BEARS TAKE TWO GAMES TO NONE LEAD WITH 3-2 OT WIN

May 15, 2010

BEARS STEAL GAME 2 IN OVERTIME Hershey Flawless on Home Ice in Postseason By Jess Mikula Chris Bourque potted a pair of goals to fuel the BEARS’ offense to a dramatic come-from-behind victory over the Manchester Monarchs by a 3-2 margin Saturday night. The BEARS improved to 5-0 in overtime and 7-0 on home ice this postseason, as the team took a 2-0 advantage in the Eastern Conference Finals. HERSHEY jumped to an early lead, as Bourque connected with linemate Jay Beagle for his fifth of the postseason at 3:07. After a faceoff win in the Manchester zone, Beagle dropped a pass to Bourque, who potted a one timer to extend his point streak to seven straight games. Gabe Gauthier responded for the Monarchs, sending a bouncing puck past BEARS backstop Michal Neuvirth at 13:58. Trevor Lewis and Kyle Clifford tallied the helpers on the power play marker. The score was knotted at one goal apiece after 20 minutes. Gauthier struck again just 1:07 into the second stanza, fielding a rebound in the slot and burying it high blocker side on Neuvirth, from Drew Bagnall and Corey Elkins. Manchester netminder Jonathan Bernier withstood a 17-shot onslaught in the period to keep HERSHEY to one goal. The BEARS trailed 2-1 after two, the club’s first deficit of the series. Steve Pinizzotto brought the game to a 2-2 halt and the sellout crowd to its feet at 3:35 of the third period with his fourth marker of the playoffs. Francois Bouchard and Keith Aucoin assisted on the game-tying goal. Neither team struck through the remainder of regulation, the BEARS forcing their fifth overtime decision of the 2010 Calder Cup Playoffs. Bourque proved to be the hero in Game 2, as he and Aucoin broke into the Manchester zone 2-on-1 opposite Monarchs captain Drew Bagnall. Aucoin fed a tape-to-tape pass to Bourque, who fired the short-side game winner past Bernier at 10:28 of sudden-death overtime as the net was knocked off its moorings. Boyd Kane added the secondary helper on the deciding goal, the BEARS improving to 5-0 in overtime contests this postseason. Neuvirth earned his eighth playoff victory in net, turning aside 31 of 33 shots. The Chocolate and White power play was blanked on all four opportunities, and the penalty kill converted three times on four Manchester chances. Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game: 1. Chris Bourque (two goals) 2. Keith Aucoin (two assists) 3. Steve Pinizzotto (game-tying goal) Notes: Aucoin shows at least one assist in every playoff game this year, while Bourque has shown points in his previous seven games. The BEARS remain flawless on home ice this postseason, boasting a record of 7-0. The club has won 11 straight home games and 35 of its last 36 games on Giant Center ice. HERSHEY now leads the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals two games to none. The BEARS will trek to Manchester for Games 3 and 4 of the series on Monday and Tuesday night. Opening faceoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. both nights.