The Hershey Bears won their fourth consecutive game after getting goals from two of their top rookies<\/p>\n
Ilya Protas<\/strong> and Andrew Cristall<\/strong> both scored in Hershey\u2019s 2-1 victory over the Syracuse Crunch at Upstate Medical University Arena, improving their record this season to 7-4-1.<\/p>\n Protas started the game\u2019s scoring 11:47 into the second period when he tallied his first professional power-play goal. After taking a pass from Graeme Clarke, Protas curled out from the side boards and ripped a shot from the right circle past Crunch goaltender Brandon Halverson.<\/p>\n Notably, Protas gained entry into the offensive zone after taking a slingshot pass to start the play as well.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, it was great entry, we won the battle in the corner,\u201d Protas told Hershey\u2019s Jesse Liebman during the second intermission. \u201cI had a little bit of space, take it to the net, and got lucky and hit the net.\u201d<\/p>\n Cristall gave the Bears a 2-0 lead after a great play by Bogdan Trineyev along the side boards.<\/p>\n The Russian forward managed to reverse the puck to Protas, who then found Cristall wide open just outside the crease. With a one-on-one against the goaltender, Cristall had his initial shot stopped but picked up his own rebound to score on the backhand past Halverson, netting what ended up being the game-winning goal.<\/p>\n \u201cReally unselfish change by Stromer (Matt Strome),\u201d Cristall said after the game. \u201cI kinda came flying in and Boggie (Bogdan Trineyev) made a really good play to Pro (Ilya Protas). I was yelling for it, and Pro found me. I tried to have some patience and put it into the back of the net.\u201d<\/p>\n The primary assist on the play gave Protas his third multi-point game this season. Both Protas (3g, 4a) and Cristall (2g, 5a) have 7 points in 12 games to start the season.<\/p>\n \u201cThey weren\u2019t overthinking it,\u201d Bears head coach Derek King said of Protas and Cristall. \u201cThey got pucks in when they needed to, and if the play was there, they made it.\u201d<\/p>\n Syracuse\u2019s Declan Carlile scored a power-play marker with 1:47 remaining, but the Crunch could not tie with their goaltender pulled for an extra man.<\/p>\n Clay Stevenson made 22 saves and improved his record to 4-3-0 to start the year.<\/p>\n \u201cIt starts with Clay in net,\u201d Cristall said. \u201cHe was outstanding.\u201d<\/p>\n Inside the locker room, Protas was awarded the Hershey fireman uniform as player of the game.<\/p>\n Hershey\u2019s 15 standings points now place them fourth in the Eastern Conference standings.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\n<\/blockquote>\n