Game Preview: Hershey @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

Hershey will trek to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this afternoon for the 10th installment in the season's 12-game series, with the Bears prevailing in seven of nine contests against the Baby Pens.  In their last outing at Mohegan Sun Arena, the Bears were shut out in a 5-0 decision.  The Chocolate and White are 16-3-0-0 in their last 19 games. 

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton shows a record of 7-3-0-0 in its last 10 games.  The Pens continue to battle Bridgeport for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, just one point behind the Sound Tigers.  Chris Conner shows two hat tricks in a five-game span, while Dustin Jeffrey continues to pace the Pens in points with 56 points in 56 games (18-38-56).  Conner (2-7-9 in 8 games) and Wyatt Smith (1-8-9 in 9 games) each boast nine points against the Bears this season.  Mark Letestu has posted eight points in five games against Hershey (2-6-8). 
 

TEAM RECORDS

 Hershey:  45-12-0-2, 92 points
(1st place in East Division, 1st place in Eastern Conference)

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton:  30-27-1-1, 62 points
(4th place in East Division, 9th place in Eastern Conference)

HOW THE BEARS AND PENS MATCH UP

2009-2010 HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS
Hershey:  7-2-0-0
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton:  2-7-0-0

2008-2009 HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS
Hershey:  3-5-0-2
Wilkes-Bare/Scranton:  7-2-0-1

THE LAST FIVE YEARS
Hershey:  25-17-2-5
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton:  24-20-2-3

THE 2009-2010 SEASON SERIES
Oct. 9:  Hershey @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton-- BEARS 3, Pens 0
Oct. 23:  Hershey @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton-- Bears 4, PENS 6
Nov. 14:  Wilkes-Barre/Scranton @ Hershey-- BEARS 3, Pens 1
Nov. 29:  Wilkes-Barre/Scranton @ Hershey-- BEARS 5, Pens 0
Jan. 1:  Hershey @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton-- BEARS 3, Pens 2
Jan. 16:  Wilkes-Barre/Scranton @ Hershey-- BEARS 7, Pens 2
Jan. 29:  Hershey @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton-- BEARS 8, Pens 6
Feb. 7:  Wilkes-Barre/Scranton @ Hershey-- BEARS 5, Pens 4
Feb. 13:  Hershey @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton-- PENS 5, Bears 0

Keith Aucoin has registered 12 points (2-10-12) in eight games against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season, while Kyle Wilson shows 10 points in nine contests (4-6-10).  Boyd Kane (6-3-9 in 9 games) and Mathieu Perreault (4-5-9 in 7 games) each boast nine points against the Baby Pens.  Perreault netted his first career hat trick Feb. 7 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.     

BEARS BY THE NUMBERS

ON THE OFFENSIVE
Keith Aucoin (29-51-80) and Alexandre Giroux (30-46-76) remain the top two scorers in the league with 80 and 76 points respectively.  The line of Giroux, Aucoin and Andrew Gordon combined for 11 points in Saturday night's game.  Gordon ranks second in the league in power play goals with 13 and eighth in overall scoring (28-30-58).  Chris Bourque has recorded points in three of his past four games (3-3-6), and Andrew Joudrey notched points in four of his last five games (2-3-5).  The Chocolate and White own six of the league's top 10 spots in plus/minus.  The Bears  have far and away the most goals for in the AHL with 255, scoring at least eight goals eight times this season. 

GOALTENDING
Semyon Varlamov is expected to draw the start in net today.  He has faced the Baby Pens once this season, earning a 5-4 win at Giant Center on Feb. 7.  He shows an 86.7% save percentage against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and 91.5% save percentage overall with the Bears this season.   

A STRONG CASE FOR THE DEFENSE
Rearguard John Carlson is riding a four-game point streak into today's game (0-4-4) and ranks ninth in scoring among all rookies (4-33-37).  His +36 rating is the best in the entire league.  Bryan Helmer is one assist shy of establishing a new AHL record for most assists by a defenseman.  He currently shares the record with Steve Kraftcheck with 386 career helpers.  The Bears have allowed the second fewest goals in the league (143 in 59 games), trailing only the Hamilton Bulldogs (132 goals in 60 games).

SPECIAL TEAMS
The Chocolate and White boast a 21.7% conversion rate on the man advantage this season, the best power play in the AHL.  The penalty kill has had a league-leading 88.6% success rate and shows 13 shorthanded goals.  Boyd Kane is third in the league with 4 shorthanded markers this season, while Steve Pinizzotto sits in seventh place with three.  

HERSHEY'S RECORD
In February:  8-3-0-0
On the road:  19-9-0-0
On Sundays:  12-1-0-0

Opening faceoff between the Bears and Baby Pens is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.  John Walton's live broadcast is available on WQIC 100.1 FM or at sportsjuice.com with airtime at 12:45 p.m.