AHL Hershey Bears

Playoff Bound

Published on April 2, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


The HERSHEY BEARS Hockey Club picked up three of a possible six points this week and punched their ticket to the 2012 Calder Cup Playoffs. The BEARS began their week on Wednesday at Binghamton, defeating the Senators 5-2. Tomas Kundratek, Chris Bourque and Ryan Potulny all scored on the power play, while Mike Carman netted the other two at even strength. Bourque added three assists, while Dany Sabourin won his seventh consecutive start with 35 saves. Carman scored again on Saturday against St. John's, but Patrice Cormier's two goals and rookie goaltender Chris Carrozzi's 24 saves stopped HERSHEY's seven-game winning streak in a 3-2 decision. Sabourin also saw his seven-game win streak halted. The weekend wrapped up with the BEARS falling 6-5 in the longest shootout in team history, a 13-round marathon on Sunday at GIANT Center. Potulny tallied a hat trick and one assist, while Boyd Kane also chipped in four points to help the BEARS erase two three-goal deficits and tie the game. Stephane Da Costa and Kane traded fourth-round goals, while Sabourin and Robin Lehner denied the next eight opponents. Eric Gryba provided the heroics in the 13th round. The BEARS visit their rival Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on the road this Friday, then return home for the final two home games of the regular season against the Syracuse Crunch and Connecticut Whale this weekend.

Hats Off:

Ryan Potulny netted the first BEARS hat trick since Alexandre Giroux accomplished the feat on 4/9/10 at Norfolk. Potulny finished his week with five goals and two assists, extending his goal streak to six games (eight goals) and point streak to eight games (8-6-14).

Carman Contributes:

Mike Carman also stepped up in the absence of three key BEARS centers (Aucoin, Eakin, Hanson), scoring three times and adding one assist in a three-game point streak.

Bourque Hits 90:

With six games remaining in the regular season, Chris Bourque's 90 points (26-64-90) still leads the AHL. Bourque ranks 15th in BEARS' all-time scoring (390), three behind Michael Harvey. He also passed Keith Aucoin with 260 career assists, residing in ninth place all-time.

History Made - Twice:

After playing a 12-round shootout in Charlotte on Jan. 11, the BEARS' 13-rounder on Sunday re-sets the record for the longest shootout in team history.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 2, 2012


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