GIROUX NOTCHES 500TH AHL POINT IN 5-4 WIN OVER ROCHESTER

December 19, 2009

BEARS CLAW OUT WIN OVER AMERKS Osala Strikes Twice in 5-4 Win By Jess Mikula The scene was far from picturesque, as the BEARS battled to a 5-4 regulation win over Rochester Saturday night. The victory marked the Chocolate and White’s third consecutive win over the Americans. Neither team scored in the opening 20 minutes of play Saturday night. Sloppy play by HERSHEY gave Rochester the better of the offensive chances in the first period, the Amerks outshooting the BEARS by an 11-8 margin. The BEARS and Americans turned on the offense in the second period, as the two teams combined for six goals. Rochester struck first with a top shelf wrister from Evgeny Dadonov at 3:26. The Chocolate and White answered with HERSHEY captain Bryan Helmer’s first goal of the year, an unassisted shot from the right point at 4:04. Oskar Osala scored his eighth of the season nine seconds later to give the home team its first lead of the night. Jay Beagle and Francois Bouchard tallied the assists. Daniel Steiner knotted the game at two goals apiece, flipping a rebound past BEARS backstop Jason Bacashihua at 11:21. Alexandre Giroux then gave HERSHEY the go-ahead goal on an Amerks delayed penalty at 17:03. Aucoin maintained possession of the puck after being tripped up in the Rochester zone and dished a pass across ice to Giroux. Osala added a power play marker before the close of the second, firing a one timer past Rochester netminder Chris Beckford-Tseu at 19:23 to put the BEARS up two goals. Aucoin and Giroux recorded the assists. The Chocolate and White maintained a 4-2 lead after two. A pair of goals from Amerks centerman Jamie Johnson brought the game to a 4-4 deadlock in the third period. With a Steiner fresh out of the penalty box, Johnson turned a HERSHEY turnover into an odd man rush for an even strength tally at 5:34. He scored on the man advantage at 9:09, launching a slap shot from the left point with a screen from Steiner. The BEARS capitalized on a series of Rochester penalties, with Mathieu Perreault finding the game winner at 12:21, going high glove side on Beckford-Tseu, assisted by Osala and Bouchard. Jason Bacashihua earned his sixth win in net Saturday, allowing four goals on 29 shots. The BEARS’ power play was 2-for-6, while the penalty kill was 3-for-5. Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game: 1. Oskar Osala (two goals and an assist) 2. Alexandre Giroux (goal and an assist) 3. Bryan Helmer (first goal of the year) Notes: Saturday’s contest marked the BEARS’ third consecutive game against the Amerks. The two teams will close the season’s four-game series April 2 when HERSHEY travels to Rochester. Alexandre Giroux’s goal in the second period marked his 500th career AHL point. Keith Aucoin shows points in seven of his last eight games. The BEARS are averaging 3.7 goals per game, an AHL-best. The Chocolate and White will host the Toronto Marlies Sunday night, with face-off slated for 5:00 p.m. Tickets are available at the Giant Center box office or by calling (717) 534-3911.