Game Preview: Hershey @ Norfolk

The Bears seek revenge at Norfolk Scope tonight in the seventh match-up of the season's 10-game series.  The Admirals dealt Hershey its only loss during the month of January with a 4-3 heartbreaker in Norfolk Jan. 13, effectively snapping the Bears' 12-game winning streak.  The boys in the Chocolate and White have won five of six games against the Ads this season, capturing wins in 20 of their last 21 and eight straight since their last visit to the Scope.  Hershey has amassed 59 goals in that stretch, outscoring opponents by a 35-goal differential.

Norfolk has been a team on the rise since Jim Johnson stepped into the head coaching position with the departure of Darren Rumble.  The Ads have just completed a seven-game road swing through the Northeast, going 6-0-1 to surge from the bottom of the East Division into third place.  Norfolk will close out the regular season playing 20 of its remaining 31 games on home ice.  Matt Fornataro has netted a goal in three straight games and notched points in six of his past seven (5-2-7).  Netminder Dustin Tokarski went 4-0-0 for the Ads during their road trip, posting a 1.47 GAA, 95.2% save percentage and one shutout.  Mark Parrish shows four goals in five games against the Bears this season, including the game winner on Jan. 13.       

TEAM RECORDS

  

Hershey:  37-9-0-2, 76 points
(1st place in East Division, 1st place in Eastern Conference)

Norfolk:  23-23-3-0, 49 points
(3rd place in East Division, 9th place in Eastern Conference) 

  

HOW THE BEARS AND ADS MATCH UP

2009-2010 HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS
Hershey:   5-1-0-0
Norfolk:  1-5-0-0

2008-2009 HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS
Hershey:  8-2-0-0
Norfolk:  2-7-0-1

THE LAST FIVE YEARS
Hershey:  29-14-1-2
Norfolk :  17-26-2-1

THE 2009-2010 SEASON SERIES
Oct. 3:  Norfolk @ Hershey-- BEARS 3, Admirals 1
Nov. 13:  Norfolk @ Hershey-- BEARS 5, Admirals 3
Dec. 5:  Norfolk @ Hershey-- BEARS 5, Admirals 4
Dec. 27:  Norfolk @ Hershey-- BEARS 7, Admirals 1
Dec. 29:  Hershey @ Norfolk-- BEARS 5, Admirals 3
Jan. 13:  Hershey @ Norfolk-- Bears 3, ADMIRALS 4

Keith Aucoin has recorded four goals and seven assists (4-7-11) in six games against the Ads this season, while Alexandre Giroux has three goals and six assists (3-6-9) in five games.  Jason Bacashihua earned a win in net at Norfolk Scope Dec. 29. 

BEARS BY THE NUMBERS

ON THE OFFENSIVE
Keith Aucoin and Alexandre Giroux, the league's top two scorers, carry 16-game point streaks into tonight's contest.  Boyd Kane is riding an eight-game points streak (5-7-12).  The Bears own 11 of the league's top 20 spots in plus/minus ratings.  Hershey has been averaging better than seven goals per game during its current eight-game winning streak and averages 4.4 goals per game overall on the season.  

A STRONG CASE FOR THE DEFENSE
Freshman defenseman John Carlson continues his campaign for rookie of the year, ranking second in assists among rookies and second among all defensemen with 28.  He is also sixth in scoring and second in plus/minus (+29) among all defensemen.  

GOALTENDING
The Bears have added goaltender Parker Van Buskirk (#31) for tonight's game, as Michal Neuvirth has sustained a minor injury and will be unable to play.  Van Buskirk, a 21-year-old native of Windsor, Ontario, has split this year between the Utah Grizzlies and South Carolina Stingrays.  Jason Bacashihua will start between the pipes in Norfolk tonight.  He is 9-2-1-1 this season, with a 2.82 GAA and 90.1% save percentage.

SPECIAL TEAMS
The Bears boast a 22.2% conversion rate on the man advantage this season, the second best power play in the AHL.  The penalty kill has had a league-leading 90% 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'S RECORD
On Wednesdays:  1-2-0-0
On the road:  16-6-0-0

The Bears and Admirals will face off with a 7:15 p.m. start.  John Walton's live broadcast will be available on WQIC 100.1 FM or at sportsjuice.com, with airtime at 6:55 p.m.