Sonny Milano quickly made a strong impression after being reassigned to the Hershey Bears of the AHL earlier this week. On Friday night, the 29-year-old winger contributed three points in Hershey’s 4-1 victory over the Rockford IceHogs, marking his first multi-point game in the AHL since the previous season.
Key Contributions Lead to Tied Game and Lead
Milano, playing alongside Andrew Cristall and Henrik Rybinski on the second line, opened his scoring by converting a power-play goal late in the second period. Ilya Protas initiated the play by moving the puck low before Bogdan Trineyev sent a no-look, cross-crease pass that Milano finished decisively, tying the score at 1-1. This goal was Milano’s 48th in his AHL career.
Early in the third period, Milano assisted Cristall’s go-ahead goal at even strength. After receiving a pass from Brett Leason, Milano quickly sent a precise pass to Cristall, the 21-year-old rookie winger, who then scored with a swift backhand past Rockford’s goalie Drew Commesso, giving Hershey a 2-1 advantage.
Power Play Pressure and Team Resilience
The IceHogs faced multiple penalties after the five-minute mark in the third period, leading to five consecutive power plays for Hershey. While the Bears failed to score on their first three power-play attempts, they finally capitalized on the fourth. Ivan Miroshnichenko passed to Milano, whose shot was initially blocked, but Protas pounced on the rebound and scored into the empty net.
Cristall later secured the win by scoring an empty-net goal, giving Hershey a commanding 4-1 victory. This result extends the Bears’ dominance over the IceHogs this season, including a prior win during Hershey’s annual Teddy Bear Toss Game in January.
Strong Goaltending and Injury Updates
Garin Bjorklund stood out with 25 saves on 26 shots, anchoring Hershey’s defense. The night’s multi-point efforts included Milano, Protas, Cristall, and Trineyev. Unfortunately, the Bears lost Henrik Rybinski to a lower-body injury in the second period, with the team confirming he would not return to the game.
Implications for the Team Moving Forward
Sonny Milano’s immediate production signals a valuable boost for the Hershey Bears as they push through the season. With key players like Milano and rookies such as Cristall making vital contributions, the team looks better poised to maintain their winning ways. However, concerns remain about Rybinski’s health and how the Bears will adjust their lineup going ahead, especially in crucial upcoming matchups.
https://twitter.com/TheHersheyBears/status/2027574910403432485
The patience. The pass. The finish.
🍎 Milano
🍏 Leason pic.twitter.com/DI5qSE4ZZu— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) February 28, 2026
🫡🫡🫡 yes Pro pic.twitter.com/AUrmYS3lQ8
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) February 28, 2026
UPDATE: Henrik Rybinski sustained a lower-body injury during the second period and has been ruled out for the remainder of tonight’s game.
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) February 28, 2026
Tonight's projected lineup against the IceHogs:
🖥️ via @FloHockey: https://t.co/PN33pvVp4L
📻 @FroggyValley, @foxsports1460am pic.twitter.com/1YN3JLhnsE— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) February 28, 2026
