Bears hold back Devils’ comeback to win 3-2

Jay Beagle takes a faceoff against Tim Sestito. Photo by the Albany Devils.

As the players have often noted, it’s important to start a game strong. That’s just what the Bears did against the Albany Devils. Despite only leading by one goal after twenty minutes, Hershey was in control. The first period was characterized by a offensive effort that left Dany Sabourin mostly twiddling his thumbs on the other side of the ice. It was just the icing on the cake that Andrew Joudrey scored his fourth goal of the season on a rebound shot.

The Bears started the second period down a man. Patrick Wellar was in the box for holding but that didn’t stop Hershey. Jay Beagle led the effort to score a breakaway short-handed goal just thirty seconds into the second period. That’s Beagle’s sixth goal of the season and his third short-handed goal. Clutch. But wait! We’re not through! Steve Pinizzotto decides to try that play himself and scores a second short-handed breakaway goal only 25 seconds after Beagle. 3-0 Bears.

It looked like Hershey had this game in the bag. The Devils sit at the bottom of the league in power play goals. Even allowing two short-handed goals, you wouldn’t think it tonight. Hershey allowed the Devils to score two power play goals, putting them in prime position for a comeback. And that’s how the Bears found themselves needing to shut down the Devils for the third period.

Thankfully, the Bears clung to their lead and Pinizzotto was rewarded with the game-winning goal. He now has the game winner for both games against Albany. Bears win 3-2 and remain undefeated against Albany this season.

Tonight’s Notes:

• Before the game, it was announced that Grant McNeill was sent down to join the South Carolina Stingrays at least for the weekend. He previously played for them during the 2007-2008 season.
• This one shouldn’t come as a surprise. Former Bear, Louis Robitaille, was in the starting line-up for Albany. And he did not disappoint. He was shaking things up all over the place. Yep, you knew this already.
• Chippy game all around with 15 power plays and 23 penalties throughout the night. Although some of those penalties were questionable, to say the least…
• The Bears themselves went 0-for-7 on the power play. They are now 0-for-17 in the past four games. I think we could use Keith Aucoin back soon.

Lines and Pairings:

Greentree – Willsie – Gordon
Bouchard – Beagle – Pinizzotto
Kane – Joudrey – Kugryshev
Lacroix – Rome – Rechlicz

Souray – Fahey
Nycholat – Miskovic
Wellar – Collins

Actual three stars of the game:

1. Sean Collins (HER)
2. Michael Swift (ALB)
3. Andrew Joudrey (HER)

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

1. Pinizzotto: short-handed, game-winning goal
2. Beagle: short-handed goal
3. Joudrey: first goal of the night