March 6, 2010
BEARS BLANK BABY PENS TO CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTH
Hershey Headed to Postseason with 22nd Straight
By Jess Mikula
Thanks to a stellar performance by rookie goaltender Braden Holtby, the BEARS blanked the visiting Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 4-0 before a sellout crowd 10,752 strong Saturday night. The win marked the 22nd consecutive victory for the Chocolate and White on home ice, tying a record for the longest home winning streak in professional hockey history.
Neither team scored in the opening 20 minutes. After a brief delay due to a collision with Chris Bourque, referee Francis Charron was helped off the ice. HERSHEY and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton played several minutes with just the linesmen until Charron returned. The BEARS were doubled up on shots on goal 4-2 by the Baby Pens, but the game remained scoreless after one.
Alexandre Giroux nearly drew first blood for HERSHEY in the opening minute of the second period, breaking into the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton zone one-on-none. Just seconds after Pens netminder Brad Thiessen gloved Giroux’s shot aside, Zach Miskovic fed Keith Aucoin on another breakaway for the Chocolate and White. Aucoin slipped the puck five-hole on Thiessen for his 30th of the season at 1:10. Midway through the period the BEARS increased their lead to two. Aucoin launched a shot from the left circle, with Andrew Gordon waiting on the doorstep to notch his 30th goal of the year at 11:11. Bourque added the secondary assist on Gordon’s 13th power play tally of the season. The Chocolate and White maintained a two-goal advantage after 40 minutes.
HERSHEY found its third goal of the night early in the third period, as Giroux potted a wrister in the slot from Aucoin and Karl Alzner for his 33rd goal of the season at 1:51. Francois Bouchard rounded out scoring for the night, finding his 18th of the year on a breakaway with Kyle Wilson at 14:11. Boyd Kane tallied the secondary assist. Despite a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton power play late in the game, BEARS backstop Holtby held the Baby Pens off the score sheet.
Holtby turned aside all 25 shots faced to earn his 19th win of the season in net and his second shutout. HERSHEY converted once in five power play opportunities, and the penalty kill was flawless on five Wilkes-Barre chances.
Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game:
1. Braden Holtby (25-save shutout)
2. Keith Aucoin (one goal, two assists)
3. Andrew Gordon (30th goal of the season)
Notes: Coupled with Providence’s loss to Bridgeport, Saturday’s win clinched the BEARS a playoff spot. Dylan Yeo was recalled from the South Carolina Stingrays but was a healthy scratch on Saturday. Jason Bacashihua and Michael Dubuc were also healthy scratches for Saturday’s contest. The BEARS will host the Adirondack Phantoms in a 5:00 p.m. tilt Sunday before embarking on a four-game road swing next Friday. Tickets for Sunday’s game are available at the
Giant Center box office or by calling (717) 534-3911.
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