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AHL Hershey Bears

Penguins at Giant Center Sunday for final 2004-05 regular season home game

April 4, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


Last Week: HERSHEY opened the week with a game at Wilkes-Barre and defeated the Penguins in regulation 3-2. Marek Svatos denied Wilkes-Barre/Scranton a chance to get a point in the standings by scoring with 1.9 seconds remaining in the third period for his 18th goal of the season. Svatos was named the game's number one star for scoring two goals and assisting on a third scored by Mathieu Darche. Tom Lawson won his 10th game of the season as the BEARS pulled within four points of a playoff spot in the East Division standings. On Friday, the BEARS traveled to Philadelphia and dropped a narrow 4-3 decision to the Phantoms at the Wachovia Spectrum. Eric Perrin, Mathieu Darche and Martin Hlinka scored the goals for HERSHEY in defeat. Saturday night, the BEARS returned to GIANT Center and rallied in the third period for a 4-3 overtime win against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Jamie Rivers tied the game at the 11:38 mark of the third period for his sixth goal of the season before Brett Clark won it in overtime with a goal at the 2:59 mark of sudden death. Peter Budaj returned to the goal crease Saturday to win his 29th game of the season. Coupled with a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton overtime loss against the Worcester IceCats, the BEARS begin the week just three points back of the Penguins for the final playoff spot. The Penguins lost in regulation to Philadelphia Sunday night 4-2 and have seven regular season games remaining. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will draw even in games played with HERSHEY this week with a home game against the Binghamton Senators on Wednesday night at Wachovia Arena before hosting the BEARS on Friday night at 7:05 p.m.

Notables: Eric Perrin picked up his 71st point of the season on Brett Clark's overtime game-winning goal Saturday night against Bridgeport. Perrin earned 71 points last season before his recall to the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning on March 27th of last year. HERSHEY stands one win shy of 40 victories entering play this week. The BEARS have won 40 games only ten times in 67 years of play in the American Hockey League, and haven't won 40 games in a season since 1999-2000 when the club won 43 times. Only one time in club history has the team won more than 40 games and not finished in first or second place. The 1986-87 club finished fourth despite winning 43 games under current Binghamton Senators bench boss John Paddock. HERSHEY has won 40 games only twice since 1989. With one more victory, Peter Budaj will become the first BEARS goaltender to win 30 games in a season since J.F. Labbe won 34 during HERSHEY'S run to the 1997 Calder Cup Championship. Labbe's win total of 34 ranks third all-time in team history for wins by a goaltender in a single season. Sunday's game is the final regular season home game at GIANT Center.

Upcoming promotions: Fairview Golf Course night is Saturday, April 9 when the BEARS face the Philadelphia Phantoms at 7:00 p.m. A free HERSHEY BEARS golf ball will be given away to the first 3,000 fans through the turnstiles thanks to Fairview Golf Course. Player Awards night is set for Sunday, April 10 as the BEARS take on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at 5:00 p.m.

Down on the Farm: The Reading Royals took a big step this past weekend toward winning the ECHL's North Division with wins over Atlantic City and Peoria. After defeating the Boardwalk Bullies on Saturday 5-1, the Royals took over first place Sunday with a 2-1 win over the Rivermen at the Sovereign Center. Cail MacLean scored his 23rd goal of the season ten seconds into the first period and Ian Turner scored the game-winner at the 19:01 mark of the second period. The win was the 41st of the season for the Royals, who passed Atlantic City with the win to move into first place. Reading has 89 points to AC's 88, and have four games remaining while the Boardwalk Bullies have just two remaining in their final season on the Jersey Shore. The Royals close out the regular season this week with a home game against Peoria on Tuesday before hosting the Toledo Storm at the Sovereign Center on Thursday evening. The final two games of the regular season for Reading will be Friday night in Atlantic City and Saturday night at Wheeling. The UHL's Quad City Mallards lost Sunday to Kalamazoo 4-2 at home. A.J. MacLean and Marty Standish scored goals in the loss. The Mallards stand three points behind third place Missouri entering play this week.

Practice Schedule (Subject to Change):

Monday, April 4: Practice-GIANT Center 10:00 a.m.

Tuesday, April 5: Practice-GIANT Center 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday, April 6: Practice-GIANT Center 10:00 a.m.

Thursday, April 7: Practice-GIANT Center 10:00 a.m.

Friday, April 8: Road game at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, April 9: Home game vs. Philadelphia 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 10: Home game vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 5:00 p.m.

The week ahead:

Friday, April 8: BEARS at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 7:05 PM Game #75, Road Game #37 Radio: 1460 AM/1390 AM PRE-GAME: 6:45 PM

Saturday, April 9: Philadelphia Phantoms at BEARS 7:00 PM Game #76, Home Game #39 Radio: 1460 AM/1390 AM PRE-GAME: 6:40 PM

Saturday, April 10: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at BEARS 5:00 PM Game #77, Home Game #40 Radio: 1460 AM/1390 AM PRE-GAME: 4:40 PM

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