June 7, 2010
BEARS BATTLE FROM TWO DOWN TO DOUBLE UP STARS 6-3
Gordon, Wilson and Perreault Each Strike Twice in Game 3 Win
By Jess Mikula
Despite trailing by a pair of goals after the first period, the BEARS rallied to score five unanswered and down the Texas Stars 6-3 on Monday night. Texas leads the best-of-seven series two games to one.
Texas found the score sheet first, as Andrew Hutchinson struck for the Stars with a power play marker at 5:59, assisted by Garrett Stafford and Jamie Benn. Kyle Wilson answered for HERSHEY, potting his fifth goal of the postseason on a sharp-angle shot from Francois Bouchard at 10:33. Francis Wathier regained the lead for Texas with an unassisted, short-handed goal at 11:15, when BEARS backstop Michal Neuvirth fanned on an attempt to clear the puck from the crease. The home team increased its lead to two late in the period, Ray Sawada sending the puck top shelf on Neuvirth, from Scott McCulloch and Warren Peters at 17:57. The BEARS trailed by a 3-1 margin after one.
The Chocolate and White battled to erase the two-goal deficit in the second period. Wilson found his second of the game, as he finished a drive from Keith Aucoin and Chris Bourque at 12:27. The power play goal ended a drought of 16 straight unsuccessful attempts for the BEARS on the man advantage. Mathieu Perreault netted the equalizer shortly thereafter for his sixth playoff tally, with Karl Alzner and Steve Pinizzotto recording the helpers. The score was knotted at 3-3 after 40 minutes of play.
Andrew Gordon gave HERSHEY its first lead of the night, notching his 12th postseason marker on a feed from Aucoin and Bourque at 6:41 of the third period. Perreault added his second of the game, beating Texas netminder Matt Climie with a shot from the left circle at 8:12 to increase the lead to two, giving the BEARS their largest lead of the series. Alexandre Giroux and Bryan Helmer registered the assists. Gordon assured the win for the Chocolate and White at 12:07. Alzner stymied a Texas attempt to clear the zone and fired a slap shot, which Gordon deflected past Climie.
Neuvirth earned his 11th postseason in net, turning aside 27 of 30 shots. The HERSHEY power play converted once on five opportunities and denied the Stars on six of seven man advantages.
Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game:
1. Andrew Gordon (two goals, including game winner)
2. Kyle Wilson (two goals)
3. Mathieu Perreault (two goals)
Notes: With the Game 3 win over Texas, the BEARS forced a Game 5. HERSHEY will face the Stars in Game 4 of the Calder Cup Finals on Wednesday night and Game 5 on Friday night. Opening puck drop for both games is slated for 7:30 p.m. Central time, 8:30 p.m. Eastern time, with the live broadcast available on WHTM ABC-27’s digital channel 27.2.
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