BEARS HEAD TO PHILLY FOR GAME 2 SATURDAY WITH 1-0 LEAD

April 18, 2009

The BEARS travel to Philadelphia Saturday night for Game 2 of the East Division Semi-Finals. HERSHEY leads the best-of-seven series one game to none, with the possibility of four home games at GIANT Center still looming if necessary. The Phantoms will have but one possible home game left in the series after Saturday. HERSHEY scored three times in the third period Thursday night to defeat the Phantoms 4-2 at the Wachovia Spectrum. Oskar Osala scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the third period, and Jay Beagle put the game on ice with his first of the playoffs with less than two minutes to go in the third period. Goaltender Michal Neuvirth won his first career Calder Cup playoff game in the win, and the BEARS earned a hard fought road victory in the series opener. The other East Division Semi-Final got started Friday night, with lower seed Wilkes-Barre/Scranton stealing home ice advantage. Chris Minard and Dustin Jeffrey scored first period goals, and Luca Caputi scored the game-winner for the Penguins in the second period as Bridgeport dropped Game 1 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Long Island 3-2. Game 2 of the series will be Saturday, with the Penguins looking to take a big advantage going home in its best-of-seven with the Sound Tigers. For those fans traveling to Philadelphia Saturday for Game 2, please be advised that the memorial service for late Philadelphia Phillies announcer Harry Kalas will begin at 1:00 p.m. across the street at Citizens Bank Park, with heavy traffic expected well before and afterwards. The Phillies also have a home game that starts at 7:00 p.m. this evening. Traffic and parking in south Philadelphia will be extensive. Saturday’s Game 2 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 the Wachovia Spectrum. HERSHEY will return home for Game 3 next Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m., and host the Phantoms for Game 4 next Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for Games 3 and 4 of the East Division Semi-Finals between the BEARS and Phantoms at the GIANT Center box office. Call (717) 534-3911 for availability and information.