Bears Cut Magic Number to 14 with 4-1 win

Chris Bourque, seen here at practice, got his 80th and 81st points on the season in this afternoon’s game against Albany (Kyle Mace, 2011)

In a rematch from last night, the Albany Devils and Hershey Bears faced off for two important points. Hershey trying to cut their magic number down to 14, Albany trying to get that final, eight playoff spot. Hershey would get those two points and the win over Albany, 4-1.

Patrick McNeill got the game started with his ninth goal of the season, coming one day after his 25th birthday.

Then a first goal of the season from Maxime Lacroix would put Hershey up 2-0 with 3:29 to go in the first. It would also be the first point as a Bear for recent call-up Daniel Koger.

The Devils would cut that lead in half with a late first period goal from Vladimir Zharkov.

The second period would not be as active with only two power plays all period, both belonging to Hershey. But one of those power plays for Hershey would result in Boyd Kane’s 16th goal of the season, a deflection from a Chris Bourque shot.

That would be Bourque’s 81st point, giving him a 11 point lead on Keith Aucoin and Norfolk’s Cory Conacher for the John B. Sollenberger Trophy.

Kane would also get the empty netter, giving Hershey the 4-1 lead and the win.

Dany Sabourin, who stood on his head all night (and all weekend) long, would finish the game with 24 saves, 84 saves this whole weekend. Sabourin would also be the number three star of the game.

Hershey plays Wednesday back home at the shopping cart against St. John’s