Log Jam At The Top
Published on December 19, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release
The HERSHEY BEARS Hockey Club claimed four out of a possible six points over the weekend to end up in a three-way tie for first place in the East Division. The BEARS traveled to Norfolk on Friday and saw Matt Ford and Graham Mink score on the power play and Chris Bourque tally shorthanded. Norfolk cut into two separate two-goal deficits but were unable to get the equalizer past Braden Holtby, who was superb in turning aside 32 shots to preserve a 4-3 victory. On Saturday, Dany Sabourin also stopped 32 shots but none beat him, enabling the goaltender to earn his second shutout of the season in a 5-0 win over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Ryan Potulny scored two power-play goals, Christian Hanson added a power-play marker, and Boyd Kane and Ford also contributed goals in the winning cause. The BEARS appeared to be headed to their second weekend sweep this month, jumping out to a 3-1 first-period lead and carrying that into early third-period action on Sunday in a rematch against Norfolk. But the Admirals scored four times to take the lead and gain insurance, then added an empty-netter to stun HERSHEY 6-3. Joel Rechlicz scored his first goal of the season in the setback, while Bourque and Jacob Micflikier also hit the score sheet. The BEARS will host the Syracuse Crunch on Wednesday in their last game before the Christmas holiday break. The club has just one road game left in 2011, at W-B/Scranton next Tuesday evening.
Second-Line Production
The BEARS' line of Jacob Micflikier-Ryan Potulny-Matt Ford produced a combined 17 points (6+11) in three games over the weekend. All three players are riding point streaks heading into this week (Micflikier - four games, Ford/Potulny - three games).
Strong Starts
The BEARS have scored 43 first-period goals this season, most in the AHL. The club also has the most wins when leading after the first period (12-2-2-1).
Still #1
C Keith Aucoin remains at the top of the AHL in several statistical categories: scoring (8-38-46), assists, power-play points (4-18-22) and power-play assists.
One-Two Punch
C Keith Aucoin (8-38-46) and LW Chris Bourque (16-27-43) rank first and second in the AHL scoring race.
Power Rankings
Through 29 games, the BEARS' power play has connected 41 times on 131 chances (31.3%), and 27 times on 75 chances (36.0%) at home, both tops in the AHL. The BEARS scored 66 power-play goals all of last season and 40 at home.
Road Warriors
The BEARS own the longest active road winning streak at four games, with the club's victory on Friday at Norfolk. Additionally, Chris Bourque's shorthanded goal in that game gives the BEARS a total of four shorthanded goals, all of which have come on the road - tied for the most in the AHL.
American Hockey League Stories from December 19, 2011
- Devils Send Penguins into Break with a 2-1 Loss - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Game Recap: Hoeffel, Frazee Help Devils Freeze Penguins - Albany Devils
- Flames Recall Byron - Abbotsford Heat
- Rangers Recall Tim Erixon from Whale - Connecticut Whale
- Cigna, the Whale and YMCA Team up for "Hockey in the Streets" - Connecticut Whale
- Sabres Recall Forwards Derek Whitmore, Marcus Foligno from Rochester - Rochester Americans
- Monarchs Weekly Report - Manchester Monarchs
- Admirals Present Weddings on Ice - Milwaukee Admirals
- Ryan Parent Named to Team Canada for Spengler Cup - Chicago Wolves
- Sharks Keep on Win(gels)ning on the Road- Worcester Sharks Weekly - Worcester Sharks
- Bulldogs Travel To The Air Canada Centre To Play The Marlies - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Albany Devils Weekly - Albany Devils
- IceHogs Pick Up Points in Five of Last Six Games - Rockford IceHogs
- Celebrate the Holidays with the Amerks on "Festive Sweater Night" Wednesday - Rochester Americans
- Panthers Recall Tim Kennedy from San Antonio - San Antonio Rampage
- Monarchs Announce Roster Moves - Manchester Monarchs
- Week 12 - Jacques Nets Hat Trick - Syracuse Crunch
- Falcons Report - Team Makes Food Delivery After Practice - Springfield Falcons
- Sound Tigers Release Three from PTO's - Bridgeport Islanders
- Wolves Weekly Notes - Chicago Wolves
- Defenseman Lee Baldwin Re-Joins Whale - Connecticut Whale
- Geoffrion, Blum Recalled by Nashville - Milwaukee Admirals
- Rampage Weekly Update - San Antonio Rampage
- Crunch Announce Roster Move - Syracuse Crunch
- Phantoms Weekly - Adirondack Phantoms
- Worcester's Tommy Wingels Named Reebok/AHL Player of the Week - AHL
- Whale Weekly - Connecticut Whale
- Checkers Weekly Report - Charlotte Checkers
- Stars Face Aeros Before Holiday - Texas Stars
- Bruins Recall Caron and Kampfer from Providence - Providence Bruins
- Jets Re-Assign Jaffray to IceCaps - St. John's IceCaps
- Log Jam At The Top - Hershey Bears
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