Bears Clinch Division With 5-3 Victory Over B-Sens

March 17, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Binghamton Senators News Release


BINGHAMTON, N.Y. - The Hershey Bears hit I-81 for Binghamton tonight with the hope of earning a point against the B-Sens to win the East Division title. Hershey earned not one, but two points with a 5-3 regulation win over Binghamton to become the division champions.

Just 1:45 into the game, the Bears jumped to the 1-0 lead. B-Sens net minder Chris Holt was pulled out of position in a scramble in the B-Sens zone, giving Hershey's Sean Collins a wide open net. Andrew Gordon and Alexander Giroux each added assists.

Approaching the midway point of the period, Kyle Wilson buried his 21st goal of the season, to give the Bears a 2-0 lead.

At 14:17, Jonathan Cheechoo narrowed the scoring gap as he fired a laser of a shot top shelf on Hershey's Braden Holtby. Brandon Svendsen and Zack Smith each notched an assist on the goal, Cheechoo's fifth since clearing waivers and joining Binghamton Senators on Feb. 13.

Into the second period of play, at just 19 seconds Erik Condra was issued a tripping penalty. On the ensuing power play, Wilson raced into the B-Sens zone where his initial shot was blocked by Holt. However, Wilson succeeded in lifting his own rebound into the B-Sens net for his second goal of the night to give the Bears a two-goal lead. Giroux tallied an assist on the goal, his second of the game.

Andrew Joudrey earned his 12th goal of the season midway through the second to put the Bears up by three goals, 4-1.

At 16:28, Geoff Kinrade would score an unassisted, shorthanded tally to bring the B-Sens within a pair of goals; 4-2. The goal was the third time this season that the B-Sens have scored a shorthanded tally against the Bears. They are the only team to do so (the Adirondack Phantoms come close, with two shorthanded goals versus Hershey).

With just 17 seconds remaining on the clock in the second, Kaspars Daugavins scored his 18th goal of the season, sending Binghamton into the second intermission trailing by just one goal. Craig Schira and Josh Hennessy each earned an assist.

The B-Sens held the Bears scoreless for most of the third period, wrapping up the game having peppered Holtby with 44 shots, but failed to muster anymore offense. In the waning moments of regulation, Joudrey notched his second goal of the game on an empty net, adding insurance for the Bears.

The B-Sens return to action Friday, March 19 as they host the Rochester Americans at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are $17.75 for side seating, $16.75 for end seating. Fans can purchase tickets at www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or in person at the Binghamton Senators' executive office or the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena box office.



American Hockey League Stories from March 17, 2010


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