January 2, 2010
BEARS BEFUDDLE BINGO
Hershey Wins Season-High Ninth Straight Game
By Jess Mikula
Despite a third period rally from Binghamton, HERSHEY managed to stage a 5-3 win over the Senators Saturday night. The victory extended the club’s winning streak to nine consecutive contests.
The BEARS struck twice in the opening period. Boyd Kane notched his 14th of the year on a centering pass from Andrew Gordon and Zach Miskovic at 1:08. Chris Bourque increased the lead to two, as he finished a wraparound with a Keith Aucoin screen in the crease in front of Binghamton netminder Chris Holt at 7:56. Aucoin and Sean Collins tallied the helpers on Bourque’s eighth goal of the season. Despite being outshot by a 12-9 margin, HERSHEY carried a two-goal advantage after one.
The Chocolate and White staved off an extended two-man deficit to start the second period before Alexandre Giroux potted his 13th goal of the year, breaking into the Binghamton zone fed by Aucoin at 15:19. The visiting Senators answered less than a minute later, with Zack Smith burying a wrister in the top right corner of the goal, assisted by Craig Schira and Cody Bass. HERSHEY fired back in the closing minute of the second, with Oskar Osala finishing a drive from Francois Bouchard and Miskovic at 19:30. The BEARS maintained a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes.
Rushing into the Binghamton zone with the puck, Giroux was sent careening into the Senators’ net early in the third period. He was subsequently assessed a minor for goaltender interference, dumbfounding better than 10,000
Giant Center faithful. Much to the dismay of the sellout crowd, Bingo converted on the resulting power play, with a Martin St. Pierre wrister at 4:11. Derek Smith and Ryan Keller registered the helpers. Bass brought the Senators within one, recording a shorthanded marker at 7:08, with an assist from Erik Condra. Mounting animosity between the two teams reached a climax late in the third, as Bass leapt from the bench and over a linesman toward Steve Pinizzotto. HERSHEY held off the late surge from the Senators, and Aucoin netted an insurance goal with an empty netter from Bryan Helmer and Patrick McNeill at 19:50.
Braden Holtby backstopped the BEARS to his ninth win in net this season and his seventh consecutive start, turning aside 31 of 34 shots. The Chocolate and White power play failed to strike on four opportunities, while the penalty kill was 4-for-5.
Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game:
1. Braden Holtby (31 saves on 34 shots)
2. Keith Aucoin (one goal and two assists)
3. Oskar Osala (game-winning goal)
Notes: McNeill and Bourque both show points in five straight games, while Bouchard has found the score sheet in his past seven appearances. Saturday marked the BEARS’ second consecutive sellout crowd at
Giant Center. The Capitals assigned goaltender Semyon Varlamov to the BEARS on Tuesday. The 21-year-old is expected to draw the start in net for HERSHEY in Sunday night’s contest. Michal Neuvirth suffered a 2-1 loss in net for Washington in Saturday afternoon’s tilt with Los Angeles. The BEARS will play host to the visiting Adirondack Phantoms Sunday night for a 5:00 p.m. puck drop before embarking on a four-game road trip. Tickets for Sunday’s game are available at the
Giant Center box office or by calling (717) 534-3911.