Barons Fall To Hershey, 5-3

Published on March 28, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Cleveland Barons News Release


CLEVELAND, OH-The Cleveland Barons welcomed a tough Hershey Bears team to Gund Arena Friday night. The Bears had stymied Cleveland all season, going 3-0-0-0 in the series and never giving up more than one goal in any of the games. Despite the daunting task ahead of them, the Barons were fired up, determined to salvage this last game of the series and break a six game winless streak. With offensive weapons like Jeff Nelson, Brad Boyes, and Pat Rissmiller, Cleveland seemed poised to do just that.

The Barons were reminded why Hershey goalie Phil Sauve is among the top net minders in the AHL when he made a spectacular save to rob a sure goal. Minutes later, Steve Brule put the Bears on the board with an assist from Steve Moore. But the Barons utilized their own strengths, with Pat Rissmiller pulling Cleveland even on a power play goal. The Barons are third in the AHL on power play scoring. Ryan Kraft and Jeff Nelson assisted, allowing Nelson to extend his streak to eleven home games with at least one point. Just before the break, Brule got his second goal of the game on a fluky knuckle puck shot off a face-off to give Hershey a 2-1 lead.

The momentum was with Brule and the Bears as the second period started. With just 1:04 elapsed, Brule picked up a loose puck in front of the goal and put it away over Seamus Kotyk's glove hand to earn his hat trick. But the Barons weren't finished and kept putting the puck on net, only to see Sauve deny them. Finally, the captain, Ryan Kraft took it upon himself to score Cleveland's second goal on a deflected shot. It was the first time this season that the Barons had scored more than once against Hershey. Chad Wiseman and Nelson earned the assists.

The third period felt like the final round between two heavyweights as Hershey and Cleveland continued to trade goals. Shortly after Travis Brigley found the back of the net, AHL All-Rookie Team member Brad Boyes scored his twenty-eighth goal of the season to pull the Barons back within one. Eric LaPlante and John Jakopin had the shots that set up Boyes' rebound score. But Hershey's Bruce Richardson got a rebound score of his own at 12:20 to land the knockout blow, sending the Barons to a 5-3 defeat.

Despite the frustrating loss, Cleveland certainly made the Bears earn their victory as they continued to display their recent exciting offensive boom. Jeff Nelson had his twelfth multi-point game, tied for most on the team, as he extended his AHL-leading streak of eleven home games with a point. Brad Boyes has a six game point streak of his own. The All-Rookie center has scored a goal in seven of his nine games with the Barons, including once in each of his last four games. Finally, Pat Rissmiller has scored three goals and four points in his last three games.

The Barons take on their next foe, the Philadelphia Phantoms, on Saturday, March 29 at the Gund Arena. Be sure to come by and support your team as they come towards the end of another exciting season.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 28, 2003


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