January 1, 2010
HERSHEY lifts the curtain on 2010 on Friday night, traveling to Wilkes-Barre Township to take on the Penguins at 7:05 p.m.
The BEARS closed out 2009 with its seventh straight victory, downing the Norfolk Admirals 5-3 Tuesday night at Norfolk Scope. Chris Bourque, with a late second period breakaway goal and an empty-net tally to seal the deal, was named the game’s number one star as Jason Bacashihua won his seventh game of the season. The seven-game winning streak heading into Friday’s game is HERSHEY’S longest of the 2009-10 season to date.
The Albany River Rats have played two games since the BEARS played last in Hampton Roads, splitting a pair with the Adirondack Phantoms. While the River Rats have closed HERSHEY’S lead in the East Division to just nine points, the Chocolate and White now has two games in hand on its closest pursuers on the standings board. The BEARS next visit Albany on January 15, with the Rats coming to
Giant Center on January 30.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton enters Friday’s game winners of four in a row for the first time all season, three points behind Albany for second place in the East Division race. Friday’s game against the Pens is the fifth game of a 12-game season series between the rivals, with HERSHEY winning three of the first four encounters. Boyd Kane has four goals and five points against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton so far this season to lead all HERSHEY skaters. Braden Holtby, who is expected to start Friday night, earned his only AHL shutout against the Penguins back on October 9.
Friday’s game can be heard via the BEARS Radio Network (100.1 FM and www.Sportsjuice.com) beginning at 6:45 p.m. John Walton has the call from Wachovia Arena.
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