HERSHEY LEADS SERIES 2-0 AFTER WIN OVER TIGERS

April 16, 2010

BEARS STAGE COMEBACK TO STEAL GAME 2 Giroux Scores Two to Lift Hershey to Victory By Jess Mikula After allowing the first goal for the second consecutive game, HERSHEY rallied twice to down the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 3-2 Friday night. The BEARS now carry a 2-0 advantage as the series shifts to Bridgeport. Defenseman Dustin Kohn struck first for Bridgeport, as he collected his own rebound off the leg pad of HERSHEY goaltender Michal Neuvirth and jammed the puck into the net. Tomas Marcinko and Trevor Smith registered the assists on Kohn’s even strength marker at 16:14. The BEARS outshot the Sound Tigers by an 11-9 margin but carried a one-goal deficit to the dressing room after 20 minutes. Alexandre Giroux answered for the home team with his second of the postseason, collecting a turnover from Dylan Reese behind the net and potting a wrister at 16:32, assisted by Keith Aucoin. The Sound Tigers regained the lead late in the period, with Kohn finding a power play tally for his second goal of the night from Mark Flood and Greg Mauldin at 19:15. HERSHEY trailed 2-1 after two. Giroux again found the equalizer for the Chocolate and White, backhanding a bouncing rebound past Bridgeport netminder Nathan Lawson 1:32 into the third period, assisted by Andrew Gordon and Kyle Wilson. Scott Munroe entered the game in relief, as Lawson was helped off the ice at 5:49. Mathieu Perreault notched his second of the playoffs at 7:06, giving the BEARS their first in-game lead of the series. Perreault buried a shot top shelf on Munroe for the power play goal, assisted by Gordon and Bryan Helmer. HERSHEY held onto the one-goal advantage for the regulation win. Neuvirth backstopped the BEARS to his first postseason victory, turning aside 23 of 25 shots. The power play converted once on six chances, and the penalty kill denied Bridgeport on five of six attempts on the man advantage. Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game: 1. Alexandre Giroux (two goals) 2. Andrew Gordon (two assists) 3. Michal Neuvirth (23 saves on 25 shots) Notes: HERSHEY now leads the best-of-seven series 2-0. The BEARS will trek to Bridgeport for Games 3 and 4 of the East Division Semi-Finals. Game 3 will be played Saturday night with a 7:00 p.m. puck drop, and Game 4 is slated for 3:00 p.m. Sunday. Alexandre Giroux will participate in a live chat at www.theahl.com on Tuesday. Submit your questions via the league’s official website.