November 8, 2008
EARLY GOALS ALLOWED HAUNT BEARS IN NARROW LOSS
By: John Walton
The BEARS had to dig out of a hole Saturday and fell one goal short, falling to the Penguins 4-3 at Wachovia Arena.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton got off to a good start against HERSHEY goaltender Daren Machesney, scoring on their first two shots of the game. Dustin Jeffrey got it started for the Pens at the 5:51 mark when he broke past the BEARS defense and scored to give the home team a 1-0 lead. Just a short time later, Sami Lepisto tied the game when he fired a one-timer past Pens backstop John Curry at 6:04 of the first. Jonathan Filewich put his club up a goal at 8:36 of the first with a bouncing puck past Machesney, one of just five shots the Penguins took in the first 20 minutes. Despite 16 first period shots, the BEARS trailed 2-1.
A rough night for Machesney got rougher in the second, as he allowed a short-handed goal to Bill Thomas just 3:26 into the second. Machesney was pulled in favor of Simeon Varlamov after allowing three goals on six shots. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton added a power play goal from Jeff Taffe at 12:23 to run the lead out to 4-1. HERSHEY managed to score one to get within a pair late in the period when Kyle Wilson scored his second of the year at 17:29, but the BEARS trailed the Penguins 4-2 after 40 minutes. Wilson would add a second goal in the third period, but HERSHEY would ultimately fall one goal short. Wilson’s goal came on the power play, the first goal on the man advantage by the BEARS in 38 tries. Simeon Varlamov, who allowed just one goal in relief, suffered the loss despite his limited action.
Notes: The BEARS now head to Bridgeport to face the Sound Tigers for the first time this season on Sunday. Face-off at the Arena at Harbor Yard is at 4:00 p.m. with a 3:40 airtime on the BEARS Radio Network. Tyler Sloan was recalled earlier in the day to Washington, where he skated Saturday night for the Capitals against the New York Rangers at Verizon Center. HERSHEY returns to GIANT Center next Saturday night to face the Philadelphia Phantoms at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at the GIANT Center box office, or by calling (717) 543-3911.
Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game
1. Kyle Wilson (Three points and two goals)
2. Danny Richmond (Pens blueliner with three assists Saturday)
3. Jeff Taffe (A force for the Pens, scored a goal and assisted on another)
