Bears get 9 shots over 2 periods and lose 4-1

Just when everyone thought things were going back to normal and the Bears were back to scoring at will came a game in which they could only muster 9 shots through 2 periods.

Those were (surprisingly) the first 2 periods of yesterdays game. All series Hershey has struggled in the first period. In every game but game 3 they were done after the first period as well.

Yesterday it was 1-0 after the first period thanks to a power play goal from Bridgeport. Okay, 1-0 isn't so bad, they could come back from that.

Well more penalties resulted in 2 more power play goals and then a late even strength goal made the score 4-0 Sound Tigers after 2 periods of play.

Hershey managed 5 shots in the 1st period and a whopping 4 in the 2nd. They also managed 20 penalty minutes over the first 40 minutes which probably explains a little bit.

Now obviously I wasn't there watching but you have to wonder how the officiating was as Bridgeport converted 3 of their 9 power plays compared to Hershey's 3 power plays. Either a couple missed calls happened or it was just an absolute poorly played game for Hershey.

Hershey ended up playing very well in the third producing a goal and 18 shots but it was too little way too late as Bridgeport totaled 28 shots and heads back to Hershey down 3 games to 1.

Goaltending was surely a story last night too. At least from a non-viewing fans point of view. Bridgeport started their 3rd goaltender of the series last night Mikko Koskinen while Hershey started wonder kid Braden Holtby.

I would expect to see Koskinen again Wednesday night but I don't think you will see Braden the rest of the postseason barring injury to Neuvirth (quick, knock on wood). Holtby has not looked very good in his two playoff starts to date. Obviously if your team gives up 9 power plays you are going to struggle but you still have to be there making stops to help your guys.

In two games Braden has allowed 7 goals and has about a 3.5 goals against average and is stopping an unimpressive .865% of his shots.

As I said....expect to see a lot more Michal Neuvirth going forward.

Now, obviously all is not lost for the Bears. They return home with 2 days off before Wednesday's game 5 still up 3 games to 1. But you have to be a little concerned now about their lack of offensive output.

But as I said yesterday I wouldn't be too upset with a loss. Although I would rather have seen a 3-2 loss after a lucky shot or something like that instead of a 4-1 dominating defeat.

Although my reasoning for being okay with a loss was somewhat eliminated last night as Albany won in Wilkes Barre to take a 3 games to none lead in that series with game 4 tonight in Northeast PA. Game 5 of that series would also come Wednesday if necessary.

So basically what we need to see Wednesday is...

1. Neuvy in goal
2. More offense
3. More shots....and
4. More discipline

LET'S GO BEARS!!!!