BOUCHARD TRICKS RATS, TREATS BEARS

October 31, 2009

BOUCHARD TRICKS RATS, TREATS BEARS Right Winger Posts Three-Point Effort in Halloween Win By Jess Mikula Fans were treated to the Francois Bouchard show Saturday night, as the 21-year-old netted a goal and factored in on two others en route to a 4-1 BEARS victory. The River Rats found the score sheet first. Pat Dwyer capitalized on a HERSHEY turnover at the Albany blueline, broke into the BEARS’ zone and beat goaltender Jason Bacashihua high glove-side for an unassisted short-handed marker at 12:25 of the first period. What seemed to be the equalizer in the closing seconds of the same power play was waived off by referee Ryan Fraser, as Oskar Osala swatted the puck in with his hand. Bouchard knotted the score at 1-1, potting his fifth goal of the season at 19:21, assisted by Mathieu Perreault and John Carlson. The score was deadlocked after one. Andrew Gordon gave the BEARS the go-ahead goal, as he picked up a rebound at the top of the crease and fired it past Albany netminder Justin Peters for his seventh of the year at 9:01. Bouchard and Perreault tallied the helpers on the power play marker. The Chocolate and White struck again late in the period, as Osala finished a pass from Bouchard behind the net at 18:11. Carlson registered the secondary assist on Osala’s second goal of the 2009-10 campaign. HERSHEY carried a two-goal advantage to the dressing room after 40 minutes. The BEARS killed off an extended two-man deficit in the third period, with Bouchard ringing a short-handed attempt off the post after his high sticking minor had expired. Boyd Kane put the final nail in the Rats’ coffin with an empty net goal at 19:45. Jason Bacashihua earned his fourth win in as many starts in net this season, allowing one goal on 24 shots. HERSHEY went 2-for-4 on the power play and staved off all four Albany man advantages to improve its record to 7-4-0-0. Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game: 1. Francois Bouchard (goal and two assists) 2. Jason Bacashihua (23 saves on 24 shots) 3. Andrew Gordon (game-winning goal and assist) Notes: Jason Bacashihua drew his second consecutive start in net Saturday night, as Michal Neuvirth was out with a lower body injury. Braden Holtby was recalled from South Carolina to back up Bacashihua, while center Gavin Morgan was recalled from Reading and signed to a player tryout contract. Darren Reid returned to the lineup after being sidelined with flu-like symptoms for Friday’s match-up in Hartford. The BEARS will embark on a four-game road trip beginning in Lowell on Wednesday night with a 7:00 p.m. start. HERSHEY will not play at Giant Center again until Friday, November 13, when the Norfolk Admirals come to town. Face-off is slated for 7:00 p.m., and tickets are available at the Giant Center box office or by calling (717) 534-3911.