Game Preview: Hershey @ Albany

The Bears face the Albany River Rats at Times Union Center tonight in the sixth installment of the season's 8-game series, with Hershey looking for its 40th win of the season.  The teams have split the series thus far, the Bears emerging with three wins in five games.  The Chocolate and White has won 22 of its past 23 and 10 straight since its loss to the Norfolk Admirals on Jan. 13.  AHL-leading scorer Keith Aucoin has been held without a point in two consecutive games for the first time all season.   

Albany enters Friday night's game with a 1-3-0-1 record in its last five games and sits just six points ahead of third place Norfolk in the East Division.  Jiri Tlusty shows points in three straight games since being reassigned by Carolina, while rookie Drayson Bowman has posted goals in back-to-back tilts.  Jerome Samson is the Rats' leading scorer with 40 points in 50 games (19-21-40). 

TEAM RECORDS

 Hershey:  39-9-0-2, 80 points
(1st place in East Division, 1st place in Eastern Conference)

Albany:  27-19-3-3, 60 points
(2nd place in East Division, 6th place in Eastern Conference)





 

HOW THE BEARS AND RATS MATCH UP

2009-2010 HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS
Hershey:  3-2-0-0
Albany:  2-3-0-0

2008-2009 HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS
Hershey:  4-2-0-0
Albany:  2-2-1-1

THE LAST FIVE YEARS
Hershey:  22-8-0-1
Albany:  9-19-2-1

THE 2009-2010 SEASON SERIES
Oct. 31:  Albany @ Hershey-- BEARS 4, Rats 1
Dec. 4:  Hershey @ Albany-- Bears 1, RATS 3
Dec. 11:  Hershey @ Albany-- Bears 0, RATS 3
Jan. 15:  Hershey @ Albany-- BEARS 10, Rats 4
Jan. 30:  Albany @ Hershey-- BEARS 8, Rats 3

Hershey scored eight goals against Albany in the teams' last outing Jan. 30, as Chris Bourque recorded five points (1-4-5).  The Rats are responsible for dealing the Bears their longest losing streak on the road this season--a pair of games at Times Union Center on Dec. 4 and Dec. 11.  The Dec. 11 loss also marks the last time the Chocolate and White was shut out, courtesy of Justin Peters. 

BEARS BY THE NUMBERS

ON THE OFFENSIVE
Alexandre Giroux shows nine points in just three games against Albany this season (5-4-9), and Andrew Gordon has notched eight points in five appearances (4-4-8).   Keith Aucoin and Giroux continue to lead the league in points with 71 and 66, respectively, though neither has found the score sheet in either of the last two games.  Aucoin ranks in the AHL's top five for shooting percentage with 28 goals on 116 shots. 

A STRONG CASE FOR THE DEFENSE
Rookie John Carlson is 10th in scoring among both rookies and all league blueliners (3-28-31).  Carlson ranks first in rookie plus/minus and second in defensemen at +30.  Patrick McNeill shows points in seven of his last nine games.  With a goal and an assist in last Sunday's game, Bryan Helmer recorded his fourth multi-point effort of the season.   

GOALTENDING
Jason Bacashihua has earned three wins in four starts against the River Rats this season (3-1-0-0), showing a 2.52 GAA and 90.3% save percentage.  Braden Holtby has not played against Albany but owns a 2.04 GAA and 92.8% save percentage this season.  He has won 16 of 19 appearances between the pipes.   

SPECIAL TEAMS
With two power play goals in their last contest, the Chocolate and White bettered to the AHL's top man advantage, now boasting a 22.2% conversion rate this season.  The penalty kill has had a league-leading 90.3% success rate, with 12 shorthanded goals for the Bears.  Boyd Kane leads the league in shorthanded goals this season with four, while Steve Pinizzotto sits tied for fourth with three.  Hershey has blanked the opposing power play in its past three outings.   

HERSHEY'S RECORD
In February:  2-0-0-0
On Fridays:  11-5-0-0
On the road:  17-6-0-0


Opening faceoff between the Bears and River Rats is slated for 7:00 p.m.  John Walton's live broadcast begins at 6:40 p.m., available on WQIC 100.1 FM or at sportsjuice.com.