Officiating Called Into Question Again as Bears Lose to the B-Sens 4-3.
Jean Hebert set the tone early with a hooking call on Andre Benoit (BNG) at 1:13 of the first period. Kyle Greentree got the next two hooking calls but the Bears penalty killers were able to keep the game scoreless. Shortly after Greentree’s second penalty, the Sens were able to capitalize on a botched play by Todd Ford. Ford played the puck behind the net, but he was indecisive. Miscommunication with Sean Collins led to a turnover behind the Bears net. The puck came out to an undefended Colin Greening in the high slot and he made Ford pay. A short time later Dylan Yeo brought the game back to even with a shot through traffic from the point.
The second period saw things start to come apart for the Bears. Turnovers happened frequently and they left players from the Sens uncovered in scoring positions. The second period also brought more questionable calls from Hebert. For most of the period, the Bears PK units were outstanding. In fact, during the first Steve Pinizzotto penalty, the shorthanded Bears had more chances than the Sens. In the end, the Sens were able to come up with a PP goal and one other in the period to give them a 3-1 lead headed into the third period.
Nineteen seconds after the start of the third period, the Sens were able to put the puck in the net again. The goal, however, was waived off due to goaltender interference. Derek Smith essentially jumped on top of Ford. The officiating trend continued with seven more penalties called in the period. This, of course, brought out the colorful chants from the Giant Center crowd. In the end a road weary, injury depleted Bears team was unable to overcome all the adversity and lost to the Sens.
Tonight’s Notes
- The rookies and call-ups were the bright spot tonight. Dylan Yeo and David de Kastrozza both scored their first professional goals.
- Andrew Carroll didn’t make it on the score sheet, but he was one of the few on the team on the plus side of the plus/minus rating.
- Veterans out for this game included: Andrew Gordon, Andrew Joudrey, Brian Fahey, Zack Miskovic and Lawrence Nycholat.
- The Bears looked tired and it translated to some sloppy passes and missed coverage.
- Giant Center ice crew brought out the tunnel for the officials entrance. It was needed.
Lines and Pairings:
Kane – Aucoin – Bouchard
Greentree – Willsie – Pinizzotto
de Kastozza – Beagle – Rechlicz
Blight – Carroll – Rome
McNeill – Collins
Souray – Kroll
Wellar – Yeo
Actual three stars of the game:
1. Roman Wick (BNG)
2. Corey Locke (BNG)
3. Steve Pinizzotto (HER)
Sweetest Hockey On Earth’s three stars of the game:
1. Yeo: First goal of the game and his first pro goal.
2. de Kastrozza: Also scored his first pro goal.
3. Carroll: Plus 2 in a 4-3 loss for a rookie gets you a star.
Coach French’s post game press conference: