Sunday, March 11, 2007
TODAY'S GAME
WHO: Portland Pirates vs. Philadelphia Phantoms
WHEN: 4:05 p.m.
WHERE: Cumberland County Civic Center
Defending Calder Cup champion Hershey held off the Portland Pirates for a 3-2 win in a hard-fought AHL game at the Cumberland County Civic Center on Saturday night.
Kyle Wilson finished off a rush down the left side to snap a 2-2 tie with 9:25 left to lift the Bears to the victory before 6,683 screaming fans, including a large contingent that followed them from Pennsylvania.
Last May, the two teams battled in the Eastern Conference finals in the Calder Cup playoffs, with the Bears winning Game 7 in overtime.
Saturday night's game had the same kind of intensity.
"The atmosphere in the building was phenomenal," Hershey Coach Bruce Boudreau said. "When you get an atmosphere in an arena like that, it brings out the best in both teams."
The Bears, off to a 2-0 start in their four-game swing through New England, got off to a fast start, taking a 2-0 lead during the first period.
Early in the first period, Portland, which brought a three-game win streak into the game, had a five-minute power play.
It started when former Pirate Louis Robitaille was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct and received a game misconduct after hitting defenseman Eric Weinrich from behind and driving the veteran of 18 NHL seasons into the boards behind the Portland goal.
The Pirates, who were limited to just two shots during the power play, didn't cash in.
Instead, the Bears opened the scoring four minutes into the game when Dave Steckel finished off a two-on-one break with his 24th goal of the season. It was Hershey's league-leading 19th short-handed goal.
Moments after Steckel scored, with the Pirates still on their power play, Portland goalie Sebastien Caron stopped Chris Bourque's breakaway bid.
With 2:50 left in the first period, he stopped Steckel on another breakaway while the Bears were killing a penalty.
"When (your opponent) creates more chances on your power play than you do, you're obviously a little startled," Portland Coach Kevin Dineen said.
With 25 seconds left in the first period, Alexandre Giroux made it 2-0 by jamming a rebound inside the right post for his team-high 36th goal with five seconds left on a Hershey power play.
It was an uphill fight for the Pirates, but they rallied to forge a 2-2 tie.
With 1:51 left in the second period, Weinrich scored his second goal since coming out of retirement in late January on a hard shot from the right point during a Portland power play.
With 11:25 left in the third period, Joe Motzko made it 2-2 by depositing the puck inside the left post for his 21st goal after making a sensational move inside the left circle to get past a defender.
NOTES: The Hershey roster included five players who wore a Pirate uniform at one time. The list includes left wings Kip Brennan, Chris Bourque and Louis Robitaille, right wing Jakub Klepis and goalie Maxime Daigneault.
Norm Milley scored two goals, one short-handed and one unassisted, to spark host Springfield to a 3-2 win over Providence.
Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 725-8795 or at:
pbetit@pressherald.com
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Reader comments
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The game was about period's, namely the first and third period.
In the first twenty the Pirates were clearly outmatched. I think it was obvious the guys where not ready for the intensity of the Bears, who attacked the puck at all times and did not give the guys any breathing space for the first 10 minutes. This led to numerous turnovers and counter-attacks, such as when Hershey padded their AHL-lead in shorthanded goals with the opening score of the night.
The second period saw the guys fight back, netting a late goal. Again, remeniscent of the 2006 Eastern Conference finals series.
The last period featured a different team. I almost think they were challenged to play Hershey Bears hockey, because it was unlike what we've been accustomed to seeing them play. They fought hard, didn't give up, didn't back down, and continued to attack. But the boys went a goal down and were playing catch-up until the very end. And with a team the caliber of Hershey, you won't win too many games by coming from behind late in the third period. Although the boys had their chances in the last 5 minutes they lost a close one to a good Bears team, and gave the Hershey faithful reason to cheer on the long trip back to Chocolate town.
I do have to say, I'm not so sure Sebastien Caron should have been named the Third Star of the Game though. Don't get me wrong, he made the saves he had to and kept it close when it could have been a blowout like the last Hershey meeting, but I would have vouched for the post. Had the post been less-than-favorable to us the Bears would have been rewarded with 5 or 6 goals.
Oh well, it was a close and entertaining game.report abuse
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