February 13, 2009
HERSHEY heads north on Friday the 13th to square off with the Binghamton Senators at Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. Face-off is set for 7:05 p.m. The game marks the first visit of 2008-09 by the BEARS to the southern tier, with a total of four games in Binghamton remaining between the two clubs.
The Chocolate and White dropped a second straight home game Wednesday for only the second time this season, falling to the Hamilton Bulldogs 4-2. Graham Mink scored the game’s first goal on Wednesday, his 20th marker of the season. Goaltender Daren Machesney absorbed the setback. The BEARS still maintain a five-point lead over the second place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins as play opens this weekend.
Binghamton, who has not seen postseason play since 2004-05, is very much alive for a Calder Cup playoff berth in 2008-09. New head coach Curtis Hunt will coach just his second home game for Binghamton on Friday night. Hunt replaced Cory Clouston, who ascended to the head coaching job with the Ottawa Senators on February 2. The B-Sens are currently in fourth place in the highly competitive East Division race, one point back of third place Bridgeport and seven points behind the second place Pens.
Around the East Division on Friday, the Albany River Rats host the Springfield Falcons at Times Union Center at 7:00 p.m. The Rats begin the night in sixth place in the East, 11 points behind Binghamton. Philadelphia is in Bridgeport Friday to face the Sound Tigers at 7:00 p.m., while Norfolk hosts the Hamilton Bulldogs at 7:15 p.m. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has Friday off.
Friday’s game can be heard via the BEARS Radio Network (100.1 FM, 1490 AM, Sportsjuice.com, AHLLive.com) beginning with the pregame show at 6:45 p.m. John Walton has the call of the action from Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. Tickets are still available for Saturday’s home game with Norfolk by calling or visiting the GIANT Center box office at (717) 534-3911.
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