May 8, 2009
The BEARS look to rebound Friday night in Wilkes-Barre Township in Game 4 of the East Division Finals. Face-off Friday is at 7:05 p.m. at Wachovia Arena.
HERSHEY looks to go up three games to one in the best-of-seven series after suffering its first loss of the 2009 Calder Cup playoffs Wednesday night. The BEARS had two different one-goal leads on Wednesday slip away as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton forced overtime with a late third period goal and won in sudden death less than five minutes into overtime. Penguins forward Mark Letestu scored his first goal of the postseason in a scrum at the top of the goal crease to give his team life after dropping the first two games of the series at GIANT Center. Despite the setback, the Chocolate and White still lead the series two games to one.
It will be a quick two games in Wilkes-Barre to decide where the series goes from here. After Friday’s Game 4, the BEARS will stay overnight in northeast PA and face the Penguins in Game 5 on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. If the Penguins win one of the two games, a Game 6 would be at GIANT Center Sunday afternoon at 5:00 p.m.
The BEARS have gotten scoring from all across the roster throughout the Calder Cup Playoffs, but no one has been more consistent at finding the scoresheet than left wing Chris Bourque. Bourque carries a seven-game point streak into Friday’s Game 4, recording at least a point in every postseason game this spring.
Around the Calder Cup playoffs, the Manitoba Moose became the first team to advance to the third round on Wednesday, sweeping the Grand Rapids Griffins four games to none in the 2009 North Division Finals. The Moose await the winner of the Milwaukee/Houston West Finals, where the upstart Aeros are one win away from upsetting the top seed. Houston won Thursday in shutout fashion, blanking the Admirals 2-0 at Toyota Center. The Aeros can advance to meet the Moose in the 2009 Western Conference Finals with a win on Saturday night. Meanwhile, the Providence Bruins and Worcester Sharks get back to business Friday with Game 3 of the Atlantic Division Finals. The Bruins can take a commanding three games to none lead with a win Friday at Dunkin Donuts Center. The winner of the Bruins and Sharks meet the winner of the HERSHEY/Wilkes-Barre/Scranton series in the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals.
Friday’s Game 4 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 GIANT Center. Tickets for HERSHEY’S next home playoff game are on sale now at the GIANT Center box office. Call (717) 534-3911 for ticket availability and information.