games with the Bears, missing time earlier this month due to an NHL call-up with Washington.

“You know what? He played a good 200-foot game. He played hard, he was battling for pucks, and I think when guys are known to score goals or get points, when they get that first goal during the game, it makes them relaxed and feel better about themselves, and I thought his game took off,” Bears head coach Derek King said of Miroshnichenko’s performance.

Miroshnichenko has been a particular problem for the Penguins this season. He has four points in five games versus Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and 11 points in 22 career meetings against the Penguins.

The Bears’ offense remains led by rookies. Ilya Protas ranks second among AHL rookies with 35 points and has scored four goals against the Penguins. Andrew Cristall sits third in rookie scoring with 33 points and has collected three assists against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. David Gucciardi has one goal and four assists versus the Penguins, but has missed Hershey’s last three games with an upper-body injury.

Goaltender Mitch Gibson bounced back impressively after a poor performance on Friday. Despite playing back-to-back games, Gibson made key stops in the overtime victory at Utica. “Just being in the moment, and I think it was good to be on my toes at times and just going out there and playing, keeping the mindset really simple,” Gibson said of his weekend performance. Neither Gibson nor backup Seth Eisele has faced Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in their AHL careers.

The Penguins last played Sunday, when they defeated Lehigh Valley 6-2. Six different Wilkes-Barre/Scranton players scored, and defenseman Matt Dumba recorded four assists in that victory.

A familiar face appears on Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s roster. Former Hershey defenseman Alex Alexeyev has appeared in 23 games with the Penguins this season. Additionally, defenseman Phip Waugh, who made his Bears debut last week, becomes the 36th player to appear in games for both teams after suiting up in three contests with the Penguins last season.

The Bears are 16-4-4-2 when scoring first this season and 11-2-2-1 when leading after the first period, signaling the importance of early game execution against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.


Special Teams

HER PP: 17.9% (18th in AHL) | HER PK: 82.6% (11th in AHL)
WBS PP: 13.7% (31st in AHL) | WBS PK: 82.1% (13th in AHL)


Officials

Referees: Andrew Bell (6) & Patrick Hanrahan (52)
Linespersons: Jud Ritter (34) & Ryan Knapp (73)


How to Watch

Tonight’s game is on FOX43.2 Antenna TV. Live coverage from Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza begins at 7 p.m. Zack Fisch, Garrett Mitchell, and Ryan Ye 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