Gordo’s 2 goals leads Bears past Phantoms 4-2

Andrew Gordon pots one of his two goals against Adirondack. (Photo by Kyle Mace)

Do you think Andrew Gordon wants a spot on an NHL roster? The man now has points in seven straight games and leads the team with eight goals. Two of those goals came tonight against the Adirondack Phantoms.

The Phantoms got an early lead, scoring two goals in the first ten minutes of the game. Hershey, like only a top-tier team can, was able to ride out the storm and responded with four unanswered goals. I think they’re doing just fine without Jay Beagle, Mathieu Perreault, and Dany Sabourin in the line-up.

Despite the final score, the game was a lot closer than you would think. It was a pretty evenly matched game, a point emphasized by the sudden lack of penalties in the third period. In the end, the Bears were able to wear down Brian Stewart, the rookie goaltender for the Phantoms, and the rest of the defense.

It was another hard-hitting game (I know that must be hard to believe). Zach Miskovic, Patrick Wellar, and Steve Pinizzotto took it upon themselves to teach the Phantoms players that if you’re not keeping your head up, you’ll be going down. I suspect there will be some Adirondack players with ice bags strapped to them after tonight. I can’t emphasize enough how fun it is to watch these kind of games.

I’m going to wrap up this gamer because I want to go buy tickets to every Hershey/Adirondack game this season.

Tonight’s Notes:

• Hershey’s special teams units really deserve some credit tonight. The power play unit went two for four and probably could have done even better if the Phantoms goalie had not been so good. The penalty killers successfully killed off 3 of the 4 Adirondack power plays.
• Braden Holtby is allowed to be a confident goaltender. He’s calm, solid, and talented. But his puck-handling skills are going to be the death of me. Yesterday, he had a snazzy between the legs pass and today he made a pass right in front of the empty net he had just left.
• Speaking of Holtby, he tried to score a goal today. Once the Phantoms pulled their goaltender, he tried to clear it right up the middle and might have made it if it hadn’t been intercepted at the Phantom’s blue line. Something tells me this is not going to be his last attempt.
• Grant McNeill got in his first bout of the season. And it ended up being a decisive victory for G Mac as he pummeled Garrett Klotz. Be on the lookout for the highlight reel so you can see this one.
• Congratulations to Captain Andrew Joudrey who scored his first goal of the year on a bomb that went over the head of the Phantoms goaltender. The first of many goals, I hope!
• I think Ashton Rome likes playing against the Phantoms. He has three goals and one assist against them in the past two games.
• Caps Organization Note: Michael Nylander will undergo surgery on Monday for a vertebra injury. He was cleanly checked into the boards during Rochester’s game against the Grand Rapids Griffins yesterday. We wish him the best and a speedy recovery.

Actual three stars of the game:

1. Andrew Gordon (HER)
2. Patrick Maroon (ADK)
3. Keith Aucoin (HER)

Sweetest Hockey On Earth’s three stars of the game:

1. Gordon: two goals, GWG, continues point streak
2. Aucoin: two primary assists
3. Joudrey: game-tying goal, first goal of the season

Video Highlights:

And, of course, enjoy some more photos from Kyle Mace:

Just a taste of what Holtby was dealing with.

Stewart watches the puck float past.

Rome beats Stewart for his third goal in two games.