BEARS FALL TO RIVER RATS 6-4 SATURDAY

January 10, 2009

RATS FIND CHEESE Hershey Suffers 10th Regulation Loss By Jess Mikula A slow start would cost the BEARS Saturday night, as the Albany River Rats defeated HERSHEY by a score of 6-4. After forging a comeback, the BEARS gave up four unanswered goals in the third period, the most goals allowed by the team in one period this season. Albany found the back of the net first with Jakub Petruzalek, as he buried a one timer at 5:13 of the first. HERSHEY struggled to keep the puck in the Albany zone and didn’t register a shot on goal until more than 12 minutes into play. The River Rats kept the BEARS to just 3 shots in the first and held a one goal advantage after one. With five seconds left in a Kip Brennan tripping minor, the Rats increased their lead to two early in the second period. Pat Dwyer recorded his eighth goal of the season from Jerome Samson and Jonathan Paiement at 3:39. Mathieu Perreault answered for the BEARS, potting his sixth of the year on an odd man rush at 8:26. Patrick Wellar and Oskar Osala tallied the assists. HERSHEY had an extended man advantage with Albany’s Harrison Reed in the box for a high sticking double minor. Alexandre Giroux hammered home a wrister from the left circle for his 26th goal of the year at 19:06, assisted by Keith Aucoin and Chris Bourque. The goal extended Giroux’s scoring streak to 14 consecutive games. Kyle Wilson struck 25 seconds later with his 17th of the season to give the BEARS the go-ahead goal on a backdoor pass from Quintin Laing at 19:31. Dean Arsene tallied the secondary helper. HERSHEY carried a 3-2 lead to the dressing room after two periods. Giroux potted his second goal of the night and 27th of the season, finishing a wraparound from Aucoin and Graham Mink at 6:05 to give the BEARS their biggest lead of the night. The lead was short-lived, as a turnover in the HERSHEY zone resulted in an Albany tally from Michael Ryan at 6:16. Samson knotted the game at four with his ninth goal of the year at 13:02. The Rats regained the lead with a power play marker and eventual game winner from Nick Dodge at 16:42. Ryan finished scoring Saturday night, as he picked up his second of the game with an empty netter at 19:00. Daren Machesney suffered the loss in net, giving up six goals on 29 shots. Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game: 1. Alexandre Giroux 2. Jonathan Paiement 3. Nick Dodge Notes: The BEARS head to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Sunday for a makeup game with the Penguins. Face-off at Wachovia Arena is slated for 5:05 p.m. in a game postponed by snow on December 19. HERSHEY returns home to face the River Rats Wednesday night at GIANT Center at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday's game marks the final meeting of the regular season between Albany and the BEARS. Bryan Helmer missed Saturday's game as a healthy scratch, allowing Kip Brennan to return to the lineup after a two-game absence. Josh Godfrey returned to the lineup Saturday after a six-game absence due to injury.