GAME 1 BELONGS TO CHOCOLATETOWN 5-3

May 2, 2009

BEARS SEND PENGUINS MARCHING Four Bears Record Multi-Point Effort in Game 1 Win By Jess Mikula Five different players scored goals, and four registered a multi-point game for HERSHEY as the BEARS defeated the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins by a 5-3 margin in Game 1 of the East Division Finals Saturday night. The BEARS drew first blood, as Staffan Kronwall fired a slap shot from the point at 9:38 of the first period to notch his third goal of the postseason. Keith Aucoin and Chris Bourque recorded the helpers on the power play marker. Bourque picked up a Tyler Sloan shot that went wide and beat Wilkes-Barre/Scranton netminder John Curry for his first goal of the playoffs at 11:13, with Jay Beagle adding the secondary assist. Oskar Osala was awarded a penalty shot at 16:06 but was stopped by Curry. HERSHEY out-shot the Baby Pens 13-11 and held a 2-0 advantage after the first period. Jean-Michel Daoust answered for the visiting team with a slap shot to Neuvirth’s glove side at 14:31 of the second, assisted by Chris Minard and Jeff Taffe. With Andrew Gordon serving an interference minor, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton evened the score, as Nick Johnson finished a drive from Luca Caputi and Dustin Jeffrey at 16:55. Johnson’s tally marked the first time during the 2009 Calder Cup Playoffs that the BEARS had given up a power play goal. The Chocolate and White scored a power play marker to regain the lead late in the period, with Gordon tipping Bryan Helmer’s slap shot from the blueline at 19:43. Kyle Wilson tallied the second assist. The BEARS were out-shot 13-6 in the second stanza but carried a 3-2 lead to the dressing room after two. Wilson found an open net early in the third period, potting his second of the playoffs at 1:38, from Gordon and Francois Bouchard. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton fired back with its second power play goal of the night, Johnson beating a diving Neuvirth at 7:45. Alexandre Giroux rounded out scoring for the BEARS with his third postseason goal coming at 9:21, with Aucoin recording the lone assist. HERSHEY went 2-for-3 on the power play and 4-for-6 on the penalty kill Saturday night. The Baby Pens out-shot the BEARS by a 14-4 margin in the third period. Michal Neuvirth earned his fifth win in as many games this postseason, turning aside 35 of 38 shots. Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game: 1. Kyle Wilson (game winning goal and an assist) 2. Andrew Gordon (goal and an assist) 3. Michal Neuvirth (35 saves) Notes: Staffan Kronwall returned to the HERSHEY lineup after suffering a scratched cornea in Game 3 of the East Division Semifinals on April 22. Defenseman John Carlson made his professional debut for HERSHEY Saturday night. Prior to Saturday’s game, the BEARS had an all-time record of 9-9 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in postseason contests. This marks the fourth consecutive season that the BEARS and Penguins have met in the postseason. The Penguins will return to Giant Center for Game 2 of the East Division Finals on Sunday, May 3, with a 5:00 p.m. puck drop. Tickets are available at the Giant Center box office or by calling (717) 534-3911.