For most of the third period, it looked like the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins were going to lose Game 3 of their series against the Hershey Bears.
They were down 3-2 going into the third and were trailing for most of the period until Avery Hayes scored the tying goal with just under three minutes left in the final frame. He let the puck rip from just above the right circle and was mobbed by his teammates along the boards.
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Goaltender Sergei Murashov had just been pulled for the extra attacker when Hayes tied the game up.
Hershey goaltender Clay Stevenson had been making some big saves in that final frame before Hayes finally broke through.
Before the game got to that point, WBS started fast with goals from defenseman Phil Kemp and forward Mikhail Ilyin in the first period. Ilyin scored his first AHL goal in the first period, making it a 2-0 game.
After that, Hershey rallied to tie the game at the end of the first period before taking a 3-2 lead 37 seconds into the second period. WBS goaltender Sergei Murashov made some timely saves after allowing the third goal, keeping his team within striking distance so that Hayes could eventually tie the game.
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Overtime was needed to decide the game, and the game-winner was scored by Rutger McGroarty. McGroarty’s deflection went in and out of the net so fast that Hershey players were stunned that the game was over.
Even Hershey fans were confused because they felt the puck didn’t go in, but the AHL confirmed it crossed the goal line via an overhead view.
WBS will now try to close out Hershey in Game 4 on Thursday.
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