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AHL Hershey Bears

Portland's only visit to GIANT Center highlights three-game week

February 11, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


Last Week: HERSHEY began the week Wednesday with a game at home against the Albany River Rats. The BEARS came from behind to win against the Rats by a score of 5-2. Five different players scored goals for HERSHEY as the team won it's 25th game of the season. Tom Lawson won his 10th game of the season by allowing just two goals on 31 Albany shots. The BEARS then traveled to Binghamton to face the Senators Friday night at Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena and lost 7-4. The Senators scored four goals in less than 11 minutes to start the game as HERSHEY lost to Binghamton for the first time this season. Former BEARS all-star Charlie Stephens notched three points in the game, including a second period goal. HERSHEY returned to GIANT Center Saturday night and dropped a 4-2 decision to the Crunch. It was the first win for Syracuse this season over the BEARS. Evgeni Artukhin, recalled earlier in the day from Pensacola (ECHL), scored his third goal of the season in the loss. Jordan Krestanovich scored on a penalty shot late in the second period to provide the rest of the offense. The BEARS lost despite outshooting Syracuse 48-30 in the game. HERSHEY entered the all-star break with a 25-20-8-3 record, good for third place in the AHL's East Division.

Notables: Forward Gavin Morgan returned to the lineup Wednesday just two weeks after being sidelined by a broken nose. Morgan took a slapshot in the face on January 21st at GIANT Center against Springfield. Brett Clark was recalled on Thursday morning to the Colorado Avalanche, returned to the lineup Friday and Saturday against Binghamton and Syracuse, and then was recalled to Denver again Tuesday. HERSHEY was 0-2 in games they outshot their opponents last week, and 1-0 when they were outshot by the opposing team. The seven goals allowed Friday at Binghamton were a season high. The BEARS had previously allowed six goals on two occasions. Sheldon Keefe, Ryan Craig and Shane Willis all missed Saturday's game with Syracuse. Keefe and Craig were injury scratches, while Willis was suspended by the American Hockey League pending a decision on his match penalty for checking from behind Friday night in Binghamton.

Colorado Update: The Avalanche opened up the post All-Star slate Tuesday night with a 1-1 tie against the New York Islanders at Pepsi Center. Phil Sauve earned the point in goal for the Avalanche and earned the game's number two star, while Paul Kariya provided the only goal of the game for Colorado early in the second period. Joe Sakic was named the MVP of the 2004 NHL All-Star game Sunday in St. Paul. Sakic scored three goals in the game, but the Western Conference still lost to the East 6-4. The Avs are in first place in the Northwest Division with 74 points. Colorado leads Vancouver by two points and Calgary by 12 points. Tony Granato's team will play at St. Louis against the Blues Thursday before a rivalry game Saturday night at Joe Louis Arena against the Detroit Red Wings.

Tampa Bay Update: The Lightning announced last Thursday that the club has affiliated with the Springfield Falcons for the 2004-05 season. Tampa Bay will be the primary affiliate in Springfield next season, ending their one year agreement with HERSHEY at the end of the current season. The Lightning also announced Monday that general manager Jay Feaster, head coach John Tortorella and the team's assistant coaches have all signed multi-year contract extensions. Tampa tied the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-4 Tuesday night in the club's first game since the All-Star break. The Bolts continue a four game homestand Thursday night against the Montreal Canadiens before playing host to the Florida Panthers on Saturday night.

Upcoming promotions: The BEARS will host the Portland Pirates on Saturday, February 14 for 93.5 WTPA/Boyd's Bears night. The first 3,000 fans will receive a free Boyd's Bear, a $20 value. February 29th is Verizon Wireless night at GIANT Center when the BEARS host the Binghamton Senators at 5:00 p.m. The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a free cardboard replica of a HERSHEY BEARS goalie mask. Frederick Photo Night is Sunday, March 14th at GIANT Center when the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins come to call. A free HERSHEY BEARS Bic Marker to the first 5,000 fans in attendance, and all fans may come onto the ice after the game to take photos of their favorite BEARS players. All fans who enter the ice post-game will also receive a free HERSHEY BEARS team photo.

Practice Schedule (Subject to Change):

Monday, February 9: Off day

Tuesday, February 10: Off day

Wednesday, February 11: Practice at HERSHEYPARK Arena 2:00 p.m.

Thursday, February 12: Practice at HERSHEYPARK Arena 10:00 a.m. Bus to Albany

Friday, February 13: Pre-game skate 11:15 a.m., Game at Albany 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, February 14: Home game vs. Portland 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, February 15: Road game at Bridgeport 4:05 p.m.

The week ahead: Friday, February 13: BEARS at Albany River Rats 7:00 PM Game #57, Road Game #28 Radio: BIG 92.7 FM PRE-GAME 6:40 PM Saturday, February 14: Portland Pirates at BEARS 7:00 PM Game #58, Home Game #30 Radio: BIG 92.7 FM PRE-GAME 6:40 PM

Sunday, February 15: BEARS at Bridgeport Sound Tigers 4:05 PM Game #59, Road Game #29 Radio: BIG 92.7 FM PRE-GAME 3:45 PM

FOR TICKET INFORMATION, CALL THE GIANT CENTER BOX OFFICE AT (717) 534-3911

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