Bad First Period against Binghamton Costs Hershey

Corey Locke scores the first goal of the game. All photos by Kyle Mace.

Just like last weekend, it was another long bus ride up to Binghamton to face off against the Senators once again.

It was the roughest of starts. To sum up, it was 3-0 Binghamton after twenty minutes. The Senators looked speedy and agile as they repeatedly danced around the Hershey defense. Braden Holtby was left to continually make saves from point blank range. By the end of period, he had faced 16 shots.

Thankfully, the second period was much nicer for the Bears. Julien Brouillette scored to turn the game around. He was set up on a beautiful play by Chris Bourque. A few minutes later, Jacob Micflikier scored during a 5-on-3 power play to make it a one-goal game.

When Binghamton earned their sixth power play of the game, Chris Bourque broke out his trusty short-handed goal to make it a tie game! He should get that thing trademarked. He now leads the league in short-handed goals.

Unfortunately, the Bears followed that up by allowing a short-handed goal. The Senators regained their lead on a breakaway and the Bears looked like they were too tired to recover on the play. Despite out-shooting the Senators 45-34, the Bears lost a close one 4-3.

Tonight’s Notes:

• You didn’t need a crystal ball to see this one coming: Joel Rechlicz dropped the gloves with his nemesis, Francis Lessard. As usual, a good bout between the two enforcers but, unfortunately, it didn’t seem to wake up the Hershey bench.
• With two assists tonight, Keith Aucoin has at least one point in 14 straight games. Go Coiner!
• Other than Micflikier’s goal, a bit of a night to forget for Hershey’s power play unit. The Bears were 1-for-5 by the end of night and allowed Binghamton’s game-winning short-handed goal.

Lines and Pairings:

Ford – Aucoin – Bourque
Greentree – Potulny – Micflikier
Mink – Hanson – Mitchell
Pope – Carroll – Rechlicz

Brouillette – Oreskovic
McNeill – Collins
Richmond – Miskovic

Three stars of the game:

1. Robin Lehner (BNG)
2. Jim O’Brien (BNG)
3. Chris Bourque (HER)

More photos from tonight:

We saw too much of this tonight.

These two have quite the history…

…but it’s always fun for us to watch.

Bingo celebrates yet another goal.

It was a very welcome change of pace to see the Bears celebrating.

Micflikier finds the back of the net on the power play.

A goal for the good guys.