BEARS FALL 6-4 TO PENGUINS FRIDAY

October 23, 2009

A late offensive rally wasn’t enough for HERSHEY Saturday, as the BEARS fell 6-4 Friday night in Wilkes-Barre against the Penguins. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, as they often do at home, came out flying. The Penguins were able to put home two goals in the first period, with Ryan Bayda and Mark Letestu cashing in at even strength. Down 2-0 to start the second, HERSHEY would cut the lead in half at the 3:00 minute mark when Francois Bouchard scored his first goal of the season. Mathieu Perreault and Greg Amadio assisted to make the score 2-1. But the home team would answer before intermission with a power play goal from Luca Caputi. Caputi’s goal from the top of the crease past Michal Neuvirth made the score 3-1 after two. A wild third period saw seven goals scored, including three from the Bears. Bouchard opened the frame with his second of the game just 48 seconds in, but the Penguins could counter just 22 seconds later with Caputi’s second of the game at 1:10. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton then took a 5-2 lead when Ben Lovejoy scored on a right point shot at 3:47, but HERSHEY would rally quickly. Darren Reid picked up his third of the season at 4:32, which was followed not even a minute later by Andrew Gordon’s fifth of the year at 5:31. Neither team would score the rest of the way until Tim Wallace put the game on ice for the Penguins with an empty-net tally at 19:26. The 6-4 loss dropped the Bears to 4-3-0-0 on the season. BEARS Radio Network Three Stars of the game: 1. Luca Caputi (Two goals in the winning effort) 2. Francois Bouchard (First two goals of the season Friday) 3. Ryan Bayda (First goal of the game, plus 3) Notes: HERSHEY will return home Saturday to face the Binghamton Senators for the third consecutive Saturday at 7:00 p.m., although it will be the first time the clubs have faced one another at Giant Center. Portland then rounds out three games in three nights for the Bears, visiting Sunday at 5:00 p.m. for HERSHEYPARK pass night. Tickets still remain for both games at the Giant Center box office, or by calling (717) 534-3911.