GORDON RALLIES BEARS TO 3-2 WIN AT SYRACUSE

February 16, 2009

BEARS BREAK SKID, DOWN CRUNCH 3-2 By: John Walton The BEARS rallied from two different one-goal deficits Monday to defeat the Syracuse Crunch 3-2 at the Onondaga County War Memorial in Syracuse. The win was HERSHEY’S 36th of the season, and gave the Chocolate and White a three-point lead over second place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The first period did not start well for the visitors Monday, as Mike Blunden tipped in a shot past Daren Machesney just 13 seconds into the game to lift Syracuse to a 1-0 lead. After not posting a shot in the game’s first 10 minutes, the BEARS broke through with a power play goal from Chris Bourque at 12:45 from Keith Aucoin and Bryan Helmer. Syracuse mustered seven shots in the first period to HERSHEY’S five, and the BEARS and Crunch were tied at one. Both teams were able to pick up a goal in the second period, but again it was Syracuse that struck first. Craig MacDonald picked up a power play goal at 6:03 of the second to again give the Crunch the lead, but Alexandre Giroux was able to answer with a short-handed goal at 14:25. Giroux’s 38th tally of the season set the stage for a close to the vest third period, where the BEARS were able to find the game-winner. Andrew Gordon potted his 17th goal of the season at 14:08, and HERSHEY finished regulation with a 3-2 triumph. Machesney earned the win, making 15 saves on 17 shots. Notes: The Monday game for HERSHEY was the first for the franchise since playing at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Monday, December 26, 2005 at Wachovia Arena. Greg Amadio, Dean Arsene and Steve Pinizzotto all missed the game due to injury. All are listed as day-to-day. The BEARS now head to Rochester to play the Americans Friday night at Blue Cross Arena. Face-off is at 7:35 p.m. HERSHEY’S next home game is Saturday night when the Philadelphia Phantoms come to town at 7:00 p.m. Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game 1. Andrew Gordon (Scored game-winner in third) 2. Mike Blunden (Picked up goal 13 seconds in for Syracuse) 3. Chris Bourque (Power play goal got the Bears started in the first)