BEARS HEAD TO BINGHAMTON WEDNESDAY

February 24, 2009

The BEARS begin a stretch of four games in five nights Wednesday, taking on the Binghamton Senators at Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. Face-off is at 7:05 p.m. HERSHEY enters play Wednesday holding onto first place in the East Division, coming off perhaps the club’s most dramatic victory of the season Saturday night. Trailing 4-2 early in the third period, the BEARS scored twice to tie the game with goals from Bryan Helmer and Jay Beagle. Keith Aucoin then scored the game-winner with less than one second remaining in sudden death overtime to defeat Philadelphia 5-4. The triumph gave the Chocolate and White a three point edge over second place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, who lost earlier Saturday night to Hamilton. Binghamton enters play Wednesday holding down the fourth position in the East with 66 points, seven behind Bridgeport for third and only three ahead of fifth place Philadelphia. With 23 games left in the regular season, the Senators are trying to make the Calder Cup playoffs for the first time since 2005, while the Phantoms are looking to advance to postseason play in its final season at the Spectrum. Around the East Division Wednesday, the most moving game of the night is at the Arena at Harbor Yard. The Albany River Rats, who have been out of action since last Thursday’s bus crash in western Massachusetts, will take to the ice for the first time since the accident. Four Albany players, including former BEARS defenseman Jonathan Paiement, remain sidelined with injuries suffered in the crash. The River Rats skate in Bridgeport against the Sound Tigers at 7:00 p.m. Elsewhere in the East Division, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will host the Hartford Wolf Pack at Wachovia Arena. Face-off in northeast PA is set for 7:05 p.m. Wednesday’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 New York’s southern tier. The Norfolk Admirals and Providence Bruins are in town this weekend for games at GIANT Center. The Admirals come in Saturday night at 7:00 p.m., while the Bruins invade on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. Tickets are still available for both games by calling or visiting the GIANT Center box office at (717) 534-3911.