HERSHEY, Pa. — The Hershey Bears started out hot, cooled down in the middle, and heated back up in the third period for a comeback win over the Charlotte Checkers.
Joe Snively scored with just 2:08 into the game on Hershey's first shot.
Less than 30 seconds later, Dmitry Osipov was called for hooking.
On that penalty kill, Matt Strome was hauled down on a breakaway opportunity and was awarded a penalty shot.
Strome scored on the penalty shot to put the Bears up 2-0.
Charlotte added two of their own goals in the first to tie the game up before intermission.
Wilmer Skoog scored in the second period for the Checkers to give them a 3-2 lead. Then, Charlotte appeared to have tallied a fourth goal, but Bears Head Coach Todd Nelson challenged the play.
"I saw the replay on the jumbotron and [the officials] said they could take a look at it, so I decided to challenge," Nelson said after the game.
The referees determined the puck was kicked and the goal was disallowed.
It was a lucky break for Hershey, who stormed back in the third.
Alex Limoges angled in an Ethen Frank shot to tie the game at 5:05. A little more than five minutes later, Pierrick Dube got a breakaway and scored what would be the game-winning goal.
Hershey is back in action for the final regular season game Saturday, against the Checkers.
Charlotte could also wind up as Hershey's first playoff opponent.
Alex Limoges said after the game, "We want to take it to them Saturday. The team that loses that game will be left with a sour taste and players don't forget."
This was the Bears' 53rd win of the season. They can clinch the best points percentage in AHL history with one point Saturday.
You can watch Saturday's game on FOX43.2 Antenna TV.
