BEARS FALL TO SENATORS SATURDAY 5-2

October 24, 2009

HERSHEY MELTS IN HANDS OF BINGHAMTON Bears Dealt Second Loss in as Many Nights By Jess Mikula Sloppy play would cost the Chocolate and White Saturday night, as the BEARS fell to the Binghamton Senators by a 5-2 margin. The visiting Senators struck first, as two quick, 4-on-4 goals deflated the Giant Center faithful. Tomas Kudelka found the score sheet for Binghamton, tipping in a shot from Jesse Winchester and Cody Bass at 7:11. Just 24 seconds later, Kaspars Daugavins picked up a rebound off Michal Neuvirth’s glove and slid the puck past the fallen HERSHEY backstop. Darren Reid answered for the Chocolate and White, deflecting a Boyd Kane wrister for his fourth goal of the season at 14:28. Andrew Joudrey added the secondary assist. Oskar Osala knotted the score at two apiece with his first of the year at 16:24. As Patrick Wellar’s screamer was knocked down in traffic, Osala backhanded the puck past Binghamton netminder Mike Brodeur. The score remained deadlocked at 2-2 after 20 minutes of play. Ryan Keller gave Binghamton the go-ahead goal, as he scooped up a blocked shot off John Carlson and fired it top shelf on Neuvirth at 6:53. Backup goaltender Andy Chiodo, called in to replace Brodeur at the start of the period, recorded the lone assist. Despite bombarding Chiodo with 18 shots on goal, the BEARS could not produce the equalizer and carried a one-goal deficit to the dressing room after two periods. Zack Smith tallied a short-handed marker for the Senators early in the third period. Smith, paired with Erik Condra, broke into the HERSHEY zone in a 2-on-1 rush against Patrick McNeill before he deked Neuvirth for the goal at 3:12. The visiting team then added insult to injury, with Kudelka potting an empty netter at 18:38 to close out scoring for the night. Michal Neuvirth suffered his second loss in as many nights in net, turning aside 22 of 26 shots. The BEARS out-shot the Senators 33-27 in the loss, and the power play was blanked on all six opportunities. Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game: 1. Andy Chiodo (25 saves on 25 shots in relief of Brodeur) 2. Tomas Kudelka (two goal effort) 3. Ryan Keller (goal and an assist) Notes: Tomas Fleischmann was assigned by the Washington Capitals Saturday on a conditioning stint. Recovering from a blood clot in his leg, the 25-year-old left winger played on the BEARS’ top line with Andrew Gordon and Kyle Wilson Saturday night. HERSHEY had won 15 of the last 16 contests between the BEARS and Senators at Giant Center and 24 of the last 34 match-ups overall prior to Saturday’s game. The BEARS will host the Portland Pirates Sunday night for the first of two Hersheypark pass nights this season, as all fans in attendance will receive a complimentary pass to Hersheypark for the 2010 season. Face-off is slated for 5:00 p.m., with tickets still available at the Giant Center box office or by calling (717) 534-3911.