Full Breakdown
Hershey Bears Defeat Cleveland Monsters 5-2 in AHL Matchup
11/22/2025, 12:37:23 AM
Game Overview
The Hershey Bears secured a decisive 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Monsters at Rocket Arena on November 21, 2025. This win marked the Bears' fifth consecutive victory overall and their sixth straight win on the road, improving their record to 10-4-1-0. In contrast, the Monsters fell to 4-4-3-1, placing them sixth in the AHL's North Division standings.
Key Moments of the Match
Ivan Miroshnichenko made a notable return to the Bears' lineup after missing 12 games due to an upper-body injury. He opened the scoring just 4:54 into the first period, capitalizing on a pass from Ilya Protas. The Bears quickly extended their lead with power-play goals from Spencer Smallman at 10:18 and Ilya Protas at 12:07, bringing the score to 3-0. Justin Pearson of the Monsters responded with a goal at 18:00, narrowing the deficit to 3-1 by the end of the first period.
The second period remained scoreless, but the Bears regained momentum in the third period when Bogdan Trineyev scored at 7:04, pushing the score to 4-1. Although Luca Pinelli added another goal for Cleveland at 8:53, Andrew Cristall sealed the game with an empty-net goal at 16:59, finalizing the score at 5-2. Clay Stevenson, the Bears' goaltender, made 32 saves, while Monsters' Ivan Fedotov recorded 24 saves.
Official Statements & Responses
Following the game, Bears head coach Derek King expressed confidence in his team's potential, stating, “I don’t think you guys understand how good you guys can be as a team. And I don’t think we’ve hit that yet.” He emphasized the need for the team to believe in their capabilities and to stick together moving forward.
Injury Updates
The Bears faced some injury setbacks during the match. Defenseman Cam Allen sustained an upper-body injury in the first period and did not return. Additionally, the team was without Henrik Rybinski, Leon Muggli, and Nicky Leivermann, all of whom were scratched due to injuries.
Criticism & Opposition
Despite the victory, the Bears' performance was not without concerns. Coach King acknowledged that the team has yet to reach its full potential, indicating that there is still room for improvement. This sentiment reflects a desire for greater consistency and performance as the season progresses.
What's Next
The Hershey Bears will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming games, aiming to continue their winning streak and further solidify their position in the AHL standings. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Monsters will seek to regroup and address their recent challenges as they prepare for their next matchup.
