Bears Win 3-2, Take 3-0 Series Lead

Published on April 22, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


HERSHEY - Alexander Giroux's power play goal 1:20 into the third period stood up as the game-winner as the Hershey Bears took a 3-0 series lead with a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phantoms in Game 3 of the East Division Semifinals on Wednesday night at Hershey's GIANT Center. The Phantoms appeared to have tied the game up late in the third period, but a James van Riemsdyk goal was negated when referee Francis Charron called a holding penalty as the goal was scored, and the Bears held on for the win.

The Bears got on the board 8:27 into the opening period while on their first power play of the contest. Staffan Kronwall blasted a slapshot from the left point that got through traffic and into the extreme upper left corner of the net, beating Scott Munroe.

Then in the final minute of the period, Mathieu Perrault came out of the penalty box and found himself on a breakaway. He forced a puck over the glove of a sprawled Munroe to give the Bears a 2-0 lead after one period.

The Phantoms got one of the goals back in the second period. Jonathon Kalinski took a puck deep down the right wing and then cut out in front before pushing a shot on Michal Neuvirth, who made the initial stop. But Kalinski pushed the rebound past Neuvirth, making it a 2-1 contest at the second intermission.

Hershey took a 3-1 advantage on Giroux's marker which came just nine seconds into Hershey's third power play. The Bears worked the puck across the top of the zone, with Karl Alzner feeding Giroux at the top of the right circle. His one-timer went over Munroe's glove to give the Bears a two-goal advantage once again.

But the Phantoms came back just under five minutes later with a shorthanded tally. It came when Andreas Nodl knocked a puck free at center and came in on a 3-on-1 rush with Kalinski and Lasse Kukkonen. Nodl tried to feed Kalinski and saw the pass blocked, but it came right to Kukkonen, who buried it into an open net at 6:19.

That closed out the scoring, but not before van Riemsdyk beat Neuvirth with 2:46 remaining in the period. However, the goal was disallowed by Charron, who called a holding penalty on Nate Raduns as the goal occurred. The Bears then went on their fifth power play and Philadelphia was unable to threaten the rest of the way.

Munroe absorbed the loss with 24 saves on 27 shots, while Neuvirth stopped 25 of 27. The Phantoms went 0-for-5 on the power play and Hershey was 2-for-5. The Phantoms are now 0-for-17 on the power play in the three games played so far, while Hershey is 6-for-17 on the man-advantage.

The Phantoms will try to extend the series this Friday night when the teams meet again at GIANT Center for Game 4. Face-off is at 7:05, and the game will be broadcast live on Phantomshockey.com and AHL Live.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from April 22, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central