Bears Pre-Season Ends With Micfilkier’s OT Goal

Photos by Kyle Mace

There were two rare sights at Giant Center Monday night. First, a hockey game. Can you remember the last Monday hockey game in Chocolate Town? And a crowd that would have been sparce for even a Bears warm-up during the regular season. But it a was a Monday night, and it was a pre-season game. That being said, this game could be one of the best games, pre or regular season, we might see all year. A penalty shot, an Ovechkin-like goal, and an OT winner were part of this battle against the defending Calder Cup champs.

At the end of the first period, we were thinking that the most interesting part of this game were the shots. Hershey left the ice with more than a 10 shot lead as the B-Sens sent a puck Braden Holtby’s way only twice. But that would soon change. Keith Aucoin, with the smallest margin for a penalty shot, was pulled down and got a chance to put the Bears ahead. Aucoin beat Mike McKenna, putting the puck past him, and the Bears on the board with a 1-0 lead.

The Senators didn’t like that score so much and decied to add three of their own. Derek Grant would then tie it up in the second. Then only 30 seconds apart in the third, both Andre Petersson and Jim O’Brien would get one past Holtby. giving Binghamton a 3-1 lead. Andrew Carroll then chaneled his inner Alex Ovechkin. Mike Hoffman would pull Carroll from behind, causing him to lose control of the puck, sending it in the air. Carroll would smack it right past McKenna, before knocking off the net. Did I mention this was all short handed? Yeah, it was that kind of night.

With 2:44 to go, Ryan Potulny would score against his old team, tieing the game up and sending it to OT. Hershey would have a man advantage heading into the five minute period after an elbowing call with less than 30 seconds left. Just as the penalty expired, Jacob Micflikier scored, giving the Bears their only pre-season win, 4-3.

The Bears face off against the B-Sens again Friday to start the season, then head to Wilkes-Barre Saturday before playing an Away-Home series with Norfolk staring next week.

More Photos by Kyle Mace:

Keith Aucoin scores on the Penalty Shot in the second period

Alex Ovechkin must have taught Andrew Carroll a thing or two

Braden Holtby coming out of the net to poke check the puck. What else is new?

A weird moment as Holtby pushes off the net…

…but is confused by how the referees are calling the play

Flying hockey goalie. This game had everything!!!

And that’s the pre-season, folks. See you the 15th!