Bears Bounce Back, Sink Admirals 6-3

Chris Bourque joins Keith Aucoin (center) and Graham Mink after Aucoin’s goal (All photos by Kyle Mace)

After losing to their arch rivals on Saturday, the Hershey Bears needed a bounce back win on Sunday. The Bears responded with a 6-3 victory over the Norfolk Admirals to move into a three way tie for first place in the AHL Eastern Division.

The Bears jumped out with two goals, 31 seconds apart. The AHL’s leading scorer Keith Aucoin scored with the Bears on a two man advantage. Jacob Micflikier gave the Bears a 2-0 lead, with the Bears on a one man advantage. Norfolk answered, but Aucoin struck with another power play goal at 14:08 to give the Bears a 3-1 lead. Chris Bourque made a great move to give the Bears a 4-1 advantage after the first period. Patrick Wellar’s fight with Eric Neilson was part of a chippy first period. The entire game include a festival of pushing and nasty shoving.

The Bears let Norfolk sneak back into the game with two second period goals to cut the lead to 4-3. But Hershey got an early third period tally from Tomas Kundratek and an empty net goal from Bourque to give Hershey a 6-3 victory.

“There was no excuse for the effort we had last night,” said Bears coach Mark French. “The nice part about this league is that you often get to answer the bell early . We had a chance to get back at it and the guys responded in the fashion that was appropriate”

“I think we might be one of the most unconfident first place teams I’ve ever met. We go out and have a really good first and then we seem to go back on our heels and something bad happens.

“We have a hard time responding. So I was very happy with the third period and that we were able to respond from a poor second period.”

The win moves the Bears back into a three way tie with Norfolk and Wilkes-Barre Scranton for first place in the Eastern Division. Hershey head to Norfolk for a game next Friday. They’ll wind up playing the Admirals three times over an eight day period, with a game against Norfolk next Sunday at Giant Center. Binghamton will play the Bears Saturday night in Hershey.

Former Bears radio announcer, now the voice of the Washington Capitals, John Walton was in Hershey and watched his first game Bears game since going to the NHL. In fact, it was the first time Walton had ever seen a game at Giant Center when he didn’t announce a game

Three stars of the game:

1. HER – Keith Aucoin
2. HER – Chris Bourque
3. HER – Jacob Micflikier

Bears Player Tweet of the Night:

Sorry guys just short of the hat trick…all that matters though is the win!! #solidweekend

— keith aucoin (@coiner11) December 12, 2011

More photos from tonight’s game:
Graham Mink looks at the puck from Keith Aucoin’s first goal of the game

Ryan Potulny (left) and Graham Mink join Keith Aucoin and Chris Bourque after Aucoin’s goal

Jacob Micflikier shoots and scores the Bears second goal of the game

Patrick Wellar throws a punch at Eric Neilson

Chris Bourque (far left) shoots and scores Hershey’s 4th goal of the night

Trevor Smith looks on as he scores for Norfolk

Washington Capital’s radio play-by-play guy John Walton came to Hershey and did part of a period with Scott Stuccio tonight

Braden Holtby hits Michell Ouellet