FOUR-GOAL FIRST HELPS BEARS BLITZ ADMIRALS

December 11, 2011

HERSHEY, Pa. – Keith Aucoin took over the first 18:26 of the game by scoring two power play goals and earning two assists, Chris Bourque recorded five points for the second time this season, and Braden Holtby made 22 saves to push the HERSHEY BEARS to a 6-3 victory over the Norfolk Admirals on Sunday evening at GIANT Center.

The first period belonged to the BEARS and their top power play in the league. Awarded an 18-second two-man advantage, the hosts struck first with just one second remaining on it when Aucoin buried Bourque’s cross-ice feed behind Dustin Tokarski at 9:23. Jacob Micflikier then made it a completely perfect power play when he grabbed the rebound of Aucoin’s shot and shoved the puck into the net just 31 seconds later.

The Admirals would cut into the lead at 11:23 when Conacher forced a shot past Holtby off of assists from Trevor Smith and Evan Oberg.

But the BEARS would score their third power play goal of the period, with Aucoin the recipient of a Micflikier pass at 14:08. Aucoin’s slapper from the right circle sailed past the blocker of Tokarski. Bourque then made it 4-1 at 18:28, cutting to the left circle after Aucoin passed from the slot and sending a shot over the shoulder of Tokarski.

Norfolk went on to take over the play in the middle frame, with Trevor Smith converting the rebound of Conacher’s shot at 3:03 to pull the Admirals within two. Tyler Johnson later slid a slow shot underneath Holtby after the BEARS netminder made several stellar saves on a penalty kill, and the Admirals cut the deficit to 4-3 at 16:58.

Tomas Kundratek then continued his solid play with a wrist shot from just inside the blue line that sailed over Tokarski at 4:46 of the third, giving the BEARS an insurance marker. After earning his fourth point of the night in assisting on Kundratek’s goal, Bourque then iced the victory with an empty-netter with 2:08 left in regulation.

Holtby improves to 8-6-1 on the season, while Tokarski falls to 10-6-0 in making 23 saves. The BEARS finished the night 3-for-6 on the power play and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill.

HERSHEY visits Norfolk this Friday, December 16 for a 7:30 PM faceoff at Scope Arena. The BEARS return home on Saturday, December 17 to take on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at 7:00 PM.

Individual tickets for this and all regular-season home games are on sale now by calling (717) 508-BEAR, or by visiting ticketmaster.com.

HERSHEY BEARS season ticket plans are also on sale now by calling (717) 508-BEAR, with many different flexible plans still available. Season ticket plans start as low as $160.

Game Recap: http://theahl.com/stats/official-game-report.php?game_id=1009016

NOTES: Chris Bourque also posted a five-point (2+3) effort on October 14…Aucoin’s four-point night was his third of the season…Kundratek extended his point streak to six games with his third-period goal.###