By Don Scott

HERSHEY – Brendan Gaunce poked a loose puck past Pheonix Copley, after an initial shot by Alex Petrovic was stopped at 3:59 of overtime Sunday night, to give the visiting Providence Bruins a 2-1 victory over the Bears at Giant Center.

Despite the Bruins not getting a shot until eight minutes into the game, and finishing the period outshot 12-4, Providence led 1-0 on a goal by Ryan Fitzgerald at 14:31, following a Hershey defensive zone turnover.

Hershey enjoyed a 5-on-3 power play in the middle chapter and just as the second penalty expired Mike Sgarbossa scored at 10:26 to make it a 1-1 contest. A Providence giveaway allowed Matt Moulson to setup Sgarbossa for an easy tap-in past Dan Vladar.

The Bears were unable to take advantage of a late third-period power play that carried into overtime, followed by another Bruins’ penalty, before Gaunce ended it with his second tally of the young season.

Providence finished with a 24-22 shot advantage, while the Bruins (0-4) and the Bears (0-7) were scoreless on the power play.

The Bears are idle until a Saturday, Oct. 12 road tilt at Lehigh Valley, then host Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Sunday at 5 p.m. on Giant Center ice.