April 16, 2010
The BEARS look to gain a two games to none lead on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers Friday night in Game 2 of the East Division Semi-Finals. Face-off at
Giant Center is at 7:00 p.m.
The Sound Tigers came into
Giant Center Wednesday night and quieted the home crowd early by taking a 2-0 lead after one period. Alexandre Giroux would pick up his first of the postseason in the second, but it would take a furious rush by the BEARS late in the third period to force overtime. Francois Bouchard and Mathieu Perreault both scored in the final six minutes of regulation, including Perreault’s goalie with just over a minute left and the goaltender pulled. Perreault’s goal set the stage for Andrew Joudrey’s overtime playoff goal at 4:08 of sudden death. HERSHEY won the game 4-3, earning Braden Holtby his first career playoff win. Goaltender Scott Munroe took the loss in net for the visitors.
Bridgeport, now down a game in this best-of-seven series, received Andrew MacDonald, Dustin Kohn and Dylan Reese from the NHL’s New York Islanders prior to this series. MacDonald picked up a goal and assist Wednesday in the Game 1 loss against the BEARS. Goaltender Scott Munroe, after posting an 80.8 save percentage in two appearances against HERSHEY during the regular season, enters play tonight with a much improved 87.9 mark against the Chocolate and White. Following Friday’s Game 2, Bridgeport will return home to host the BEARS in Saturday’s Game 3 and Sunday’s Game 4 at the Arena at Harbor Yard. Bridgeport was 21-15-1-3 this season on home ice, including a regulation loss to the Chocolate and White on March 2.
Abbotsford took home-ice advantage in its best-of seven North Division Semi-Final Thursday night, defeating Rochester 3-2 at Blue Cross Arena. The Heat lead the series one game to none. Worcester avoided disaster Thursday night after watching a two-goal lead slip away, defeating the Lowell Devils 3-2 in overtime in Game 2 of that Atlantic Division Semi-Final. The Devils return home with the series tied at one game apiece. Hamilton opened up its 2010 postseason Thursday with a 2-0 win over Manitoba. Cedrick Desjardins recorded a 21-save shutout to give the Bulldogs a one game to none series lead in their North Division Semi-Final. There are four other games on the Calder Cup playoff menu Friday night besides HERSHEY and Bridgeport. Manchester, the three seed in the Atlantic, travels to Portland to play the Pirates in Game 1 of their Atlantic Division Semi-Final. Face-off at the Cumberland County Civic Center is 7:00 p.m. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton tries to avoid going down 0-2 in its best-of-seven East Division Semi-Final, facing off with the Albany River Rats at Times Union Center at 7:00 p.m. The winner of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton/Albany series will face the winner of the HERSHEY/Bridgeport series in the 2010 East Division Finals. Milwaukee looks to even its West Division Semi-Final Friday, playing at Chicago against the Wolves. The last division semi-final to begin in the 2010 Calder Cup playoffs will kick off at 8:30 p.m. eastern time Friday when the Rockford IceHogs, the three seed in the West Division, travels to Austin to face the first-year Texas Stars at Cedar Park Center. The winner of that series will face the winner of Chicago/Milwaukee in the West Division Final.
Friday’s game can be heard via the BEARS Radio Network (100.1 FM and www.Sportsjuice.com) beginning at 6:40 p.m. John Walton, Ed Coffey and Jim Jones have the call of the action.
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