AHL Hershey Bears

Americans at Bears Game Notes

Published on January 8, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


TONIGHT'S GAME NOTES

BEARS vs. AMERKS: Welcome to Giant Center for a renewal of the oldest rivalry in the American Hockey League. Tonight's game features your HERSHEY BEARS taking on the Rochester Americans in the first of two meetings this season. Rochester is the top AHL developmental affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres.

RECENT RECAPS: Tempers flared in last night's third period after the BEARS scored three times to break a 2-2 tie and go on to a 5-2 win over the Adirondack Phantoms at GIANT Center. The Phantoms were the ones to break through first on the scoresheet, when Andrew Rowe's attempted centering pass from behind the net deflected off of a BEARS stick and behind Dany Sabourin. The hosts then tied the score as time ticked down in the opening period, and while the Phantoms were working on their third power play of the frame. Keith Aucoin, tied up with a Phantoms forward in the neutral zone, tipped a pass to Chris Bourque who skated to the left circle and let a low shot go that beat Michael Leighton to the stick side. HERSHEY took its first lead of the night early in the second when Boyd Kane deflected a Patrick McNeill wrist shot over Leighton's shoulder. But just under a minute and a half later, Tyler Brown finished a pass from Jason Akeson to knot the score 2-2. Jacob Micflikier later scored on a power play early in the third and with a rebound follow-up play by Julien Brouillette and a McNeill tap-in from Aucoin, the BEARS opened up all the offense they would need to skate to victory. But the game would not end peacefully. After Joel Rechlicz put a hard hit on Adirondack's Tom Sestito in the BEARS' offensive zone, the two stared each other down and Sestito opted to head to the bench for a change. BEARS defenseman Danny Richmond ended up in a scrap in front of the Phantoms bench, while Rechlicz traded punches with Sestito who remained off the ice. The teams were assessed a combined 108 minutes in penalties after the fracas, but things later settled down until the final horn. The victory was the BEARS' 20th of the season and puts them into sole possession of first place in the East Division.

Meanwhile the Amerks enter tonight's contest following a 3-2 win over the Binghamton Senators last night at Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena and come into tonight's matchup with a record of 5-1-0-1 over the past seven games. Rookie forward Phil Varone scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner, and David Leggio made a season-high 42 saves to power the Amerks past the B-Sens. The two-goal effort was the first multi-goal game for Varone, who also extended his point streak to six games. The game also featured the return of forward Zack Kassian and defenseman T.J. Brennan, who were reassigned to Rochester earlier in the day. Coming off last night's win in Binghamton, the Amerks have not lost a road game in regulation since December 17 (a 6-2 loss at Texas) and are 3-1-1-1 in their six outings away from Blue Cross Arena.

SHORTHANDED? NO PROBLEM: The BEARS' third-ranked penalty kill has not only been known for killing off 35 of its last 39 penalties. Chris Bourque's shorthanded goal last night against Adirondack was the team's third consecutive shorthanded goal at GIANT Center. Bourque and Christian Hanson scored the only goals in regulation while the team was a player short in a 3-2 shootout win over the Norfolk Admirals on New Year's Eve. Bourque leads the AHL in shorthanded goals (four) and the team leads with eight.

NUCLEAR POWER: Scoring 17 power play goals over the last 10 games, the BEARS remain at the top of the AHL in overall power play success (50-for-160, 31.3%) and home power-play success (33-for-93, 35.5%).

SPREADING THE WEALTH: The BEARS have 14 different players who have recorded at least one game-winning goal, the highest number in the AHL.

HOT RED LIGHT: HERSHEY has the AHL's top-ranked offense (133 goals/35 GP = 3.80/game).

STRONG STARTS: The BEARS lead the AHL in first goals (26) and first-period goals (49). The club also has the most wins when leading after the first period (13-2-2-1) and the second period (17-2-2-0).

NIFTY 50 CLUB: AHL leading scorer Keith Aucoin notched his 48th, 49th and 50th assists of the season last night against Adirondack. His league-leading point total is now sitting at 58 (8-50-58), and half of his helpers have come on the power play (25). Aucoin passed Myron Stankiewicz (1960-68, 244 career assists) and now ranks 11th on the BEARS' all-time assist list (246). HERSHEY's single-season assist record is 89, posted by George `Red' Sullivan in 1953-54. Chris Bourque also joined the 20-goal and 50-point clubs this weekend, posting five points (2G, 3A) in the two games against Adirondack.

QUADRU-PP-LETS: All four of the AHL's top power-play points producers are from HERSHEY: Aucoin (4-25-29), Bourque (9-18-27), Jacob Micflikier (7-14-21) & Graham Mink (11-8-19). Mink's 11 power-play goals lead the AHL.

STRINGING ALONG Keith Aucoin currently owns the AHL's longest active assist streak (17 assists over 10 games) and points streak (19 points over 10 games). The assist streak matches an AHL season high set by Chris Bourque. Bourque owns the AHL's longest active goal streak (four goals over four games), as well as the AHL's season-best 12-game point streak (November 11-December 9).

BEARS vs. AMERKS: 2011-12 REGULAR SEASON SERIES

Date Time Opponent Venue Result

Sun. Jan. 8 5:00 PM ROCHESTER GIANT Center

Wed. Feb. 22 7:05 PM @ Rochester Blue Cross Arena

BEARS vs. AMERKS: TEAM LEADERS

HERSHEY Rochester

Goals Chris Bourque (20) Derek Whitmore (15)

Assists Keith Aucoin (50) Mark Voakes, Phil Varone (14)

Points Keith Aucoin (58) Derek Whitmore (24)

PIM Joel Rechlicz (167) Joe Finley (73)Plus/Minus Sean Collins (+12) Joe Finley, Mark Voakes (+11)

Power-Play Goals Graham Mink (11) Derek Whitmore (4)

Shorthanded Goals Chris Bourque (4) THREE TIED (1)

Game-Winning Goals Jacob Micflikier (3) Marcus Foligno (3)

Wins Braden Holtby (11) David Leggio (10)

Goals-Against Average Braden Holtby (2.63) Drew MacIntyre (2.85)

Save Percentage Dany Sabourin (.910) Drew MacIntyre (.908)

BEARS vs. AMERKS: SPECIAL TEAMS

HERSHEY Rochester

Power Play 50-for-160 (31.3%) - 1st in AHL 24-for-157 (15.3%) - 25th in AHL

Penalty Kill 154-for-178 (86.5%) - T,3rd in AHL 121-for-151 (80.1%) - 22nd in AHL

BEARS RECENT TRANSACTIONS:

1/2/12 ADD C Cody Eakin Returned on loan from Washington (NHL)

AMERKS RECENT TRANSACTIONS:

1/6/12 ADD D T.J. Brennan Returned on loan from Buffalo (NHL)

1/6/12 ADD RW Zack Kassian Returned on loan from Buffalo (NHL)

BEARS AMONG THE AHL:

C Keith Aucoin: 1st - scoring (8-50-58); 1st - assists (50); 1st - PP assists (25); T, 1st - PP points (4-25-29); 1st - SH assists (4); T, 1st - shorthanded points (1-4-5); T, 1st - SO winners (2).

LW Chris Bourque: 1st - SH goals (4); T, 1st - SH points (4-1-5); 2nd - shots on goal (149); 2nd - scoring (20-33-53); 2nd - PP points (9-18-27); T, 2nd - PP goals (9); 2nd - assists (33); 2nd - PP assists (18); 3rd - goals (20).

RW Graham Mink: 1st - PP goals (11); T, 4th - PP points (11-8-19).

F Jacob Micflikier: 3rd - PP points (7-14-21); T, 4th - PP assists (14); 6th - scoring (13-25-38).

D Patrick McNeill: T, 3rd (D) - PP assists (12); T, 2nd (D) - PP points (3-12-15); 5th (D) - scoring (6-17-23).

RW Joel Rechlicz: 1st - PIM (167).

C Cody Eakin: 3rd (R) - shooting percentage (7/29 = .241).

AMERKS AMONG THE AHL:

D Joe Finley: 4th (R) - plus-minus (+11); 5th (R) - PIM (73).

RW Jonathan Parker: T, 1st (R) - shootout goals (3).

LW Marcus Foligno: 4th (R) - shooting percentage (10/43 = .233).

TONIGHT'S BROADCAST INFORMATION:

BEARS Radio Network: WTKT-1460 AM, WQIC-100.1 FM, WHP-580 AM, WRVV-93.7 FM HD-2

Internet Audio: http://www.1460theticket.com, iHeartRadio || Internet Video: http://www.ahllive.com

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American Hockey League Stories from January 8, 2012


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