Mateiko assist seals Hershey Bears win over Hartford in AHL

Latvian forward Eriks Mateiko provided an assist as the Hershey Bears beat the Hartford Wolf Pack 4-1 at home in a regular-season game of the American Hockey League (AHL), the second-highest level of professional hockey in North America. With 28 seconds left, Mateiko set up Petr Sikora, who put the puck into an empty net. It was the Latvian's second assist of the season.

Mateiko took two shots on goal and finished the game with a plus-minus of +1.

How the game unfolded

Josh Dunn opened the scoring in the sixth minute, assisted by Andrew Cristall and Justin Hall. In the first period Hershey killed two penalties and allowed the visitors just three shots on goal, while taking 12 itself.

In the second period the hosts converted both of their power plays. Louis Belpedio made it 2-0 after assists from Hall and Dunn, and less than ten minutes later he set up Alex Suzdalev, whose first goal of the season stretched the lead to 3-0. It was the first two-point game for Hall in a Bears uniform.

Late in the period, goaltender Mitch Gibson stopped Nathan Aspinall on a breakaway, preserving the three-goal lead.

Closing minutes

Liam Greentree denied Gibson a shutout, scoring to make it 1-3 with 2 minutes 38 seconds remaining. Hartford then pulled its goaltender for a sixth skater, but with 28 seconds left Sikora, set up by Mateiko, sent the puck into the empty net.

Hershey killed all four of its penalties and allowed only 15 shots on its goal, fewer than in any other game this season. Gibson made 14 saves, while Hartford goaltender Jonas Korpisalo stopped 34 of 37 shots.