HERSHEY RALLIES FROM THREE DOWN SUNDAY TO STUN PENS

February 7, 2010

BEARS BRUISE BABY PENS 5-4 Perreault Hat Trick Fuels Come-From-Behind Win By Jess Mikula Despite a flat first period, the BEARS rallied from a three-goal deficit to defeat the visiting Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 5-4 Sunday night. Mathieu Perreault led the HERSHEY offense, notching a hat trick and an assist on the game-winning goal to stretch the team’s winning streak to 17 consecutive home games and 10 games overall. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton dominated the first period, outshooting the BEARS by a 17-4 margin and notching a pair of goals. Joe Vitale opened scoring for the Baby Pens, stuffing a wraparound past HERSHEY goaltender Semyon Varlamov at 13:01, with the lone assist from Eric Tangradi. Nick Johnson added a backhander from Wyatt Smith and Chris Conner at 18:08. The Chocolate and White trailed 2-0 after 20 minutes, marking just the ninth time the BEARS have trailed an opponent after the first period this season. Wade Brookbank gave the flightless fowl a three-goal lead at 3:31 of the second period, as the puck trickled through Varlamov’s five-hole. HERSHEY answered with three goals. Mathieu Perreault launched a wrister from the top of the left circle to net his eighth of the year at 10:09, assisted by Chris Bourque and Francois Bouchard. Perreault struck again, as his shot from the goal line ricocheted into the net off Penguin netminder Brad Thiessen at 13:00. Kyle Wilson and Bouchard added the helpers on the power play tally. Andrew Joudrey broke into the Pens’ zone on an odd-man rush with Oskar Osala and Bourque to net his ninth of the season 26 seconds later. The BEARS brought the score to a 3-3 deadlock through two periods. Perreault converted on a power play setup from Bryan Helmer and Wilson in the slot midway through the final period, finishing his hat trick at 10:46. The last hat trick for the BEARS was recorded by Alexandre Giroux on Jan. 15 at Albany. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton battled to knot the score at four apiece, as Conner put the puck top shelf amidst traffic in front of Varlamov at 11:12, assisted by Johnson. With the HERSHEY man advantage expired and sudden-death overtime looming late in the third, Wilson and Perreault connected with Helmer, who rifled a screamer from the high slot to bury his fifth of the season, the game winner, at 18:56. Varlamov earned his second win of the season in net for the BEARS, making 26 saves on 30 shots. The HERSHEY power play was 2-for-5, while the penalty kill blanked the Baby Pens on four opportunities. Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game: 1. Mathieu Perreault (three goals, one assist) 2. Bryan Helmer (game winner, one assist) 3. Kyle Wilson (three assists) Notes: Both HERSHEY and its parent club Washington rallied from three goals down to defeat Penguins’ teams in 5-4 decisions Sunday, with hat tricks in both games. The BEARS will travel to Albany Friday night to face the River Rats at Times Union Center for a 7:00 p.m. start before heading to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for a 7:05 p.m. puck drop Saturday night. HERSHEY will return home for a Valentine’s Day contest against the Lowell Devils, with opening faceoff scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Tickets for Sunday’s tilt are available at the Giant Center box office or by calling (717) 534-3911.