February 14, 2009
LOSING STREAK AT FOUR AS BEARS FALL TO ADMIRALS 5-4
By: John Walton
HERSHEY scored the first three goals of the night Saturday, but ultimately fell to the Norfolk Admirals 5-4 in regulation at GIANT Center.
The BEARS came out with three straight power play goals in less than five minutes to begin the game Saturday night. Keith Aucoin, Alexandre Giroux and Patrick McNeill all scored power play goals in the first 4:54 of the first period to stake HERSHEY to a 3-0 lead. With a three-goal lead after one, the Admirals were poised for a big comeback.
Brandon Segal, who was later named the game’s number one star, scored his 14th goal of the season at 2:04 of the second to begin the comeback. Brandon Bochenski then scored a pair of goals to tie the game at 4:05 and 12:52. Before the close of the second, Radek Smolanek scored at the 19:03 mark to give the visitors a 4-3 lead at second intermission.
Aucoin would rally the BEARS with his second goal of the game at 7:37 of the third period, but Norfolk would find the game-winner late in regulation with a second goal of the night from Segal at 16:56. The loss for the BEARS was the club’s fourth straight, the longest of the 2008-09 season. Goaltender Kris Mayotte made 24 saves in his HERSHEY debut, while Craig Kowalski made 46 stops on 50 shots.
Notes: Andrew Joudrey missed his second consecutive game due to illness. Sami Lepisto and Francois Bouchard were healthy scratches after they both played Friday in Binghamton against the Senators. HERSHEY travels to Syracuse Monday to play the Crunch for the only time this season at the Onondaga County War Memorial at 7:00 p.m. The BEARS travel to Rochester next Friday at 7:35 p.m. Aucoin notched his 500th career AHL point with an assist on Giroux’s first period power play goal.
Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game
1. Brandon Segal (Two goals, including the game-winner)
2. Keith Aucoin (500th AHL point, two goals)
3. Craig Kowalski (Norfolk goaltender wins his Ads debut by making 46 saves)
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