AHL Hershey Bears

Weekend Sweep Vaults Bears Into Division Lead

Published on December 5, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


The HERSHEY BEARS Hockey Club claimed three victories in less than 72 hours over the weekend to claim the East Division lead with the division's top win percentage (.630). After falling 4-2 to the Connecticut Whale on Tuesday in Hartford, HERSHEY visited Syracuse on Friday. Two of the newest BEARS helped the team to a 4-1 victory as Matt Pope scored his first with the team, while Tomas Kundratek's contribution from the blue line ended up as the game-winner. Keith Aucoin assisted on three goals, claiming #1 star honors. The floodgates opened on Saturday, when HERSHEY scored seven unanswered goals on Teddy Bear Toss Night to roll past the Portland Pirates in a 7-1 final. Graham Mink triggered the toss with his first of two power-play goals, adding an assist for a three-point game. Ryan Potulny (2+1) and Matt Ford (1+2) joined Mink as stars of the game, with Jacob Micflikier (0+3) also hitting the scoresheet three times. Dany Sabourin earned the win with 20 saves. Aucoin then took the reigns on Sunday in Bridgeport, scoring twice in the middle stanza (once shorthanded) to propel the BEARS to a 3-2 victory over the Sound Tigers. Braden Holtby's 34 saves earned him his second win of the weekend and third-star honors. HERSHEY visits Connecticut again this Friday, and then hosts Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Norfolk on the weekend for battles with their top division rivals.

Potent Power Play

HERSHEY continues to boast the league's deadliest power-play, scoring 31 times on 101 opportunities (30.7%) overall. In 11 games at GIANT Center, the BEARS are an incredible 21-for-57 (36.8%), averaging nearly two power play goals per game.

Scoring Early and Often

The BEARS have lit the lamp 33 times in the first period to date this season, most in the AHL.

Getting Goals Again

Scoring 81 goals over 23 games, the BEARS now rank third in the AHL in goals per game (3.52).

One-Two Punch

C Keith Aucoin (6-30-36) and LW Chris Bourque (11-21-32) rank first and second in the AHL scoring race.

Powerful Bunch

Keith Aucoin (2-14-16), Chris Bourque (7-9-16), Graham Mink (8-6-14) and Jacob Micflikier (4-9-13) make up four of the top five power-play scorers in the AHL. Mink's eight power-play goals lead the league, while Aucoin's 14 power-play assists are also tops.

Stringing Along

Chris Bourque now holds the AHL's longest assist streak (nine games) and point streak (11 games). He has recorded 18 points (5-13-18) in the streak. RW Graham Mink also currently holds the league's longest active goal-scoring streak (four games).

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American Hockey League Stories from December 5, 2011


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