FIRST PLACE MEETS FIRST PLACE SATURDAY

November 6, 2009

It’s a battle of first place teams in the Eastern Conference Saturday night as HERSHEY travels to meet the Manchester Monarchs at Verizon Wireless Arena. Face-off is at 7:00 p.m. The BEARS are looking for a rebound effort Saturday after a 5-0 loss to the Portland Pirates Friday at the Cumberland County Civic Center. The loss was HERSHEY’S most decisive this season as rookie goaltender J.P. Lamoureux earned his first American Hockey League shutout. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Chocolate and White. Manchester enters the game with a 9-2-1-1 record, tops in the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference heading into Saturday’s showdown. The Monarchs handed HERSHEY its first loss of the season October 11 at GIANT Center as goaltender Jonathan Bernier edged out the BEARS 2-1. Around the East Division Saturday night, the Adirondack Phantoms visit the Albany River Rats at Times Union Center at 7:00 p.m. Norfolk continues its long road trip with a game in Syracuse against the Crunch. The Admirals enter Saturday action with a three-game winning streak. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is in Worcester to face the Sharks at the DCU Center at 7:00 p.m. Saturday’s game can be heard via the BEARS Radio Network (100.1 FM and www.Sportsjuice.com) beginning at 6:40 p.m. eastern. John Walton has the call of the action from New Hampshire.