Friday March 31, 2006 vs Lowell (Posted Saturday 1:24 A.M. EST)

 

Bears cruise past Lowell, 7-2

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

9 goals and 8 fighting majors pretty much sum it up. 9 and 8 -- as in 98 -- also represent the total points the Hershey Bears have accumulated this season, as the Lowell Lock Monsters fell prey to a Bears club that equaled a season high with 7 goals en route a 7-2 win before 8,114 in a rare Friday night contest at Giant Center. With 3 points each, Tomas Fleischmann, Boyd Gordon, and Lawrence Nycholat led the scoring brigade for Hershey (42-19-4-10, 98 points), while Kirk Daubenspeck (10-5-2) turned aside 21 shots to give the Bears their Eastern Conference-leading 26th home victory of the season. David Gove and former Bear Ryan Steeves would pocket markers for the Lock Monsters (27-34-5-7, 66 points), with Craig Kowalski (5-10-2) finishing with 33 saves as Lowell was officially eliminated from the playoff race. The Bears, who reeled off six unanswered scores in the game, now sit just two points behind Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the East Division standings. The Penguins, who were shutout 2-0 by the Binghamton Senators on Friday, still have three games in-hand over Hershey, though.

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	Total
Lowell	1	0	1	2
Hershey	1	3	3	7

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: 1, LOW, Gove 16 (unassisted), 3:39; Time. 2, HER, Gordon 15 (power play) (Bourque, Aulin), 16:46. Penalties: Engelland, HER (hooking), 7:38; Cutta, HER (hooking), 8:59; Bennefield, LOW (fighting major), 11:01; Engelland, HER (fighting major), 11:01; Aulin, HER (hooking), 13:23; Yandle, LOW (hooking), 14:53; Finger, LOW (holding), 15:08; Gordon, HER (hooking), 19:22.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: 3, HER, Fleischmann 26 (Gordon, Beech), 1:30. 4, HER, Nycholat 12 (game-winner) (Fleischmann, Beech), 7:44. 5, HER, Fleischmann 27 (power play) (Bourque, Nycholat), 17:33. Penalties: Boychuk, LOW (tripping), 4:06; Svagrovsky, LOW (roughing), 9:17; Doull, HER (cross-checking), 9:17; Viitanen, LOW (roughing), 11:20; Svagrovsky, LOW (delay of game), 11:20; Wilde, HER (roughing), 11:20; Doull, HER (delay of game), 11:20; Arsene, HER (tripping), 11:32; Estrada, LOW (tripping), 12:14; Hayward, LOW (cross-checking), 12:35; Doull, HER (roughing), 14:53; Bennefield, LOW (fighting major), 17:17; Doull, HER (fighting major), 17:17; McLeod, LOW (fighting major), 18:13; Robitaille, HER (fighting major), 18:13; Gove, LOW (roughing), 19:07; Fleischmann, HER (boarding), 19:48.

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: 6, HER, Arsene 2 (Nycholat, Tenute), :27. 7, HER, Forbes 21 (Gordon, Robitaille), 9:00. 8, LOW, Steeves (Skladany, Estrada), 14:49. 9, HER, Steckel 14 (short-handed) (Kane, Wilde), 17:39. Penalties: Svagrovsky, LOW (fighting major), 12:32; Arsene, HER (slashing, fighting major), 12:32; Werner, HER (hooking), 16:22.

 

Game Factoids: Hershey finished 2-6 on the power-play, while Lowell ended at 0-9 … The Bears outshot the Lock Monsters 40-23 … Fleischmann, who now leads Hershey with 27 goals, extended his scoring streak to 7 games, during which he's accumulated 11 points (6 goals, 5 assists) … Nycholat has amassed 10 points in his last 6 games (2G, 8 A) … Since joining the Bears at the trade deadline, C Kris Beech has registered 10 points in 7 contests (5G, 5A) … C Dave Steckel bagged his team-leading 4th short-handed goal of the season during the 3rd period. The Bears have notched a "shorty" in 3 straight games … Hershey won both games of the season series with Lowell … The Bears last won 26 home games during the 1991/92 season … With two more man advantage scores on Friday, the Bears stand 3 goals shy of tying their franchise high in power play markers for a season (106) … Hershey improved to 31-0-1-5 this season when leading after two periods … Bears D Dean Arsene, who finished an assist shy of a "Gordie Howe Hat Trick" (1 goal, 1 assist, 1 fight), netted his first goal since November 20th. He later peppered David Svagrovsky with several lefts in a fight inside the Lowell zone … Due to former Bear Paul Healey being out of the lineup, another former Bear, Jeff Finger, is currently wearing the captain's "C" for Lowell. In a case of "whoops," Finger inadvertently skated to the Bears penalty box after getting called for a holding penalty in the 1st period … The Lock Monsters entered Friday having allowed an AHL-low 56 power play goals; they also came to Hershey with the league's top penalty killing unit (86.3%) … Due to the officials arriving late, the contest did not start until approximately 7:30 … Brian Yandle (University of New Hampshire) and Brad Zancanaro (Boston University), fresh off their senior seasons at the collegiate level, made their professional debuts for Lowell … The Lock Monsters have used 59 different players this season … Lock Monsters RW Blue Bennefield, who was leading the UHL in fighting majors before his AHL recall last week, rang up 2 fights on Friday, dropping the gloves with Deryk Engelland (1st period) and Doug Doull (2nd period) … Hershey Head Coach Bruce Boudreau started Jakub Cutta and Nycholat on defense, with Boyd Kane, Stephen Werner, and Steckel at forward … Scratched from Hershey: RW Eric Fehr, D J.F. Fortin, LW Owen Fussey, D Mike Green, RW Jonas Johansson, RW Jakub Klepis, RW Graham Mink, and D Mark Wotton … 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Fleischmann, (2) Nycholat, (3) Gordon … referee: Justin St. Pierre.

 

Coming Up: The Bears wrap-up their weekend with a 7 PM face-off against the Philadelphia Phantoms Saturday evening at Giant Center. Hershey is 6-0-2-1 versus Philly this season, including a 4-3 win in their last meeting on March 4th. With a victory, Hershey can hit the 100-point plateau for the first time since the 1996/97 campaign.

 

Former Bear Jeff Finger (#6) goes face first into the endboards during 1st period action. Bears defenseman Jakub Cutta is at right.

 

Cody McLeod (left) and Louis Robitaille exchange rights during their 2nd period fight. Robitaille needs only 7 penalty minutes to reach 300 for the season.

 

Another former Bear, Ryan Steeves (#14), tallies a 3rd period marker, cutting the Bears lead to 6-2.

 

Dave Steckel (top left) gives Hershey a 7-2 advantage, firing this short-handed goal past Lowell goaltender Craig Kowalski at 17:39 of the 3rd period. The goal was Steckel's team-leading 4th short-handed marker of the 05/06 campaign.

 

Wednesday March 29, 2006 at Bridgeport (Posted Wednesday 10:24 P.M. EST)

 

Penalties doom Bears

Bridgeport hands Hershey 5-4 OT loss

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

Midway through the 3rd period, things were looking good for the Hershey Bears. Down by two goals to start the final stanza, Hershey would find their way back into the contest, with Kris Beech and Tomas Fleischmann tallying special teams goals to even the score at 4-4. Even with a 5-minute major to work with, though, the Bears would not find the back of the net again in regulation, resulting in their second overtime in as many games. There, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers -- beneficiaries of a 5-on-3 man advantage for 1:55 -- would capture victory, with Justin Papineau lighting the lamp to send the home team to their fourth straight win over Hershey, 5-4 before 3,462 Wednesday night at the Arena at Harbor Yard. Goaltender Kirk Daubenspeck (9-5-2), called into action to replace starter Frederic Cassivi at the onset of the 3rd period, turned aside 9 of 10 shots in 21+ minutes to suffer the hard-luck loss for Hershey (41-19-4-10, 96 points). Jeremy Colliton would pace the Sound Tigers (37-28-4-3, 81 points) offense with 2 goals, while goalie Wade Dubielewicz (19-16-2) earned the victory with 38 saves.

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	OT	Total
Hershey	1	1	2	0	4
Bridgeport	1	3	0	1	5

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: 1, HER, Tenute 17 (Kane, Klepis), 6:17. 2, BRI, Colliton 20 (power play) (Collins, Papineau), 12:31. Penalties: Larocque, BRI (hooking), 9:01; Forbes, HER (cross-checking), 11:13; Rourke, BRI (high-sticking), 15:11.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: 3, HER, Beech 22 (Mink, Fleischmann), :36. 4, BRI, Colliton 21 (Pettinen, Dubielewicz), 5:47. 5, BRI, Caldwell 3 (power play) (Marjamaki, Jarrett), 8:39. 6, BRI, Regier 16 (Caldwell, Marjamaki), 18:01. Penalties: Green, HER (hooking), 6:40.

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: 7, HER, Beech 23 (short-handed) (unassisted), 2:28. 8, HER, Fleischmann 25 (power play) (Beech, Nycholat), 8:23. Penalties: Beech, HER (holding), 1:49; Thompson, BRI (holding), 7:56; Larocque, BRI (boarding major), 13:31; Stathopoulos, WBS (hooking), 9:07;

 

OVERTIME -- Scoring: 9, BRI, Papineau 6 (game-winner) (power play) (Collins, Omicioli), 3:37. Penalties: Daubenspeck, HER (holding), 1:46; Nycholat, HER (roughing), 1:51; Cutta, HER (slashing, cross-checking), 3:37; HER bench (gross misconduct), 3:37.

 

Game Factoids: Hershey finished 1-4 on the power-play, while Bridgeport ended at 3-5 … The Bears outshot the Sound Tigers 42-20 … For the second time in less than 3 weeks, Bears Head Coach Bruce Boudreau was assessed a gross misconduct at the game's conclusion, presumably in regards to referee Scott Hoberg's multiple penalty calls on Hershey during overtime … Cassivi exited with just 6 saves on 10 shots in 40 minutes worth of service … Beech, who finished with a game-high 3 points (2G, 1A), has recorded short-handed goals in back-to-back contests. He has registered 5 goals in his first 6 games since joining Hershey at the trade deadline … Fleischmann extended his scoring streak to 6 games (4G, 4A) … D Lawrence Nycholat has collected 7 points in the last 5 contests (1G, 6A) … Half of Bridgeport's 2nd period shots resulted in scores (3 goals on 6 shots) … Hershey Head Coach Bruce Boudreau started Mike Green and Nycholat on defense, with Beech, Fleischmann, and Graham Mink at forward … Scratched from the Hershey lineup: C Jared Aulin, LW Chris Bourque, D Deryk Engelland, D J.F. Fortin, LW Owen Fussey, LW Louis Robitaille, RW Stephen Werner, and D Mark Wotton … 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Colliton, (2) Beech, (3) Dubielewicz.

 

Coming Up: The Bears return home for their final non-East Division contest of the season on Friday, taking on the Lowell Lock Monsters at 7 PM. In their only other meeting of the 05/06 campaign, Hershey defeated Lowell 3-1 on March 8th.

 

Sunday March 26, 2006 (Posted Sunday 11:31 P.M. EST)

 

Current Bears Statistical Leaders (through 3-26-06)

 

 

Sunday March 26, 2006 vs Wilkes-Barre (Posted Sunday 11:31 P.M. EST)

 

Graham is Golden for Bears

Mink nets OT winner over WBS

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

Graham Mink made a memorable return to the Hershey Bears lineup on Sunday, coming thru with a clutch power-play goal with 7.8 seconds left in overtime to down the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 3-2 before 9,096 fans Sunday night at Giant Center. The right winger, out of the lineup with a sports hernia since February 3rd, picked up a Mike Green rebound and fired a right circle shot over Penguins goalie Dany Sabourin, giving the Bears their Eastern Conference-best 25th home win of the season. With the victory, Hershey (41-19-3-10, 95 points) now stands just 5 points behind Wilkes-Barre (45-16-5-5, 100 points) in the East Division standings. Former Pen Kris Beech (short-handed), as well as Tomas Fleischmann (power play), would pocket 1st period scores to give Hershey a 2-0 lead, but Daniel Carcillo and Krystofer Kolonos would answer in the 2nd for the visitors, eventually forcing the 5-minute overtime frame. In goal, Frederic Cassivi (32-17-6) would stop 20 of 22 shots for Hershey, while his WBS counterpart Sabourin (26-12-4), at times, looked stellar, finishing with 44 saves on the night.

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	OT	Total
Wilkes-Barre	0	2	0	0	2
Hershey	2	0	0	1	3

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: 1, HER, Beech 21 (short handed) (unassisted), 3:43. 2, HER, Fleischmann 21 (power play) (Nycholat, Beech), 10:27. Penalties: Robitaille, HER (high-sticking major), 2:17; Kelleher, WBS (holding stick), 10:07; Carcillo, WBS (fighting major), 10:29; Robitaille, HER (fighting major), 10:29; Dixon, WBS (slashing), 11:16; Cutta, HER (interference), 17:20; Christensen, WBS (unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:54; Carcillo, WBS (roughing), 19:35; Mink, HER (roughing), 19:35; Fehr, HER (roughing), 19:35.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: 3, WBS, Carcillo 10 (Dixon), 3:51. 7, WBS, Kolonos 16 (power play) (Stone, Fata), 18:42. Penalties: Nycholat, HER (interference), 8:22; Cutta, HER (holding), 16:59.

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: None. Penalties: Kelleher, WBS (hooking), 9:22; Fata, WBS (tripping), 10:43.

 

OVERTIME -- Scoring: 5, HER, Mink 19 (game-winner) (power play) (Green, Nycholat), 4:52. Penalties: Nasreddine, WBS (hooking), 4:35.

 

Game Factoids: Face-offs won (unofficial): Hershey: 30, Wilkes-Barre: 29 … Hershey finished 2-6 on the power-play, while Wilkes-Barre ended at 1-5 … The Bears outshot the Penguins 44-22 … Hershey ended the season series with a 4-5-0-1 mark against Wilkes-Barre … In games decided in overtime this season, Hershey is 4-3 … Hershey successfully killed off a Louis Robitaille high-sticking major in the 1st, during which Beech tallied a short-handed marker against his former club … Moments after Fleischmann's power play goal gave Hershey a 2-0 advantage, Carcillo and Robitaille squared off on the ensuing face-off. The animated Robitaille, moving around like a prize fighter, earned the decision in a quick and spirited bout that saw both combatants throwing several haymakers … D Lawrence Nycholat finished with 2 assists, adding to his team lead (37) … The Bears limited Wilkes-Barre to just 2 shots in the 3rd period … Fleischmann has recorded points in 5 straight games, and 6 of the last 7 … Courtesy of a Carcillo 2nd period check, D Martin Wilde sustained a cut on the bridge of his nose, leaving briefly for repairs … Green finished with a game-high 8 shots … Earlier in the day, RW Jakub Klepis was sent down to Hershey from the parent Washington Capitals … With 7 games remaining on the regular season schedule, Hershey stands just 6 goals shy of tying their franchise high in power play goals (106) … Wilkes-Barre, who has earned points in 9 straight (5-0-2-2), reached the 100-point plateau for the first time in team history … Wilkes-Barre has two games in-hand over Hershey … Hershey Head Coach Bruce Boudreau started Green and Nycholat on defense, with Eric Fehr, Dave Steckel, and Boyd Kane at forward … Scratched from Hershey: C Jared Aulin, LW Chris Bourque, D J.F. Fortin, LW Owen Fussey, RW Jonas Johansson, C Joey Tenute, and D Mark Wotton … 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Mink, (2) Sabourin, (3) Beech … referee: Jeff Smith.

 

Coming Up: The Bears head into the final week of March by stopping in Bridgeport on Wednesday, then returning home for a rare Friday night home game against the Lowell Lock Monsters.

 

Kris Beech (left) fires this short-handed attempt past Penguins goalie Dany Sabourin, giving the Bears a 1-0 lead at 3:43 of the 1st period. Beech, who played all or parts of three seasons in Wilkes-Barre, finished with a goal and an assist against his former club.

 

Louis Robitaille (left) connects on a punch during a 1st period fight with Wilkes-Barre's Daniel Carcillo.

 

Carcillo prepares to backhand a shot past Bears goaltender Frederic Cassivi, cutting the Hershey lead to 2-1 at 3:51 of the 2nd period.

 

Graham Mink (top) upends Wilkes-Barre's Chris Kelleher during 2nd period action. Mink returned to the Hershey lineup for the first time since February 2nd.

 

Sabourin (middle) makes a pivotal save on Bears captain Boyd Kane, keeping the contest tied at 2-2 midway through the 3rd period. Sabourin finished with 44 saves in the game.

 

Mink (right) seals the overtime victory for Hershey, sending this right circle shot over Sabourin. The game-winning power-play marker was Mink's 19th goal of the season.

 

Friday March 24, 2006 at Wilkes-Barre (Posted Friday 9:31 P.M. EST)

 

Bears fail to gain ground on Wilkes-Barre

Penguins erupt with 7 goals in 7-2 victory over Hershey

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	Total
Hershey	0	2	0	2
Wilkes-Barre	1	5	1	7

 

Scoring

 

1. WBS Taticek, (11) (Lefebvre), 5:22 (PP)

2. WBS Kolanos, (13) (Sabourin), 4:41

2. WBS Lefebvre, (14) (Schneider, Bissonnette), 5:32

2. HER Green, (7) (Robitaille), 8:48

2. HER Fleischmann, (23) (Nycholat, Aulin), 13:07

2. WBS Lefebvre, (15) (Taticek, Kelleher), 13:20

2. WBS Kolanos, (14) (Talbot), 16:26

2. WBS Fata, (1) , 18:20 (PP)

3. WBS Christensen, (23) (Bissonnette), 3:33

 

Penalties

 

1 - HER Nycholat, 4:05 - Elbowing , 2 min (PP)

1 - HER Fehr, 15:03 - Hooking , 2 min (PP)

2 - WBS Sabourin, 8:59 - Delay of game , 2 min (PP)

2 - HER Fehr, 17:51 - Interference , 2 min (PP)

3 - WBS Christensen, 7:43 - Hooking , 2 min (PP)

3 - WBS Bonvie, 11:12 - Roughing , 2 min (PP)

3 - WBS Bonvie, 11:12 - Misconduct (41), 10 min

3 - HER Robitaille, 11:12 - Roughing , 2 min

3 - WBS Talbot, 11:12 - Boarding , 2 min

 

Coming Up: After a rare Saturday off, the Bears faceoff against 1st place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Sunday, 5:00 PM, at the Giant Center.

 

Sunday March 19, 2006 (Posted Sunday 11:59 P.M. EST)

 

Current Bears Statistical Leaders (through 3-19-06)

 

Sunday March 19, 2006 vs Binghamton (Posted Sunday 11:49 P.M. EST)

 

Bingo! Bears prevail in shootout, 5-4

Win over Senators seals trip to postseason for first time since '03

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

The Hershey Bears became the fourth AHL team to punch their ticket to the playoffs this season, defeating the Binghamton Senators 5-4 in a seesaw contest that lasted until the final attempt in the shootout. After Steve Martins answered Kris Beech's earlier score in the shootout, Boyd Gordon would solidify the victory in the latter half of the 5th round, sending a shot past Senators goalie Billy Thompson to give the Chocolate and White just their fourth win in 14 shootouts this season. During regulation, Mark Wotton, Tomas Fleischmann, Beech, and Lawrence Nycholat would tally markers for Hershey (40-18-3-10, 93 points), who improved to 5-0-0-1 versus Binghamton this season. Goaltender Kirk Daubenspeck (9-4-2), seeing his first AHL action since Feb. 11, stopped 35 shots during regulation and overtime, before turning aside 4 of 5 attempts in the shootout. Goals by former Bear Charlie Stephens, Denis Hamel, Jeff Heerema, and Grant Potulny would pace the BSens offense, while Thompson (8-16-3) ended with 34 saves in 65 minutes as Binghamton (29-31-4-4, 67 points) saw its modest 3-game win streak come to an end.

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	OT	SO	Total
Binghamton	0	2	2	0	0	4
Hershey	0	2	2	0	1	5

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: None. Penalties: Hamel, BIN (hooking), 1:22; Robitaille, HER (elbowing), 7:30; Nycholat, HER (tripping), 12:37.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: 1, HER, Wotton 7 (Tenute, Kane), 7:54. 2, BIN, Stephens 19 (Heerema, Potulny), 9:27. 3, BIN, Hamel 46 (Platil), 10:01. 4, HER, Fleischmann 22 (unassisted), 17:44. Penalties: Martins, BIN (tripping), 1:07; Kane, HER (interference), 3:49; Robins, BIN (hooking), 5:46; Bois, BIN (head-butting, double minor), 10:01; Wotton, HER (roughing), 10:01; Ward, BIN (roughing), 10:38; Clouthier, BIN (unsportsmanlike conduct), 16:47; Kane, HER (unsportsmanlike conduct), 16:47; Fehr, HER (elbowing), 18:58; Kane, HER (roughing), 19:23.

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: 5, HER, Tenute 17 (Wilde, Fleischmann), 2:04. 6, BIN, Heerema 20 (power play) (Stephens, Novak), 5:36. 7, HER, Nycholat 11 (power play) (Beech, Green), 11:30. 8, BIN, Potulny 18 (Ward, Heerema), 13:46. Penalties: Fleischmann, HER (hooking), 4:05; Wotton, HER (illegal stick), 4:05; Platil, BIN (boarding), 10:32.

 

OVERTIME -- Scoring: None. Penalties: None

 

 

SHOOTOUT

 

Shooter Name	Team	Result
Charlie Stephens	BIN	No Goal
Lawrence Nycholat	HER	No Goal
Jeff Heerema	BIN	No Goal
Kris Beech	HER	Goal
Denis Hamel	BIN	No Goal
Tomas Fleischmann	HER	No Goal
Filip Novak	BIN	No Goal
Colin Forbes	HER	No Goal
Steve Martins	BIN	Goal
Boyd Gordon	HER	Goal

 

 

Game Factoids: Face-offs won (unofficial): Hershey: 41, Binghamton: 28 … Hershey finished 1-6 on the power-play, while Binghamton ended at 1-7 … The Bears and Senators each finished with 39 shots … Daubenspeck, making his first start since January 29th, made the save of the game, robbing Martins on a breakaway with under 20 seconds remaining in overtime … Thompson has been in net for all 5 of Binghamton's losses to Hershey this season … All 17 Hershey skaters finished with at least one shot on goal … Stephen Werner made his professional debut for Hershey, wearing jersey #36 … Fleischmann has registered 9 points (3 goals, 6 assists) versus Binghamton this season, while Heerema has collected 9 points (5G, 4A) against Hershey in 05/06 … Nycholat's power play marker was his first since Jan. 27th … After Fleischmann was whistled for hooking at 4:05 of the 3rd, Senators Head Coach Dave Cameron had referee Jamie Koharski perform a stick measurement on Wotton. Koharski determined the stick was illegal, and awarded Binghamton an additional man advantage opportunity. Heerema would capitalize on the chance for the Sens, pocketing a 5-on-3 score that evened the contest at 3-3 … Hershey's 24 home wins this season are the most since the 96/97 campaign, when the Bears rang up 25 victories at Hershey Park Arena en route to the Calder Cup Championship … Binghamton leads the AHL with 1,986 penalty minutes this season … Bears captain Boyd Kane returned to the lineup after missing Saturday's contest … Hershey Head Coach Bruce Boudreau started Mike Green and Martin Wilde on defense, with Forbes, Kane, and Tenute at forward … Scratched from Hershey: C Jared Aulin (healthy), LW Chris Bourque (healthy), D Jakub Cutta (groin), LW Doug Doull (healthy), D J.F. Fortin (groin), RW Jonas Johansson (healthy), and RW Graham Mink (sports hernia) … 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Beech, (2) Heerema, (3) Gordon … attendance: 7,006.

 

Happy Trails: Earlier on Sunday, the Bears announced that Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations John Walton will depart at the end of the current 05/06 campaign. Walton has accepted a position with Susan Davi he becomes ts International, wherehe Director of Sports Public Relations for the Washington, DC-based media relations firm. Walton has been the voice of the Bears since the team moved into Giant Center to start the 2002/03 season. Prior to coming to Chocolatetown, Walton served as the play-by-play radio broadcaster for the now-defunct Cincinnati Mighty Ducks from 1997-2000; and, as the Public Address Announcer for seven seasons with the Cincinnati Reds. He will continue to call the action for Hershey throughout the postseason, with former Harrisburg Heat play-by-play man John Wilsbach covering all weekday Bears contests.

 

Coming Up: Hershey has a chance at inching closer to 1st place in the East Division this week, taking on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Friday (away) and Saturday (home).

 

Denis Hamel (in red) celebrates as his 46th goal of the season gives the Senators a 2-1 lead at 10:01 of the 2nd period.

 

Kris Beech (in white) sneaks this backhand shot past Binghamton goalie Billy Thompson, giving the Bears a 3-2 lead at 2:04 of the 3rd period.

 

Bears goalie Kirk Daubenspeck watches as a Binghamton shot rings off the left post during 3rd period action.

 

At the other end of the ice, Thompson gets some help from his left goalpost on this Bears attempt during the 3rd period.

 

Daubenspeck makes his biggest save of the game, stonewalling this Steve Martins breakaway attempt with under 20 seconds remaining in overtime.

 

Beech goes airborne after beating Thompson on this goal during the 2nd round of the shootout. Boyd Gordon would cinch the Bears victory with his marker in the 5th round.

 

Saturday March 18, 2006 vs Albany (Posted Sunday 12:50 A.M. EST)

 

13 and counting…

Bears continue streak with 2-1 win over Albany

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

March 28, 2004. To you and me, that may stand as an insignificant date in time. For the Albany River Rats, though, it serves as a constant reminder, as it was the last time they defeated the Hershey Bears (4-2 in Albany, for those keeping score). Since then, it's been all Hershey, all the time. Saturday night at Giant Center, the Bears (39-18-3-10, 91 points) ran their winning streak to 13 straight over the last place Rats (23-37-4-2, 52 points), marking the second consecutive campaign Hershey has swept the season series. Colin Forbes (power play) and Eric Fehr (game-winner) would light the lamp for the victors, while goaltender Frederic Cassivi (31-16-6) turned aside 32 shots, only allowing a Chris Minard marker in the final minute of the 3rd period. Ari Ahonen (2-9-0) suffered the loss for Albany, ending with 36 saves.

 

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	Total
Albany	0	0	1	1
Hershey	0	2	0	2

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: None. Penalties: Robitaille, HER (boarding), 4:41; Aulin, HER (hooking), 8:19; Voros, ALB (boarding), 9:39; Pikkarainen, ALB (unsportsmanlike conduct), 16:15; Doull, HER (slashing), 16:15; Arsene, HER (unsportsmanlike conduct), 16:15; Ference, ALB (cross-checking, fighting major), 19:10; Fehr, HER (fighting major), 19:10.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: 1, HER, Forbes 20 (power play) (Nycholat, Fleischmann), :58. 2, HER, Fehr 25 (game-winner) (Tenute, Nycholat), 13:47. Penalties: Doull, HER (roughing), 1:14; Brooks, ALB (tripping), 5:43; Beech, HER (goaltender interference), 6:09; DeMarchi, ALB (interference), 7:01; Fleischmann, HER (hooking), 7:55; Leblond, ALB (unsportsmanlike conduct), 12:10; Robitaille, HER (unsportsmanlike conduct), 12:10; Leblond, ALB (fighting major, misconduct), 14:23; Robitaille, HER (boarding, fighting major), 14:23; Arsene, HER (elbowing), 15:56.

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: 3, ALB, Minard 7 (Nittel, Allen), 19:13. Penalties: McGillis, ALB (kneeing), 1:49; Aulin, HER (hooking), 6:49; Arsene, HER (cross checking), 8:21; Ference, ALB (interference), 11:34; Doull, HER (misconduct), 11:34; Vrana, ALB (slashing), 13:23; Ference, ALB (roughing), 14:47; McGillis, ALB (boarding), 14:55; Pihlman, ALB (misconduct), 14:55; Bourque, HER (roughing), 17:09; Vrana, ALB (misconduct), 17:09.

 

Game Factoids: Face-offs won (unofficial): Hershey: 27, Albany: 29 … Hershey finished 1-8 on the power-play, while Albany ended at 0-11 … The Bears outshot the River Rats 38-33 … D Lawrence Nycholat finished with a game-high 2 points (assists) … With Boyd Kane scratched from the lineup, C Boyd Gordon donned the captain's "C" … In addition to potting his team-leading 25th goal, Fehr also recorded his first professional fighting major, dropping the gloves with Rats d-man Brad Ference late in the 1st period. Fehr was the more active participant in the scrap, earning the decision but sustaining a cut on the forehead … Louis Robitaille took part in the game's other donnybrook, with Albany's Pierre-Luc Leblond controlling the entire fight while landing several unanswered lefts to score the win … Hershey's 23 home wins are tied with Portland for 1st in the Eastern Conference … With 10 games remaining on the 05/06 slate, the Bears stand just 9 power play goals away from tying their franchise high of 106, reached during both the 87/88 and 97/98 campaigns … Faces in the crowd included Penn State All-American LB Paul Posluszny, as well as fellow Nittany Lion gridder A.Q. Shipley … Hershey Head Coach Bruce Boudreau started Dean Arsene and Deryk Engelland on defense, with Jared Aulin, Joey Tenute, and Forbes at forward … Scratched from Hershey: D Jakub Cutta, D J.F. Fortin, LW Owen Fussey, RW Jonas Johansson, Kane, RW Graham Mink, and LW Stephen Werner … Former NHL All-Star Alexander Mogilny was scratched from the River Rats lineup … 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Cassivi, (2) Nycholat, (3) Mike Green … referee: Jamie Koharski.

 

Coming Up: The Bears conclude their final "3-in-3" of the 05/06 season on Sunday, with the Binghamton Senators coming to Chocolatetown for a 5 PM face-off at Giant Center. On Friday, the BSens came back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Hershey 3-2 in a shootout. The Bears, however, hold a 4-1-0-1 lead in the season series.

 

Colin Forbes (right) redirects a Lawrence Nycholat left point shot past Albany goalie Ari Ahonen, giving the Bears a 1-0 lead 58 seconds into the 2nd period.

 

On the seat of his pants, Bears RW Eric Fehr gets a shot off on Ahonen during 2nd period action. Alex Brooks (far left) would be whistled for a tripping infraction, resulting in a Hershey power play.

 

Fehr picks up a loose rebound behind Ahonen, tucking the puck in the net at 13:47 of the 3rd period. Fehr's team-leading 25th goal of the season stood as the game-winner.

 

Bears goalie Frederic Cassivi turns aside one of his 14 shots faced during the 2nd period. Overall, the AHL's leader in wins finished with 32 saves on the night.

 

Ahonen turns aside this Tomas Fleischmann attempt during 3rd period action.

 

Friday March 17, 2006 at Binghamton (Posted Friday 10:50 P.M. EST)

 

It's déjà vu all over again

Bears blow two-goal lead, fall in shootout to Binghamton, 3-2

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

Stop me if you've heard this one before. The Hershey Bears jump out to a multiple goal lead, allow their opponent to tie the score, then silently bow out in the shootout round. Yup, no luck of the Irish could be found on the Hershey bench Friday night as the Bears, who led 2-0 midway through the 3rd period, served up Senators goals four minutes apart before getting outscored by the Sens 2-1 in the shootout, resulting in a 3-2 loss before 3,797 at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena in New York's southern tier. Joey Tenute and Kris Beech would pot power play markers for Hershey (38-18-3-10, 89 points), while goaltender Frederic Cassivi (30-16-6) turned aside 34 of 36 shots in regulation and overtime, and another 2 of 4 in the shootout. Danny Bois, who had a penalty shot attempt stopped by Cassivi just 1:06 into the 1st period, netted the equalizer at 15:39 of the 3rd before Charlie Stephens and Jeff Heerema collected shootout goals as Binghamton (28-31-4-3, 63 points) improved to 2-4 versus Hershey this season. Kelly Guard (19-15-1) would earn the win in net for Binghamton, stopping 22 shots in 65 minutes before rejecting another 4 of 5 attempts in the shootout. Hershey's loss, coupled with Philadelphia's overtime victory over Wilkes-Barre, prevented the Bears from punching their card to the postseason.

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	OT	SO	Total
Hershey	0	1	1	0	0	2
Binghamton	0	0	2	0	1	3

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: None. Penalties: Doull, HER (fighting major), 7:13; Clouthier, BIN (fighting major), 7:13; Arsene, HER (roughing), 13:18; Potulny, BIN (slashing), 15:04; Green, HER (roughing), 16:58; Bois, BIN (roughing), 16:58.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: 1, HER, Tenute 16 (power play) (Aulin, Green), 15:44. Penalties: Arsene, HER (hooking), 6:34; Arsene, HER (hooking, roughing), 9:46; Platil, BIN (roughing), 9:46; Nycholat, HER (hooking), 10:41; Cullen, BIN (high-sticking), 13:32; Bois, BIN (roughing), 15:16.

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: 2, HER, Beech 19 (power play) (Green, Fleischmann), 6:27. 3, BIN, Potulny 15 (power play) (Robins, Martins), 11:19. 4, BIN, Bois 15 (Cullen, Stephens), 15:39. Penalties: Arsene, HER (cross-checking), 3:10; Norton, BIN (hooking), 5:22; Nycholat, HER (roughing), 6:27; Nycholat, HER (tripping), 9:49; Johnson, BIN (hooking), 12:12.

 

OVERTIME -- Scoring: None. Penalties: None.

 

SHOOTOUT

 

Shooter Name	Team	Result
Eric Fehr	HER	No Goal
Charlie Stephens	BIN	Goal
Boyd Kane	HER	No Goal
Jeff Heerema	BIN	Goal
Jared Aulin	HER	No Goal
Denis Hamel	BIN	No Goal
Tomas Fleischmann	HER	Goal
Filip Novak	BIN	No Goal
Joey Tenute	HER	No Goal

 

Game Factoids: Hershey finished 2-5 on the power-play, while Binghamton ended at 1-7 … The Senators outshot the Bears 37-24 … The Bears, whose 10 shootout losses lead the AHL, have converted only 13 of 62 attempts in the shootout round this season (21%) … Mike Green led all scorers with 2 assists … Fleischmann has registered 7 points against Binghamton this season (2G, 5A) … Even with the defeat, Hershey has earned points in 6 of their last 7 contests … LW Doug Doull, who missed the last 4 games with an illness, returned to the lineup and earned a 5-minute major for fighting Binghamton's Brett Clouthier in the 1st period … Hershey Head Coach Bruce Boudreau started Green and Martin Wilde on defense, with Beech, Eric Fehr, and Tomas Fleischmann at forward … Scratched from Hershey: D Jakub Cutta (groin), C Colin Forbes (illness), D J.F. Fortin (groin), LW Owen Fussey (healthy), RW Jonas Johansson (healthy), and RW Graham Mink (sports hernia). Stephen Werner, signed to an ATO by Hershey earlier in the week after finishing his senior season at UMass, also sat as a healthy scratch … 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Bois, (2) Cassivi, (3) Bobby Robins … referee: Steve Kozari.

 

Coming Up: Hershey returns to Giant Center for weekend home games against Albany (Saturday at 7 PM) and Binghamton (Sunday at 5 PM).

 

Monday March 13, 2006 (Posted Monday 8:00 P.M. EST)

 

Current Bears Statistical Leaders (through 3-12-06)

 

Sunday March 12, 2006 at Providence (Posted Sunday 7:54 P.M. EST)

 

Sigalet, Bruins blank Bears, 4-0

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

Completing the New England portion of their current 5-game road swing, the Hershey Bears were white-washed by the Providence Bruins 4-0 Sunday afternoon at the Dunkin Donuts Center. Ben Walter, Jonathan Sigalet, Eric Healey, and Jason MacDonald would supply the goal scoring for Providence (34-25-1-3, 72 points), while Jordan Sigalet (18-10-2) turned aside all 34 shots faced to earn his first shutout of the season. Providence, who won both games of the season series within the last week, extended its winning streak to four games. Goaltender Maxime Daigneault (0-1-2), making his 3rd start of the AHL campaign, finished with 18 saves on 22 shots as Hershey (38-18-3-9, 88 points) was blanked for the fifth time in 05/06. Hershey's loss, coupled with Wilkes-Barre's home victory over Binghamton on Sunday, dropped the Bears four points behind the East Division front-running Penguins.

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	Total
Hershey	0	0	0	0
Providence	1	1	2	4

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: 1, PRO, Walter 13 (game-winner) (Robinson, Pelletier), 14:19. Penalties: MacDonald, PRO (slashing), :28; Tenute, HER (hooking), 9:36; Leach, PRO (roughing), 12:05; Guite, PRO (tripping), 18:15; Nycholat, HER (hooking), 18:37.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: 2, PRO, Sigalet 6 (power play) (Robinson, Lundbohm), 17:39. Penalties: Lundbohm, PRO (slashing), 4:21; Gaucher, PRO (tripping), 8:01; Robinson, PRO (roughing), 15:32; Kane, HER (hooking), 17:23.

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: 3, PRO, Healey 28 (power play) (Lundbohm, Sigalet), 10:25. 4, PRO, MacDonald 9 (Pelletier, Lundbohm), 19:01. Penalties: Green, HER (roughing), 3:08; MacDonald, PRO (roughing), 3:08; Fehr, HER (high-sticking), 9:50; Arsene, HER (hooking), 13:06.

 

Game Factoids: Hershey finished 0-6 on the power-play, while Providence ended at 2-5 … The Bears outshot the Bruins 34-22 … Providence's David Lundbohm led all scorers with 3 assists, while teammates Pascal Pelletier and Nathan Robinson chipped in with 2 helpers apiece … Hershey limited Providence to just 4 shots in the 2nd period … The Bears have converted just once in their last 20 power play opportunities … Hershey Head Coach Bruce Boudreau started Mike Green and Martin Wilde on defense, with Jared Aulin, Jonas Johansson, and Boyd Kane at forward … Scratched from Hershey were: D Jakub Cutta (groin), LW Doug Doull (illness), D J.F. Fortin (healthy), LW Owen Fussey (healthy), and RW Graham Mink (sports hernia) … 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Jordan Sigalet, (2) Jonathan Sigalet, (3) Robinson … referee: Francois St. Laurent ... attendance: 8,694.

 

Coming Up: Before returning to Giant Center for home games against Albany and Binghamton next weekend, the Bears travel to New York's southern tier on Friday to take on the Senators at 7:05 PM. Hershey is 4-1 versus the BSens this season, including a 3-1 win in their last meeting on January 28th.

 

Saturday March 11, 2006 at Portland (Posted Saturday 10:17 P.M. EST)

 

Bears right ship in 4-1 win over Pirates

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

Looking to rebound after a disappointing 3-2 overtime loss on Friday, the Hershey Bears responded in fine fashion, easily besting the Portland Pirates 4-1 before 6,752 Saturday night at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Southern Maine. Joey Tenute, Boyd Kane, Colin Forbes, and Dave Steckel would net even-strength goals for Hershey (38-17-3-9, 88 points), while Frederic Cassivi (30-16-5) turned aside 27 of 28 shots to become the first Bears goalie since J.F. Labbe in 1996/97 to record 30 victories in a season. Unfortunately, the Bears were unable to gain any ground on the East Division-leading Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, who shutout the Manchester Monarchs 2-0 on Saturday. Dustin Penner would tally the only marker for Portland (40-16-5-3, 88 points), with netminder Jani Hurme (4-6-0) ending with 20 saves as the Pirates saw their modest three-game winning streak come to an end.

 

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	Total
Hershey	1	2	1	4
Portland	0	1	0	1

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: 1, HER, Tenute 15 (Klepis, Fleischmann), 2:30. Penalties: Fleischmann, HER (tripping), 14:11; Rome, POR (high-sticking), 17:57; Green, HER (interference), 19:44.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: 2, HER, Kane 19 (game-winner) (Wilde, Forbes), 17:13. 3, PRO, Penner 31 (power play) (Kondratiev), 18:30. 4, HER, Forbes 19 (Green, Fehr), 19:17. Penalties: O'Brien, POR (cross-checking), 4:28; Parenteau, POR (high-sticking), 10:08; Arsene, HER (holding), 12:22; Robitaille, HER (high-sticking), 17:32.

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: 5, HER, Steckel 13 (unassisted), 10:44. Penalties: Wilde, HER (tripping), 5:25; Nycholat, HER (cross-checking), 19:34; Klepis, HER (fighting major), 19:34; Ferguson, POR (misconduct), 19:34; Gillies, POR (instigator, fighting major, misconduct), 19:34.

 

Game Factoids: Hershey finished 0-3 on the power-play, while Portland ended at 1-5 … The Pirates outshot the Bears 28-24 … Cassivi joined Labbe (96/97), Wendell Young (87/88), Ron Hextall (85/86), and Rollie Boutin (80/81) as the only netminders to record 30 wins in a season for Hershey over the last 25 years. Coincidentally, Labbe, Young, and Hextall led their respective Bears clubs to the Calder Cup Finals in those 30-win seasons … In 4 games against his former club this season, RW Jakub Klepis totaled 5 points (1 goal, 4 assists) … RW Eric Fehr, back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch on Friday, earned an assist on Forbes' late-2nd period marker … Kane and D Martin Wilde ended at a game-high +3 … Penner, reassigned from Anaheim in time for Saturday's contest, finished with 5 goals versus Hershey this season … Entering Saturday's game, Portland led the Eastern Conference with 241 goals this season … Hershey Head Coach Bruce Boudreau started Lawrence Nycholat and Mark Wotton on defense, with Chris Bourque, Louis Robitaille, and Steckel at forward … Earlier in the day, the Washington Capitals recalled C Boyd Gordon from the Bears … Scratched from Hershey were: D Jakub Cutta (groin), LW Doug Doull (illness), Deryk Engelland (healthy), RW Jonas Johansson (healthy), and RW Graham Mink (sports hernia) … 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Forbes, (2) Cassivi, (3) Kane … referee: Terry Koharski.

 

Coming Up: Hershey closes out its weekend -- and New England swing -- Sunday afternoon in Providence, taking on the Bruins at 4:05 PM from the Dunkin Donuts Center. Last Sunday, the Bears dropped a 4-3 shootout to the PBruins at Giant Center.

 

Friday March 10, 2006 at Portland (Posted Friday 10:50 P.M. EST)

 

Bears fall to Pirates in OT, 3-2

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

Exiting Friday, the Hershey Bears could've shared or held the East Division's top spot. Entering Saturday, though, the Bears sit two points out of 1st place after the Portland Pirates rallied on two, one-goal deficits before Aaron Gavey's game-winner 2:49 into overtime sealed a 3-2 victory for the Atlantic Division's 1st place squad. Dave Steckel and Mike Green pocketed goals, while goaltender Frederic Cassivi (29-16-5) turned aside 22 of 25 shots for Hershey (37-17-3-9, 86 points), who, despite the loss, earned a point for the fourth s