NEUVIRTH EARNS SHUTOUT WIN WITH 42-SAVE EFFORT

November 29, 2009

BEARS FREEZE OUT PENGUINS Neuvirth Earns Shutout Win in Net By Jess Mikula Despite being doubled up on shots, five different BEARS recorded multi-point efforts Sunday night as HERSHEY blanked the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 5-0. The Chocolate and White closed out November with an 8-2-0-2 record for the month. Kyle Wilson put the BEARS on the board with his seventh goal of the season and his third in as many nights with a power play marker at 7:13. Zach Miskovic dumped the puck into the Penguins’ zone after a face-off in neutral ice, and Wilson fired a one timer past Wilkes-Barre/Scranton netminder John Curry. Bryan Helmer tallied the secondary assist. John Carlson kept the Baby Pens off the score sheet, as he swatted the puck away from the open net on the penalty kill. Boyd Kane added his ninth goal of the year with a deft backhand to Curry’s short side at 18:09. HERSHEY led by a 2-0 margin after 20 minutes. Andrew Gordon found the score sheet for the third consecutive game, collecting the puck off the dasher and firing a slap shot past Curry at 3:31. Gordon’s 11th of the season came just as the BEARS’ power play expired, with assists from Miskovic and Keith Aucoin. The Chocolate and White struck again with a tally on the man advantage at 12:41. Aucoin launched a screamer, Gordon sticked the shot with his backhand and Kane tipped in the puck from the top of the crease for his tenth goal of the season and his second of the night. Despite being outshot 21-4 in the second period, HERSHEY held a commanding four-goal advantage after two. The BEARS found the back of the net a final time in the third period, as Wilson fed Darren Reid for a backdoor power play marker at 17:53. Michael Dubuc registered the secondary helper on Reid’s sixth goal of the year and second in as many games. HERSHEY backstop Michal Neuvirth made 42 saves en route to the shutout win, the most by a BEARS goaltender this season. With the victory, he bettered to eight wins in 12 starts in net. The Chocolate and White registered a season low shot count Sunday night, as the visiting Penguins outshot the home team 42-21. The BEARS’ power play struck three times on nine chances, while the penalty kill denied the Baby Pens on all seven opportunities to remain perfect at home. The HERSHEY kill ranks first overall in the league, having allowed just five power play goals on 95 shots, none of them coming at Giant Center. Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game: 1. Michal Neuvirth (42-save shutout) 2. Boyd Kane (two goals) 3. Andrew Gordon (goal and assist) Notes: Sean Collins, Trevor Bruess and Brandon Sugden were all healthy scratches Sunday night. With two goals against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Kane totaled four goals on the weekend. Gordon, Dubuc and Wilson have all scored in each of the BEARS’ last three contests. Recording two assists Sunday, Miskovic finished the weekend with five points in two games. HERSHEY will trek to Albany to face the River Rats on Friday night with a 7:00 p.m. face-off before a pair of home games next weekend. The Norfolk Admirals come to call on Saturday night, with puck drop slated for 7:00 p.m. The BEARS will then host the Hartford Wolf Pack Sunday night with a 5:00 p.m. start. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday’s games are available at the Giant Center box office or by calling (717) 534-3911.