December 7, 2008
HISTORY! BEARS WIN 11TH STRAIGHT SUNDAY
By: John Walton
The BEARS won their club record 11th game in a row Sunday, downing the Norfolk Admirals 3-0 at GIANT Center. Never before in the history of the franchise had HERSHEY won 11 straight before shutting out Norfolk Sunday night.
The teams held each other scoreless in the first period, with both Norfolk and HERSHEY firing eight shots on goal in the first 20 minutes. Moving late into the second period, the game remained scoreless until Chris Bourque banked a shot from the left corner off Norfolk goaltender Mike McKenna into the back of the net. Bourque’s seventh goal of the season came at 15:37 of the second, and gave the BEARS a 1-0 lead. With just seconds remaining in the period, Steve Pinizzotto then banked a shot off Norfolk defenseman Scott Jackson’s skate into the goal. Pinizzotto’s tally came at 19:44 of the second, and gave HERSHEY a 2-0 lead heading into the third. Norfolk could not find a way to beat Daren Machesney, and Graham Mink rounded out the scoring with an empty-net goal at 19:58 to seal the 3-0 win. Machesney won his ninth game of the season, making 30 saves.
Notes: The BEARS now head to San Antonio for the first time in franchise history, taking on the Rampage Thursday night at AT&T Center in Texas. Face-off Thursday is 8:00 p.m. eastern. HERSHEY then continues the Texas swing in Houston Saturday night with a game against the Aeros at Toyota Center at 8:35 p.m. Alexandre Giroux skated for Washington Sunday in Carolina against the Hurricanes. Giroux became the ninth HERSHEY skater this season to play for the Capitals. The BEARS have now defeated Norfolk in all four meetings this season. The two teams will not meet again until January 7 in Virginia.
Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game
1. Daren Machesney (Three shutouts during current 11-game win streak)
2. Greg Amadio (Blocking everything in sight, two assists)
3. Steve Pinizzotto (First goal, great physical game)
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