HIGH FLYING BEARS KEEP IT GOING SUNDAY WITH 8-3 WIN

October 26, 2008

BOURQUE NETS FOUR POINTS, BEARS BEAT UP AMERKS 8-3 By: John Walton The American Hockey League’s offensive juggernaut had another big outing Sunday, crushing the Rochester Americans 8-3 at GIANT Center. Chris Bourque opened the scoring Sunday on a penalty shot goal just 1:27 into the game. Bourque got a step on the Rochester defense and was hauled down as he came in for a shot against Amerks goaltender Tyler Plante. Bourque then converted for his fourth goal of the season to lift HERSHEY into a 1-0 lead. Rochester would answer before intermission when right wing Michael Duco scored on a rebound against Daren Machesney. Rochester found a way to tie the game at 1-1 after 20 minutes. HERSHEY took over in the second period and ran away with the game, firing 23 shots on goal and building up a 5-2 lead. Karl Alzner got a four-goal second period started with a goal off a rebound just 3:41 into the frame. After Rochester tied the contest on a goal from Jacob Micflikier, the offensive floodgates opened up for the home team. Andrew Gordon scored his fifth goal of the year at 12:27 before Quintin Laing picked up a pair of goals at 13:22 and 16:57. The BEARS took a 5-2 lead into the third, and kept pouring it on from there. Alexandre Giroux found the back of the net in the final stanza, his league leading eighth of the season at 8:01 to increase HERSHEY’S lead to 6-2. Oskar Osala picked up two goals late in the third as the BEARS claimed the 8-3 win and the AHL’s best overall record at 7-1-0-0. Notes: The BEARS now hit the road for a pair of games this week in Hamilton and Albany before returning home next weekend. HERSHEY and the Bulldogs will hook up Wednesday night at Copps Coliseum in Canada’s Steel City at 7:30 before the BEARS and River Rats meet Friday in New York’s Capital District at 7:00 p.m. Bob Woods and Company return home Saturday to face the Philadelphia Phantoms at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for the game are on sale now at the GIANT Center box office, or by calling (717) 534-3911. The team will skate Monday at Twin Ponds East in Harrisburg due to the political rally that will be held at GIANT Center on Tuesday. Dean Arsene and Mathieu Perreault were scratched from the lineup Sunday, making way for Andrew Joudrey and Patrick McNeill. The Americans played its first game at GIANT Center Sunday since becoming the sole AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers. The Buffalo Sabres departed Rochester at the end of last season, moving its prospects to Portland. The game was the 433rd meeting between the two clubs in regular season play. The BEARS travel to Rochester on Friday, February 20 to round out the season set. The 23 shots in the second period and four goals scored in the second were both HERSHEY season highs. Machesney is now tied with Syracuse’s Dan LaCosta for the league lead in wins with five. The BEARS have now scored 44 goals this season, 15 more than any other team in the league. Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game 1. Chris Bourque (Penalty shot set the tone, four point night) 2. Quintin Laing (Two goals in the second to put it on ice) 3. Oskar Osala (Two goals late, now five on the season)