BEARS LOOK FOR GAME 2 WIN TUESDAY IN WINNIPEG

June 2, 2009

HERSHEY looks for a second straight win north of the border Tuesday night, as the Chocolate and White plays Game 2 of the 2009 Calder Cup Finals in Manitoba against the Moose. The BEARS lead the best-of-seven championship round one game to none after a thrilling 5-4 overtime victory Saturday night at MTS Centre. Alexandre Giroux enjoyed a night to remember Saturday, scoring three goals including the sudden death game winner, as the BEARS slipped by the Moose in downtown Winnipeg. HERSHEY trailed 2-1 after one period Saturday night, and fell behind 3-1 in the second period when Michael Grabner scored on a breakaway at the 6:12 mark. Entering play in Game 1, Manitoba had not lost a game this playoff year when scoring first, and the Moose had also not suffered a setback when leading after two periods. Both of those streaks came to an end on Saturday, as HERSHEY poses a furious rally from two goals down. Oskar Osala potted two in the third, with Giroux scoring his second of the night in between to briefly give the BEARS a 4-3 lead late in regulation. Two late penalties by the BEARS enabled the Moose to tie the game at the 18:44 mark when Maxime Fortunus put a puck through Michal Neuvirth to knot the score at 4-4. In overtime, nearly 14 minutes in, Giroux finished off a playoff hat trick and scored his fourth career overtime game-winner, and the BEARS took a one game to none lead in the series. For Giroux, the goal was significant, because it was his 12th of the 2009 Calder Cup playoffs. Combined with the team record 60 he scored during the regular season, Giroux set a new AHL mark Saturday by becoming the first league player to score 72 goals in a single season, regular season and postseason combined. Manitoba, who will visit GIANT Center for the next three games in the series after Tuesday, is looking to avoid a two games to none deficit before leaving Canada. The Moose already lost home ice in the series by dropping Game 1 at home to the BEARS Saturday. Tuesday’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 8:10 p.m. John Walton has the call of the action from MTS Centre. Tickets for Game 3 and Game 4 of the Calder Cup Finals are on sale now. Call the GIANT Center box office for more information at (717) 534-3911.