Bears Top Albany Devils 7-4 in a Long Game

Keith Aucoin puts a backhand wraparound into the goal. Photo by Kyle Mace

Hershey came out and tried to quickly take control of the game.  For the most part, they did just that.  They were able to gain and maintain the offensive zone for long periods of time.  They were cycling the puck and making great efforts to keep the puck in the zone.  Unfortunately, the Devils were able to get on the board first.  Keith Aucoin answered at 12:27 to tie the game at one.  Only a few minutes later, Andrew Gordon was able to convert an Aucoin pass into a goal to take the lead going into the second.

Early in the second period, Gordon attempted a shot from the faceoff circle.  He broke his stick on the shot from the circle, but he almost put the blade of the sitck in the net.  He got a good chuckle out of it as he came off the ice to get a new stick.  Albany once again struck first (and second) in this period.  Just before the end of the period, Dmitry Orlov scored the only Bears goal of the period to take it back to a tie.

In the third period things went from hockey to weird in about 2.2 seconds.  There was a small delay in the start of the period due to Devils goaltender, Jeff Frazee, complaining about the condition of the ice in his crease.  Interesting that it was suddenly bad after 2 full periods of hockey.  Once that was fixed, play started for the period.  The game went back and forth as did scoring initially.  Hershey went ahead on a Brian Willsie goal.  After the Willsie goal, an Albany player went over to the celebration and  had some words with the Bears players.  Some pushing and shoving followed.  Another Albany player came crashing into the pile and that started everything.  This was the first ‘line brawl’ that I had seen in a several years.  Albany tied the score once again only a few minutes later.  Not quite half way through the period, Boyd Kane would score what would eventually the game winner.  It was after that goal that Frazee decided that he still didn’t like the ice in his crease.  A lengthly delay ensued of about 45 minutes.  Eventually play would resume, but it wasn’t good news for Albany.  Kane would put the Bears back on top and Maxime Lacroix scored the insurance goal.  That was followed by an empty-netter by Kane.

Tonight’s Notes:

• Aucoin’s assist on the Andrew Gordon goal marked his 700th career AHL point.
• The Bears had 2 separate opportunities with a 2 man advantage and failed to convert on either one.
• No one but Frazee (and maybe the Ref) seemed to think that the ice was a problem in the crease.

Lines and Pairings:

Kane – Aucoin – Gordon
Greentree – Perreault – Willsie
Bouchard – Joudrey – Pinizzotto
Rechlicz – Lacriox – Kozek

McNeill – Collins
Wellar – Orlov
Fahey – Yeo

Actual three stars of the game:

1. Steve Pinizzotto (HER)
2. Keith Aucoin (HER)
3. Andrew Gordon (HER)

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

1. Aucoin: 1G, 2A and +1. Also went over 700 career points.
2. Willsie: A goal and a team high 9 shots.
3. Giant Center Rink Rats: For putting up with the Devils goalie.

Game photos by Kyle Mace

Ice repairs

Albany’s Chris Murray starts something with Perreault after the Bears score

Rechlicz and former Bear Louis Robitaille enjoy a friendly chat about the game.