BEARS POUNCE ON PACK 6-0 FRIDAY IN HARTFORD

October 30, 2009

POUNCING ON THE PACK: BEARS WIN 6-0 The BEARS scored early and often Friday in crushing the Hartford Wolf Pack 6-0 in a game at XL Center in downtown Hartford. HERSHEY opened the scoring in the first period at the 9:30 mark when Andrew Joudrey scored a short-handed goal. The marker was Joudrey’s second goal of the season, and although the game would become the game-winner, the BEARS were far from done in the scoring department. Francois Bouchard scored his fourth goal in as many games with a lamp-lighter at 11:47 of the first, which was followed by Alexandre Giroux’s sixth of the season at 19:38. On the strength of just 10 first period shots, the BEARS led 3-0 after one. The scoring onslaught would continue in the second, with Boyd Kane picking up his second of the season at 3:35 of period two. Mathieu Perreault then found the net for the first time this season, deflecting a Giroux shot into the back of the Hartford goal at 9:30. Giroux would finish off a four-point night with his second goal at 2:39 of the third. Goaltender Jason Bacashihua earned his first shutout in a HERSHEY uniform, and the 15th of his AHL career, stopping all 26 pucks that came his way. BEARS Radio Network Three Stars of the game: 1. Alexandre Giroux (Two goals, four points) 2. Francois Bouchard (First career four-point effort) 3. Jason Bacashihua (26-save shutout) Notes: HERSHEY will return home briefly to face the Albany River Rats Saturday night at Giant Center before returning to New England early next week. Tickets remain for Saturday’s home date with the Rats, and are available by calling (717) 534-3911 or by visiting the Giant Center box office. The BEARS will be off on Sunday and practice Monday at home before returning to the northeast for a game Wednesday night in Lowell against the Devils. HERSHEY will face Lowell, Portland, Manchester and Providence next week, spending six straight days away from home in the process. Darren Reid was left behind in HERSHEY as the team traveled to Hartford on Thursday. Reid has according to the team’s training staff flu-like symptoms. His availability for Saturday’s game is uncertain.