January 16, 2010
BEARS FOIL FLIGHTLESS FOWL
Hershey Wins Record-Tying 11th Straight Home Game
By Jess Mikula
HERSHEY found the back of the net seven times Saturday night, opening a four-game homestand with a commanding 7-2 defeat of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The win marked the 11th consecutive home victory, a feat which ties a franchise record set in the 1963-64 season.
Four different skaters struck for the BEARS in the first period. Patrick McNeill netted his fourth of the season from Keith Aucoin and Mathieu Perreault, putting the Chocolate and White on the score sheet at 4:44. HERSHEY managed to kill better than 90 seconds of a two-man deficit before striking again with a power play marker at 11:51. Alexandre Giroux fired a screamer from the point for his 18th of the year, assisted by McNeill and Aucoin. The Baby Pens answered with a Mark Letestu shot from the slot at 12:31. Just as a high sticking double minor was about to expire, Aucoin potted the rebound of Giroux’s wrister at 15:58. McNeill tallied the secondary helper on Aucoin’s 21st of the season. Kyle Wilson rounded out first period scoring with his 14th goal of the year, as he broke into the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton zone fed by Sean Collins and Karl Alzner at 16:45. The BEARS were outshot by a 12-10 margin but led the visiting Penguins 4-1 after one.
Giroux scored the lone goal of the second period, as he buried a one timer from the right circle for a power play tally at 17:52. Aucoin and Chris Bourque added the assists on Giroux’s second of the night and 19th of the season. HERSHEY outshot Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 10-2 in the second period and maintained a 5-1 advantage after 40 minutes of play.
The Baby Pens found the back of the net for a second and final time in the third period Saturday night, with a goal from Chris Lee on the man advantage at 4:03. The BEARS responded shortly after, with Steve Pinizzotto redirecting a shot from McNeill and Boyd Kane for his seventh of the season at 7:51. Wilson capped off scoring for the night, registering his second goal of the game at 15th of the year from Francois Bouchard and Kane at 18:14.
Braden Holtby earned his 12th win in net this season, turning aside 20 of 22 shots faced. The Chocolate and White converted three times on nine power play chances and denied the Penguin power play five of six opportunities.
Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game:
1. Patrick McNeill (one goal, three assists)
2. Alexandre Giroux (two goals, one assist)
3. Keith Aucoin (one goal, three assists)
Notes: Giroux and Aucoin extended their scoring streaks to 10 straight games Saturday night. Dylan Yeo was recalled from the South Carolina Stingrays but was a healthy scratch. Recalled by Washington, John Carlson logged 14:32 in his fourth NHL start and finished a plus-2 in the Capitals’ 6-1 win over Toronto Friday night. The BEARS will host the Syracuse Crunch for a 5:00 p.m. puck drop Sunday before heading into the All-Star break.
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