June 5, 2010
STARS STUN BEARS IN 4-3 DECISION
Two Former Bears Score for Texas as Hershey Falls to Two-Game Deficit
By Jess Mikula
Despite erasing three separate leads, the BEARS surrendered a late goal to the Stars’ Travis Morin and fell by a 4-3 margin in Game 2. HERSHEY now trails the best-of-seven series two games to none as the series shifts to Texas.
The BEARS and Stars traded goals in the opening period of Game 2. Texas struck early, as Aaron Gagnon stuffed a shot short-side on HERSHEY goaltender Michal Neuvirth, and the puck squeaked through his pads and across the goal line at 1:00. Jamie Benn and Colton Sceviour added the helpers on the marker. Steve Pinizzotto evened the score with his fifth postseason tally at 7:40, stripping Perttu Lindgren of the puck at the blueline, rushing end-to-end and launching a slap shot past Texas netminder Matt Climie for the shorthanded, unassisted goal. The BEARS and Stars both showed seven shots on goal and remained in a 1-1 deadlock through 20 minutes of play.
Texas retook the lead on the man advantage midway through the second stanza. Garrett Stafford fired a shot from the right point, and the puck bounced off HERSHEY defenseman Bryan Helmer and eluded Neuvirth at 11:03, with assists from Lindgren and Andrew Hutchinson. Francois Bouchard answered for the Chocolate and White just 46 seconds later, as he blasted a one timer on a feed from Patrick Wellar and Ashton Rome for his fourth goal of the playoffs. The game was at a 2-2 halt after two.
The Stars again found the go-ahead goal early in the third period, Mathieu Beaudoin flipping a backdoor shot past Neuvirth from Lindgren at 3:18. For the third time Saturday night, the BEARS knotted the score, as Keith Aucoin fed Wellar for a one timer from the point. Climie made a kick save, and a net-crashing Andrew Gordon buried the rebound for his 11th goal of the playoffs at 10:44, the record-breaking crowd erupting. Undisciplined play cost HERSHEY late, and the Stars notched the deciding goal on a backhand flip from Morin with 45.3 seconds remaining on the clock. Scott McCulloch and Greg Rallo recorded the assists on the game winner.
Neuvirth endured his fourth postseason loss in net, stopping 19 of 23 shots. HERSHEY was blanked on each of its four power plays Saturday night, including a 31-second two-man advantage in the third period. The BEARS denied Texas on 5 of 6 opportunities.
Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game:
1. Travis Morin (game winner)
2. Patrick Wellar (two assists)
3. Perttu Lindgren (two assists)
Notes: Saturday’s attendance of 10,872 fans marks an all-time high for the HERSHEY franchise. The BEARS will trek to the Lone Star state to square off with the Stars in Games 3, 4 and 5 (if necessary). Game 3 is scheduled for Monday, June 7, Game 4 for Wednesday, June 9, and Game 5 for Friday, June 11. Opening face-off for all three games is slated for 7:30 p.m. Central time, 8:30 p.m. Eastern time. The live television broadcast from Texas will be available on WHTM-TV’s RTV digital channel, 27.2.
vs
