Bears Snap Winless Skid, beat Providence Bruins, 4-3

November 23, 2011
Kathryn Hedrick
Game Recap

Tenacity and determination lifted the Bears past Providence. Photo by Kyle Mace.

With each game, the Bears’ losing streak gets more and more disheartening. Tonight was a chance to turn things around and play a full game against the Providence Bruins.

The Bears tend to have strong starts and tonight was no exception. Just 18 seconds after puck drop, the first line combined for the first goal of the night. Chris Bourque scored his tenth goal of the season from the right face-off circle past Anton Khudobin.

The Bruins tied it up halfway through the period. David Warsofsky beat Dany Sabourin, who appeared pretty frustrated with letting that one in. The Bears answered with a goal of their own. Brett Flemming scored with a quick goal off the face-off.

The teams exchanged goals during the second period. Patrick McNeill scored during a late power play thanks to his determination and some rebound chances. But it didn’t take long for the Bruins to fight back and score on a shot that flew high past Sabourin.

Early in the third period, Boyd Kane gave the Bears some breathing room. He and Keith Aucoin crossed paths in front of the goal and Aucoin dished a soft backhand that Kane shot into the net. The Bruins scored on the power play to make it a close game once again. Josh Hennessy danced around Julien Brouillette.

But the Bears held off a comeback and finally broke the skid. Bears win, 4-3! From all of us at Sweetest Hockey on Earth, we wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy some turkey tomorrow because the puck drops again on Friday.

Tonight’s Notes:

As has been widely broadcasted, Dmitry Orlov was called up to Washington this week where he currently stays along with Cody Eakin. Orlov earned his first NHL point tonight with an assist on a Nick Backstrom goal.
The Bears welcomed back two guys from injury tonight: Matt Ford returned after missing five games and Ryan Potulny played for the first time since October 8th.
The Bears were really looking like their normal selves tonight and that includes the special teams. The Bears went 1-for-3 on the power play and 5-for-6 for penalty kills.
It was a big night for the top line. Bourque, Aucoin, and Kane combined for seven points tonight (2 goals, five assists).
I want to give some credit to Dany Sabourin for his play tonight. He stopped 24 of 27 shots, but there were some crucial shots. He really kept the Bears in it during some scary penalty kill moments.

Lines and Pairings:

Kane – Aucoin – Bourque
Micflikier – Potulny – Mink
Hanson – Sjogren – Ford
Carroll – Lacroix – Rechlicz

McNeill – Miskovic
Brouillette – Flemming
Wellar – Kundratek

Three stars of the game:

1. Keith Aucoin (HER)
2. Boyd Kane (HER)
3. Patrick McNeill (HER)

More Photos from Kyle Mace.
Chris Bourque only takes 18 seconds to score a goal.

Sabourin lets in a shot from Warsofsky.

Brett Flemming beats Anton Khudobin five-hole.