Bears Look Forward To Light Work Weekend
March 11, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release
After starting the month of March with three consecutive wins, the tide turned against the HERSHEY BEARS as the team came up without a point in their recent weekend set of three games. The club first fell by a 5-1 count to the Norfolk Admirals on Friday night at Norfolk Scope. Dan Sexton and Sami Vatanen staked the Admirals to a 2-0 lead before Jeff Taffe fired his 16th goal of the season past goaltender Frederik Andersen. The BEARS were very much in the game until Patrick Maroon scored from a sharp angle early in the third period for the insurance. Josh Brittain and John Mitchell then finished off the scoring. In the Saturday rematch the game started out much better, with a Taffe breakaway just nine seconds in. After he fired a shot wide, the Admirals picked up a power play chance and Troy Bodie finished it off. The BEARS earned their first opportunity on a power play shortly afterward, but an obstruction on a Chris Wagner shorthanded breakaway gave Norfolk a penalty shot. Dany Sabourin was up to the task and made the save. Brayden Irwin scored 34 seconds into the middle period to make it 2-0, before Jon DiSalvatore matched Taffe with his 16th of the season to cut the deficit in half. Maroon then took over in the third period, scoring twice to put the game out reach and send Norfolk to a 4-1 win. The BEARS returned home after the time change and were down 1-0 to the Binghamton Senators on a shorthanded goal by Jean-Gabriel Pageau. Peter LeBlanc and Casey Wellman put the BEARS on top in the second period, and the hosts appeared to be in control until two late penalties proved costly. Shane Prince scored to tie the game, and Derek Grant netted the winner with 2.3 seconds left to play.
HERSHEY plays two games this weekend at home, hosting the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Saturday and the Adirondack Phantoms on Sunday.
BEARS NEWS AND NOTES
TAFFE STILL ON TOP: C Jeff Taffe chipped in with a goal and an assist on the recent trip to Norfolk, to maintain his spot at the top of the BEARS' scoring categories (16-37-53). Taffe's 37 assists enter the week tied for third in the AHL, with his point total also tied for third.
CHANGE OF SCENERY: C Casey Wellman netted his second power play goal with the BEARS in Sunday's game against Binghamton. Wellman has recorded 15 points (5-10-15) in 17 games since joining HERSHEY on January 31.
POINTS FROM PETER: C Peter LeBlanc also tallied a goal on Sunday, his second with the BEARS. Since joining the club with Casey Wellman on January 31, LeBlanc has 10 points (2-8-10) in 17 games. Five of his eight assists have come on the power play and all have come with HERSHEY. LeBlanc is just two points shy of his 12 points recorded in 34 games with the Rockford IceHogs.
NHL SUCCESS STORY: Just one day after goaltender Philipp Grubauer made his first NHL start against the New York Islanders on Saturday, defenseman Steve Oleksy continued his storybook week with the Washington Capitals when he scored his first NHL goal on Sunday. Oleksy netted the Capitals' only goal of the game against Martin Biron, in a 4-1 setback against the New York Rangers at Verizon Center. Oleksy has recorded four points (1-3-4) and a plus-three rating in the first four games of his NHL career.
ORLOV RETURNS: Defenseman Dmitry Orlov dressed for the Chocolate and White on Saturday at Norfolk, his first appearance in the lineup since suffering an injury at Verizon Center on December 6 - also against Norfolk. He registered his first point since November 30, an assist, on Sunday against Binghamton.
KINGS OF TIGHT GAMES: The BEARS are back even with the Houston Aeros for the league lead in one-goal games (34) after Sunday's contest against Binghamton. HERSHEY is 14-12-3-5 in such games.
STILL NUMBER ONE: Adding the 10,367 at GIANT Center on Sunday, the BEARS continue to lead the AHL with an average attendance of 9,919 fans per game. The BEARS have just five home games remaining in the 2012-2013 regular season.
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