Wilkes-Barre Snipes Sabourin, Beat Bears 5-4

Simon Despres celebrates his game winning OT goal (All Photos by Kyle Mace. Click to enlarge.)

The fourth installment of the the 12 part I-81 rivalry for the 2011-12 season was in Chocolate town Friday. The Bears were looking to tie up the season series at two apiece. But for the Chocolate and White, that didn’t happen. Going back and forth all night long, Hershey got the early edge, but they couldn’t hold on and lose 5-4 in overtime.

Julien Brouillette got the party started by scoring just over three minutes into the game, giving Hershey a 1-0 lead.

The lead didn’t last long, though. Philip Samuelsson tied the game up at one all just under three minutes later.

Patrick McNeill must have had the clock running in his head to the exact millisecond, as he got a shot of in PERFECT time to have Jacob Micflikier deflect it and have the Bears take a 2-1 lead to end the first.

The next two goals weren’t scored for nearly 20 minutes, with less than 30 seconds between the two. Paul Thompson and Ryan Craig scored back to back goals for the Penguins, taking a 3-2 lead.

Hershey came out hot the next period. Keith Aucoin helped the Bears tie up the game by popping one in past Brad Thiessen, making it 3-3.

Colin McDonald gave Wilkes-Barre their second lead after sneaking one past Dany Sabourin, making it 4-3.

Mattias Sjogren scored his second and biggest (so far) North American goal, locking it at four and sending the game in to overtime.

And that overtime didn’t last long.

Only 0:57 into overtime, Simon Depres scored the game winning goal for Wilkes-Barre, with a final score of 5-4.

Three stars of the game:

1. WBS – Simon Despres
2. WBS – Ben Street
3. HER – Patrick McNeill

A series of photos showing Danny Richmond dropping Ryan Craig behind the net

Jacob Micfliker deflects Patrick McNeill shot giving the Bears a 2-1 lead

Graham Mink looks very happy that McNeill got that shot off before the end of the period

Ryan Craig scores to end the 2nd and give WBS a 3-2 lead

Colin McDonald falls and scores, pushing Wilkes-Barre forward to a 4-3 lead

Mattias Sjogren ties it up at 4-4 and sends it to OT for the Bears

Brad Thiessen looks on as the Bears celebrate Sjogren’s goal

The Baby Pens celebrate their 5-4 OT win

Bonus Photo: Keith Aucoin autographed 11-11-11 pucks for $11. Only 11 were signed. Genius.