Breakaway goals help Phantoms defeat Bears 3-1

Tonight was a big night for the Bears. In the midst of injuries and call-ups, Keith Aucoin returned after missing 16 games due to a knee injury. Additionally, Patrick McNeill made his season debut after having shoulder surgery during the offseason. They were facing the struggling Adirondack Phantoms, who were looking for only their fifth win of the season.

The game started off on the right foot with a power play goal by Brian Willsie. Aucoin got the primary assist and looked to be back in his element.

During the first period, Sheldon Souray chased after a puck with Matt Clackson and fell funny on his leg. He had to be helped off the ice and never returned to the game. Ironically, the last injury Souray had also involved Clackson after he injured his hand in the now infamous fight.

It was during the second period that the wheels started to fall off. After losing Souray in the first period, Dylan Yeo then made the fateful trip down the tunnel. He too never returned to the game.

After getting called for one penalty too many, the Phantoms scored their first goal of the night on the power play. Exactly one and a half minutes later, Phantom Shane Harper capitalized on a blue line turnover and scored his first ever AHL goal on a breakaway. I hate to admit it but it was a really nice goal.

Despite a handful of power plays in the third period, the Bears could not find the back of the net. Adirondack’s Denis Hamel scored his second goal of the night on a breakaway after Dany Sabourin was, once again, left out to dry. It’s worth noting that Hamel’s goal was his 300th career goal, which is pretty impressive. Phantoms take this one 3-1.

And so Hershey finishes their four-game road trip with two wins and two losses. They return home tomorrow to play the Providence Bruins at Giant Center.

Tonight’s Notes:

• No Jay Beagle or Andrew Gordon tonight as both were called up to Washington.
• Patrick Wellar was also scratched due to an injury in suffered during practice this week. Good thing McNeill was ready to return.
• The Bears played with seven defensemen and eleven forwards so the lines were a bit shuffled, especially after losing Souray and Yeo.
• Just a random fun fact from the AHL: “Tonight is the busiest night in AHL history: For the first time ever, 15 games with all 30 teams in action.”

Actual three stars of the game:

1. Denis Hamel (ADK)
2. Nic Riopel (ADK)
3. Shane Harper (ADK)

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

1. P. McNeill: Welcome back
2. Aucoin: one assist on the night of his return
3. Willsie: scored Hershey’s only goal