BEARS AND MARLIES MEET SUNDAY AT GIANT CENTER

December 20, 2009

HERSHEY concludes the team’s pre-Christmas schedule Sunday afternoon, taking on the Toronto Marlies at Giant Center. Face-off is set for 5:00 p.m. Alexandre Giroux became the 77th player in American Hockey League history to reach the 500-point plateau on Saturday night as the BEARS defeated the Rochester Americans 5-4 at Giant Center. Giroux reached the summit with an assist on Oskar Osala’s goal late in the second period. Mathieu Perreault, assigned earlier in the week by the Capitals, picked up the game-winning goal in the third period against Rochester goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu to give the Chocolate and White its 20th win of the season. Jason Bacashihua earned his sixth win of the season Saturday night. The win was HERSHEY’S third straight over Rochester dating back to last Saturday night. Andrew Gordon enters play Sunday second in the league in scoring with 32 points, but he’s tied with Norfolk’s Brandon Bochenski for the most goals scored so far this season. Gordon has a league-high 15 goals heading into Sunday’s showdown with the Marlies. Only Hartford’s Corey Locke (38) has more points than Gordon heading into the holidays. Alex Ovechkin scored two third period goals to make a winner out of Michal Neuvirth and the Washington Capitals Saturday night in Edmonton. The Caps defeated the Oilers 4-2 as D.C. ended a three-game trek out west Saturday night. The win for Neuvirth was his first for Washington this season in three appearances. The Capitals return home Wednesday night to face the Buffalo Sabres at Verizon Center. Forward Boyd Gordon has been assigned to HERSHEY by Washington for conditioning. Gordon, who last played for the BEARS during the team’s run to the 2006 Calder Cup championship, has played in just seven games for Washington this season, recording one assist. Toronto sits in sixth place in the North Division, and defeated Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Wachovia Arena 4-3 on Saturday night. The road win Saturday was just the fourth victory away from Ricoh Coliseum this season for the boys from Ontario. Christian Hanson leads the Marlies in goals (9) and points (21) heading into action Sunday. Sunday’s game can be heard via the BEARS Radio Network (100.1 FM and www.Sportsjuice.com) beginning at 4:40 p.m. John Walton, Ed Coffey and Jim Jones have the call from Giant Center.