Bears Send Amerks Packing After 5-1 Victory

The Bears celebrate one of many goals against the Rochester Americans. Photo by Kyle Mace

Sometimes after a blow-out victory, like the game last night against the Albany Devils, it’s easy to sit back and relax during the next game. But it’s games like the one tonight against the Rochester Americans where you will look back and regret not getting those two points if you relax too much.

I think Steve Pinizzotto took it a little too seriously when someone told him to start the game strong. Right off the opening face-off, he dropped the gloves with Michael Duco. It was over pretty quickly but I’d say Pinizzotto came out on top.

The Bears also started strong by scoring the game’s first goal. Patrick McNeill had a nice goal during a 5-on-3 where he came in and sniped the rebound shot. It was his first goal of the season and a well-deserved one. Keith Aucoin would add to the scoring sheet after he snuck in back door while Andrew Gordon had the puck.

Rochester’s only goal of the night game came during the second period. They beat Dany Sabourin on the power play to cut Hershey’s lead in half. Speaking of Sabourin, he had another great night. He stopped 25 of 26 shots and those were big shots. It’s a great thing to see him getting comfortable and winning two in a row in front of the Hershey faithful.

Thankfully, the third period was all Hershey in terms of scoring. Gordon got Hershey’s third goal with a perfect deflection past Tyler Plante. Brian Willsie tacked on another goal during the power play that got Plante moving. Finally, Ashton Rome added even more goal insurance by cashing in on another juicy rebound.

The top two lines were fantastic tonight and Hershey defeated the Amerks 5-1.The homestand continues tomorrow night when the Adirondack Phantoms come to town.

Tonight’s Notes:

• Before the game, Nikita Kashirsky was sent down to Hershey. In his place, David de Kastrozza was called up. This move may seem confusing but, after his recent success in South Carolina, the staff were interested in seeing how he’d do at the next level. He had a pretty quiet game, although he did not seem a lot of playing time to try and show his stuff.
• With fights from Pinizzotto and Dylan Yeo in the first period added to the fights from the previous nights, the Bears saw nine fights in four periods.
• A round of applause for the Hershey fans who sold out yet another game. We definitely have the greatest fans in the AHL and the numbers prove it.
• Dmitri Kugryshev got as close as you can to getting a goal without actually scoring. During the second period especially, he had so many scoring chances that just pained me when they didn’t go in.
• I have to give some credit to Amerks goaltender, Tyler Plante. Even though he let in five goals, Hershey threw 42 shots at him. The statistics do not prove what a good job he did against a powerful team like Hershey.

Video Highlights:

Lines and Pairings:

Kane – Aucoin – Gordon
Greentree – Willsie – Pinizzotto
Bouchard – Joudrey – Kugryshev
Lacroix – Rome – de Kastrozza

P McNeill – Collins
Wellar – Fahey
Yeo – Miskovic

Actual three stars of the game:

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

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

1. Aucoin: game-winning goal and two assists
2. Gordon: one goal, two assists
3. McNeill: first goal of the season and one assist

More Photos from Kyle Mace

Your epic Andrew Gordon photo quota has been filled for the next week and a half.

Pinizzotto and Duco start the game off with a nice fight.

Gordon, being the good citizen he is, puts the net back. Right after he did that he helped an old lady get her cat out of the tree.

Yeo tackles Selleck to the ground.

McNeill in perfect position for the game’s first goal.

Congrats, boys!