April 29, 2010
For the fourth time in five years, the BEARS are headed to the Eastern Conference Finals after a four-game sweep of the Albany River Rats. HERSHEY rallied from two goals down late in the third period to win 5-4, winning the 2010 East Division Finals four games to none.
HERSHEY struck first when Chris Bourque scored his third goal of the postseason and third of the series at 8:23 of the first. Francois Bouchard and Mathieu Perreault assisted on the goal to give the BEARS a 1-0 lead. But Albany would pot the next two, taking a 2-1 lead before the end of the frame. Jerome Samson scored his fifth of the playoffs at 11:58 of the first, which was quickly followed by a power play goal from Chris Terry at 14:28. Albany led after one, 2-1.
Bourque would strike again for HERSHEY in the opening moments of the second period. Just 59 seconds in, the BEARS tied the game at 2-2, but again the Rats would take a lead. Zach Boychuk picked up an unassisted wrap-around goal at 10:31 to take a 3-2 lead, a lead that would hold up through the rest of the period.
Another wild third period awaited for the Chocolate and White, watching the deficit grow to two goals. Samson picked up his second of the game and sixth of the playoffs to give the River Rats a 4-2 lead with less than 10 minutes to play. But again in this postseason, the BEARS would not be denied. Alexandre Giroux picked up his 10th goal of the Calder Cup playoffs with a lamp-lighter at 16:37 of the third to pull within one, setting the stage for Mathieu Perreault. With goaltender Michal Neuvirth on the bench for an extra attacker, Perreault scored with 1:13 left to tie the game at 4-4. The game then moved to overtime, where Perreault again would beat Albany goaltender Justin Peters. Just 2:23 into sudden death, he roofed a shot over Peters to end the game, end the series and end the existence of the team from Albany. It’s the fifth time in the last five years that the BEARS have swept a playoff series over an opponent. Neuvirth won his sixth postseason game without defeat.
BEARS Radio Network Three Stars of the game:
1. Mathieu Perreault (Game-tying and game-winning goals)
2. Chris Bourque (Two goals, three assists, outstanding series)
3. Alexandre Giroux (Goal and an assist)
Notes: The BEARS now await the winner of the Worcester Sharks and Manchester Monarchs in the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals. The Sharks and Monarchs take the ice Friday in Game 3 of the Atlantic Division Finals, with the series tied at a game apiece. The game was the final time the River Rats will take the ice, after a 17-year run in the Capital District. The team is moving to Charlotte, North Carolina for the 2010-11 season. John Carlson and Karl Alzner were assigned before the game from the Washington Capitals. Tickets for the next two Calder Cup playoff games are on sale now at the
Giant Center box office, or by calling (717) 534-3911.
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