HISTORY AT GIANT CENTER: 19 STRAIGHT HOME WINS

February 20, 2010

BEARS BANK ON CASH AGAINST MONSTERS Hershey Ties AHL Mark with 19th Straight Home Win By Jess Mikula Four different skaters struck for the BEARS Saturday night, besting the visiting Lake Erie Monsters by a 4-1 margin. The win marked the 19th consecutive victory on home ice, tying the AHL record set by the Philadelphia Phantoms. The home team drew first blood, as Kyle Wilson and Steve Pinizzotto found Oskar Osala on the doorstep to notch his 14th goal of the season at 5:52. Chris Bourque nearly gave HERSHEY a two-goal lead on a later power play, as he rang a slap shot off the inside of the left post. The BEARS outshot the Monsters 10-6 through the opening 20 minutes and carried a 1-0 lead after one. Jay Beagle finished a drive from Andrew Joudrey early in the second period, tipping the puck top shelf past Lake Erie netminder Trevor Cann for his 10th of the year at 4:23. BEARS backstop Jason Bacashihua blanked Lake Erie on 16 shots through two periods, with the home team carrying a two-goal advantage to the dressing room. Former HERSHEY winger Brian Willsie spoiled Bacashihua’s shutout with a power play marker at 15:19 of the third period. Tom Preissing and Matthew Ford set up Willsie, who blasted a shot high glove side to cut the deficit in half. Andrew Joudrey answered for the Chocolate and White 59 seconds later, burying a shot from Wilson and Greg Amadio in the slot for his 10th of the season. With Cann to the bench for the extra skater late in the game, Bacashihua snatched a point-blank shot to deny the Monsters. Andrew Gordon added an empty netter for insurance, as Keith Aucoin cleared the Lake Erie zone and Gordon beat Preissing to the puck for his 25th goal of the year at 18:49. Bacashihua earned his seventh straight start in net and his 12th on the season overall, denying the Monsters on 24 of 25 shots. The BEARS power play was blanked on five chances, while the penalty kill converted on three of four tries. Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game: 1. Jason Bacashihua (24 saves on 25 shots) 2. Andrew Joudrey (goal and assist) 3. Kyle Wilson (two assists) Notes: Sean Collins and Grant McNeill were both healthy scratches for Saturday night’s game. Patrick McNeill sustained an upper body injury in Friday night’s contest in Adirondack and is expected to be out two to three weeks. The sellout crowd of 10,695 fans marked the eighth sellout of the season for HERSHEY. The Albany River Rats come to town for a 5:00 p.m. puck drop Sunday night before the BEARS travel to Lake Erie for a Wednesday morning game. Tickets for Sunday’s game are available at the Giant Center box office or by calling (717) 534-3911.