Leason's quick two-goal start lifts Hershey Bears to 6-3 victory

Brett Leason opened the scoring at 1:28 and followed with a second first-period goal, sparking the Hershey Bears to a 6-3 victory over the Utica Comets at GIANT Center on Feb. 25, 2026. The early two-goal burst by Leason set the tone for Hershey's offense in a contest that finished 6-3 in favor of the home club.

Leason’s 1:28 opener arrived so early it forced Utica to adjust its gameplan almost immediately, and his follow-up goal later in the first period gave Hershey a multi-goal cushion heading into the second. Those two goals accounted for a third of Hershey’s scoring in the game, and they changed the scoreboard dynamics from the outset at GIANT Center.

Hershey finished with six goals and Utica managed three, with the Bears converting the early momentum into sustained offense across the three periods. The Bears’ ability to capitalize on Leason’s quick start translated into repeated pressure in the Comets’ end and a multi-goal advantage that Utica could not erase over 60 minutes.

From a performance perspective, Leason’s quick strike at 1:28 underlines his knack for finding seams in the opening minutes and creating instant impact. Two goals in the opening period highlighted his timing and finishing in traffic, and they provided Hershey with a jump that the rest of the lineup rode to a 6-3 final score at the GIANT Center on Feb. 25.

Industry context matters: with NHL organizations increasingly scouting AHL outings for depth scoring and situational performance, Leason’s early two-goal performance is the kind of game that draws attention up the ladder. A 6-3 result in Hershey, produced by that opening salvo, reinforces how a fast start in the AHL can alter roster evaluations and short-term planning for parent clubs.

Leason’s quick two-goal start and Hershey’s 6-3 win over Utica at GIANT Center on Feb. 25, 2026, left the Bears with a decisive home victory built on an explosive opening sequence that shaped the game’s outcome.