BRUINS SCORE EARLY AND OFTEN TO WIN 7-2 FRIDAY

January 2, 2009

BRUINS BEAT UP BEARS TO RING IN 2009 By: John Walton The BEARS kicked off 2009 by allowing the most goals the club has given up all season in a 7-2 loss to the Providence Bruins at Dunkin Donuts Center. The loss was just the ninth of the season for the Chocolate and White. After some great chances to begin the first period for HERSHEY, Providence pounced on goaltender Michal Neuvirth for three goals on 11 shots. Zach Hamill led off the scoring for the Bruins with his fourth goal of the season at 8:42. Martins Karsums then scored a four-on-four goal at 11:35 to give the Bruins at 2-0 lead, which was followed by Wacey Rabbit’s sixth goal of the year at 19:42. Despite firing 14 shots to Providence’s 11 in the first period, the BEARS trailed 3-0. Providence picked up right where they left off in the second period, scoring three more times to blow the game wide open. Peter Scheafer notched his fifth of the season at 2:51 before Jeremy Reich scored on a penalty shot at 14:26. Brad Marchand added his sixth at 19:02 for the Bruins, with Francois Bouchard finally getting HERSHEY on the board at 16:12 of the frame. Providence led 6-1 after two. Matt Marquardt scored his fourth goal of the season at 1:01 of the third to round out the scoring for the home team, while Bouchard picked up his second of the game and 10th of the season late at 15:13 for the BEARS. Notes: The game for HERSHEY was the first at Dunkin Donuts Center since November 19, 2006 and the first time the BEARS had seen the Bruins at all since December 31, 2006 when the P-Bruins fell 5-2 at GIANT Center. The current five-game road trip continues Saturday with a game in Hartford against the Wolf Pack at XL Center in Connecticut. Face-off is at 7:00 p.m. Bourque was assigned by Washington Friday afternoon, with the left winger arriving just prior to face-off in downtown Providence. Tyler Sloan was assigned Thursday by the Capitals. He played his first game for HERSHEY Saturday since November 2 against Philadelphia. Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game 1. Martins Karsums (Goal and two assists) 2. Tuukka Rask (Big early when it was still close) 3. Brad Marchand (Goal and two assists)