Bears Spoil Sens' Celebration with 3-2 Victory in Season
Published on October 8, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release
BINGHAMTON, NY - Patrick Wellar added insurance to shorthanded goals by Christian Hanson and Chris Bourque, helping the HERSHEY BEARS to a 3-2 season-opening victory over the Binghamton Senators on Friday night at Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.
Hanson started the scoring by intercepting a pass at the center ice faceoff dot, while the Senators were working on their first power play of the night. He broke in alone and lifted a backhander over the glove of Binghamton netminder Robin Lehner at 7:20 of the first period, the only scoring of the frame.
The second Senators man advantage didn't fare better as Keith Aucoin was able to chip a puck around a Binghamton forward, starting a two-on-one shorthanded rush. Bourque collected the pass while driving the goal crease and tucked the puck underneath Lehner at 8:18 of the second.
Binghamton finally capitalized on the power play when Patrick Wiercioch sent a wrist shot from the left circle through traffic and past BEARS backstop Braden Holtby at 11:14, pulling the Senators to within a goal.
But Wellar would find himself with the puck in front of a prone Lehner just 2:32 later, and lifted a pass from Kyle Greentree into the net to give the BEARS needed insurance.
Binghamton's Mark Parrish later backed himself free of coverage in the slot, took a pass from Corey Locke who was behind the net and one-timed a low shot past Holtby at 16:02, giving the hosts life.
A penalty to HERSHEY's Boyd Kane with 36.3 seconds remaining in regulation would give the Senators a 6-on-4 advantage with Lehner off for an extra attacker, but the BEARS held on for the win.
Holtby picked up the win in stopping 27 of 29 Binghamton shots. Lehner made 34 saves in the losing effort. HERSHEY finished 0-for-3 on the power play, while the Senators ended 1-for-6.
The BEARS will visit the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins tomorrow, October 8 at 7:05 PM and the Norfolk Admirals on Friday, October 14 at 7:30 PM prior to opening at home.
The BEARS will face off against the Admirals in the team's home opener at Giant Center on Saturday, October 15 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.
American Hockey League Stories from October 8, 2011
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- Admirals Win Another Thriller Vs. Checkers, Start Season with Two Wins - Norfolk Admirals
- Sound Tigers Fall 4-2 to Pirates in Season Opener - Bridgeport Islanders
- Marlies Upend B-Sens, 3-2 - Binghamton Senators
- Monarchs Chilled By IceCaps - Manchester Monarchs
- Bulldogs Open Season with 5-2 Win Over Americans - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Ads Earn Win in Muller's Debut - Milwaukee Admirals
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- B-Sens Sign Defenseman Shaun Heshka - Binghamton Senators
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- Toronto Marlies Announce Opening Day Roster & Team Captain - Toronto Marlies
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- Canadiens Assign Joe Callahan to Bulldogs - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Blackhawks Recall Kruger, Reassign Pirri Back to Rockford - Rockford IceHogs
- Pirates to Deliver Season Tickets to Various Charities - Portland Pirates
- Bears Spoil Sens' Celebration with 3-2 Victory in Season - Hershey Bears
- Admirals Open Season with Overtime Thriller - Norfolk Admirals
- Monsters Drop Close Home Opener in Front of Large Crowd - Cleveland Monsters
- An Opener to Hang Your Hat On - Manchester Monarchs
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