AHL's Best Play Four in Five this Week
Published on March 15, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release
The HERSHEY BEARS Hockey Club head into the final four weeks of the regular season with the American Hockey League's best point total, and one point short of claiming the club's third division title in five seasons. HERSHEY won its 50th game of the season this past Friday in Adirondack before dropping games in Springfield and Worcester. Bryan Helmer scored the overtime game-winner Friday in a 5-4 triumph against the Phantoms, making a winner of goaltender Michal Neuvirth. The Chocolate and White also picked up a point Saturday in a shootout loss against the Falcons at Mass Mutual Center.
The BEARS face the Albany River Rats Friday night at 7:00 p.m. and Adirondack Sunday at 5:00 p.m. Tickets for both home games are on sale now at the Giant Center box office or by calling (717) 534-3911.
Down the stretch they come: The BEARS need just one standings point this week to officially clinch the club's third East Division championship in the last five seasons. HERSHEY has seven home games and seven road games left in 2009-10. The Chocolate and White possess the AHL's best point total with four weeks left, looking to be the top seed overall in the 2010 Calder Cup playoffs. HERSHEY begins the week with a seven-point lead over the Hamilton Bulldogs for the league's best mark.
Get Shorty, with Steve.: Right wing Steve Pinizzotto scored short-handed goals Friday at Adirondack and Saturday in Springfield, giving him five short-handed goals this season. The five lamp-lighters scored down a man is tied for the American Hockey League lead.
Practice schedule: The BEARS will practice Tuesday and Thursday at Hersheypark Arena at 10:00 a.m., with media availability after each skate at approximately 11:15 a.m.
Six have made it to 20: Chris Bourque became the sixth HERSHEY skater to reach the 20-goal plateau this season with a goal in Worcester Sunday against the Sharks. Bourque joins Alexandre Giroux (36), Keith Aucoin (32), Andrew Gordon (31), Boyd Kane (21) and Kyle Wilson (20). Francois Bouchard stands just two goals away from giving the Chocolate and White seven different 20- goal scorers in 2009-10.
Comparing then and now: The 2006-07 BEARS, coached by current Washington Capitals bench boss Bruce Boudreau, holds the franchise record for wins in a single season with 51. With 14 games to go in 2006-07, HERSHEY had just 40 wins, ten fewer than this year's team. Last season's Calder Cup champions won 49 games during the regular season, and had 40 wins at the same point in the campaign.
American Hockey League Stories from March 15, 2010
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- Binghamton's Josh Hennessy named Reebok/AHL Player of the Week - Binghamton Senators
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- Wolf Pack Weekly - Connecticut Whale
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- AHL's Best Play Four in Five this Week - Hershey Bears
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