January 8, 2010
The BEARS tied a franchise record Friday night by winning its 11th in a row, defeating Manitoba 2-1 in a shootout at MTS Centre in Winnipeg.
The two teams played a quiet first period Friday, with neither team scoring or registering double-digits in shots. Both clubs were also unsuccessful on the one power play they were each afforded. Andrew Gordon opened the scoring just 13 seconds into the second period when he took a pass from Alexandre Giroux and scored his 17th goal of the season. HERSHEY maintained a 1-0 lead through most of the middle frame, but saw the Moose tie the game late in the second with a goal from Matt Pettinger. Pettinger, a former Washington Capital, picked up his seventh of the campaign at 16:52. Mathieu Perreault was awarded a penalty shot at the 18:24 mark of the second, but he was denied by Manitoba goaltender Cory Schneider.
After a scoreless third period, the game would go to a shootout, where seven rounds later, the BEARS made Braden Holtby a winner for the 10th time this season.
BEARS Radio Network Three Stars of the game:
1. Braden Holtby (Outstanding again, now 10-1-1)
2. Cory Schneider (Deserved a better fate for the Moose)
3. Andrew Gordon (Hershey’s only goal in regulation)
Notes: Game two of a four-game road trip for the Chocolate and White is Saturday night in Winnipeg when the team plays the second of a two-game set with Manitoba. Face-off eastern time is at 8:35 p.m. The road trip continues to Norfolk and Albany next week. HERSHEY returns home January 16 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at 7:00 p.m. Tickets available at the GIANT Center box office or by calling (717) 534-3911. The shootout win was HERSHEY’S first of the season.
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