Bears beat Checkers, 3-2 after 12-Round Shootout

The Bears faced the team that eliminated them. Photo from the Checkers Website.

For the first time this season, the Hershey Bears took to the ice to play the team that eliminated in the first round of last year’s playoffs.

It was a quiet first period. The Bears stifled two Charlotte power plays but the Checkers still ended up with the first goal of the game. Zach Boychuk’s shot floated past Dany Sabourin last in the first stanza.

The Bears earned their first power play about half way through the second period. Graham Mink screened Mike Murphy and Keith Aucoin‘s shot jumped past him.

A second power play chance came later in the same period and yielded yet another goal for the Bears. Jacob Micflikier was standing just behind the goal line. He looked to pass at first but then shot it instead. The puck banked off of Murphy and the Bears had their first lead.

Unfortunately, that lead didn’t last too long into the third period. Boychuk potted his second of the night right in front of Sabourin. Still tied after sixty minutes, the game moved on to overtime. And as they so often do, the Bears didn’t score and had to go to the shootout. After twelve rounds (TWELVE rounds), Sabourin stood up many Checkers and Garrett Mitchell scored while falling down to give the Bears a 3-2 win (SO).

From his back, Garrett Mitchell watches the puck roll in.

Tonight’s Notes:

• Tomas Kundratek was recalled to Washington yesterday. He is set to make his NHL debut tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
• Additionally, Phil Oreskovic was recalled from South Carolina this week. He was paired with Julien Brouillette in his first Hershey game of the season.
• With a goal tonight, Aucoin has a point in twelve straight games. That goal was also his 60th point of the season.
• You can thank Dany Sabourin for tonight’s win. He stopped eight of twelve shooters in the shootout. He also stopped 37 of 39 shots.

Lines and Pairings:

Potulny – Aucoin – Mink
Greentree – Eakin – Micflikier
Kane – Hanson – Ford
Pope – Carroll – Mitchell

McNeill – Collins
Brouillette – Oreskovic
Richmond – Miskovic

Three stars of the game:

1. Zach Boychuk (CHA)
2. Dany Sabourin (HER)
3. Mike Murphy (CHA)