GREENTREE GETS TO 30 AS BEARS SWEEP ADMIRALS

April 2, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 2, 2011 CONTACT: â€" HERSHEY BEARS â€" BEARS SWEEP TWO-GAME SET IN NORFOLK WITH 5-4 COME-FROM-BEHIND WIN SATURDAY AT SCOPE GREENTREE REACHES 30-GOAL PLATEAU IN VICTORY, BEARS CAN WRAP UP SECOND PLACE MONDAY IF ADMIRALS DEFEAT CHARLOTTE The BEARS are a single standings point away from claiming second place in the East Division and home ice for the first round of the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs after a thrilling 5-4 win over Norfolk Saturday night at Scope. The win assured HERSHEY of finishing ahead of both Norfolk and the Binghamton Senators, and pushes Charlotte to the brink of third place. HERSHEY scored just 59 seconds into the game when Kyle Greentree scored his 29th goal of the season. A bounce came Greentree’s way after Norfolk goaltender Dustin Tokarski strayed behind the net to play the puck, and Greentree put the disc into an empty net to give HERSHEY the early lead. But Norfolk would score four unanswered goals before the end of the period, running the lead to 4-1 and looking like a team ready to make a move in the East Division race. Marc-Antoine Pouliot would score two goals, Mattias Ritola would score one and Chris Durno would strike late in the period, lifing the Admirals to a three-goal lead after one. Coming from behind to win when down after the first period has been a rarity for HERSHEY this season. Entering play Saturday night, the BEARS had rallied to win when down after one only three times this season. But four unanswered goals before the close of the second period would seal the comeback and lead to victory. Francois Bouchard started the rally with a goal in his third straight game at 2:33, which was quickly followed by Greentree’s 30th at 3:08. Patrick McNeill would score his seventh of the season at the 6:12 mark of the period, and Andrew Gordon would tip a Keith Aucoin shot home for his 26th of the season. The goal by Gordon would stand up as the game-winner, as the BEARS won 5-4. Braden Holtby earned the victory in goal, making 27 saves. Tokarski left the game after being sliced by a skate near his chin in the second period. Jaroslav Janus came on to absorb the loss. The win left Charlotte five points back of second place with three to play. The Checkers also have a five point lead over Norfolk, with a magic number of five to clinch third. Charlotte could reduce that number to one with a win in regulation over Norfolk Monday night at Time Warner Cable Arena. BEARS Radio Network Three Stars of the game: 1. Kyle Greentree (Two goals for 30 on the season) 2. Marc-Antoine Pouliot (Two goals) 3. Patrick McNeill (Goal and two assists) Notes: Defenseman Sean Collins was recalled to Washington Saturday and played for the Capitals in a 5-4 overtime win over Buffalo at Verizon Center Saturday night. The BEARS are off until Friday when they travel to Wilkes-Barre Township to face the Penguins at Mohegan Sun Arena. Friday’s game in northeast PA is HERSHEY’S final road game of the 2010-11 regular season. The BEARS will close out the season next weekend at home against the Penguins and Syracuse Crunch. Saturday’s puckdrop is at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday’s game is at 5:00 p.m. Tickets are available at the Giant Center box office, or by calling (717) 534-3911.