BEARS FALL IN ADIRONDACK FRIDAY

February 19, 2010

HIBERNATING OFFENSE COSTS BEARS Hershey Posts Fewest Shots on Net This Season in Loss By Jess Mikula Despite an early lead and a pair of goals from Alexandre Giroux, the BEARS fell to the Phantoms in Adirondack Friday night in a 5-3 decision. The defeat marked just the third regulation loss for HERSHEY this season when scoring the game’s first goal. Giroux struck first for the BEARS with his 28th goal of the season at 6:30. Giroux skated the puck into the Adirondack zone from neutral ice, beat two Phantoms defenders and eluded netminder Johan Backlund for the unassisted goal. Francois Bouchard increased the HERSHEY lead midway through the period, fielding a pass from Mathieu Perreault at the right post to find his 14th of the year at 10:35. Chris Bourque added the secondary helper. The BEARS were outshot by a 15-9 margin but held a 2-0 advantage after one. Adirondack found the score sheet just after a power play expired, as Joonas Lehtivuori finished a drive from Patrick Maroon and Jon Matsumoto at 6:14. The Phantoms found the equalizer at 12:03. Capitalizing on a crushing hit dealt to Patrick McNeill by Jonathon Kalinski, Jason Ward tallied for the home team, assisted by Kevin Marshall and Andreas Nodl. The Chocolate and White regained the lead with a power play marker from Giroux. Bourque dished to Keith Aucoin, who was denied on a wraparound attempt before Giroux potted the rebound at 14:39. The Phantoms brought the score to a 3-3 deadlock with a David Laliberte shot through BEARS backstop Braden Holtby’s five-hole at 17:34. Lehtivuori added the lone assist on the power play goal. HERSHEY was nearly doubled up in shots through 40 minutes, but the teams remained knotted at three goals apiece. Bryan Helmer nearly gave the BEARS the go-ahead goal early in the third, ringing a shot off the crossbar. The Chocolate and White found themselves on the wrong end of a 5-on-3 midway through the period and subsequently trailed for the first time Friday night. After killing the first penalty, Joey Mormina rifled a slap shot from center point at 9:48, assisted by Laliberte and Maroon. Laliberte sent the puck into the empty net late in the game, but the goal was waived as the Phantoms entered the zone offsides. Jared Ross added an empty netter from Laliberte and Mormina at 19:47 to finish off HERSHEY. Holtby took just his fourth regulation loss of the season in net, turning aside 37 of 41 shots faced. The BEARS mustered just 18 shots on goal to Adirondack’s 42. HERSHEY was 1-for-5 on the man advantage and 4-for-6 on the penalty kill. Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game: 1. Alexandre Giroux (two goals) 2. Chris Bourque (two assists) 3. Francois Bouchard (one goal) Notes: Patrick McNeill did not return for the third period after sustaining an upper body injury late in the second, and HERSHEY finished the game with only five defensemen. The BEARS will host the Lake Erie Monsters Saturday night, with opening puck drop slated for 7:00 p.m., before the Albany River Rats come to call on Sunday for a 5:00 p.m. start. Tickets for both contests are available at the Giant Center box office or by calling (717) 534-3911. Saturday’s game can also be heard on XM channel 204.