Game Preview: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton @ Hershey

Hershey hosts Wilkes-Barre/Scranton tomorrow afternoon in the eighth game of the season's 12-game series, with the Bears prevailing in six of seven contests against the Baby Pens.  Hershey has won 21 of its past 22 tilts and nine straight since a loss to the Norfolk Admirals on Jan. 13.  The Chocolate and White have collected 61 goals in that stretch (plus a shootout tally), outscoring opponents by a 35-goal margin.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has dropped seven of its last 10 games.  Nick Johnson scored the lone goal in the Baby Pens' 4-1 loss to Syracuse Friday night.  Luca Caputi shows points in his last seven starts (5-6-11) since being reassigned by Pittsburgh, while Dustin Jeffrey leads the Pens in points with 47 (14-33-47).  Mark Letestu, currently on NHL recall, has notched six goals and two assists in five games against the Bears this season.        
 

TEAM RECORDS

 Hershey:  38-9-0-2, 78 points
(1st place in East Division, 1st place in Eastern Conference)

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton:  23-24-1-1, 48 points
(5th place in East Division, 12th place in Eastern Conference)

HOW THE BEARS AND PENS MATCH UP

2009-2010 HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS
Hershey:  6-1-0-0
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton:  1-6-0-0


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


THE LAST FIVE YEARS
Hershey:  24-16-2-5
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton:  23-19-2-3


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

Keith Aucoin has registered two goals and 10 assists in six games against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season, while Boyd Kane has netted six goals in seven contests. 

BEARS BY THE NUMBERS

ON THE OFFENSIVE
Keith Aucoin and Alexandre Giroux saw 16-game point streaks snapped Wednesday night in Norfolk, but the pair remain the top two scorers in the league.  Andrew Gordon ranks third in power play goals with 11.  The Chocolate and White own eight of the league's top 11 spots in plus/minus.  The Bears have averaged 6.8 goals per game in their current nine-game winning streak and 4.4 overall on the season. 

GOALTENDING
Semyon Varlamov is expected to draw the start in net in tomorrow's match-up, his second appearance for Hershey this season on a conditioning stint.  Varlamov earned a 4-1 win in net against Adirondack on Jan. 3.  

A STRONG CASE FOR THE DEFENSE
Rookie John Carlson sits second in the AHL in plus/minus ratings at +29 and eighth in scoring among defensemen (3-28-31).  Patrick McNeill has recorded points in seven of his last eight games and is 12th in scoring among defensemen (5-23-28).  The Bears have allowed the second fewest goals against in the league (114 in 49 games), trailing only the Hamilton Bulldogs (114 goals in 52 games).

SPECIAL TEAMS
The Chocolate and White boast a 21.8% conversion rate on the man advantage this season, the second best power play in the AHL.  The penalty kill has had a league-leading 90.1% success rate, with 12 shorthanded goals.  Boyd Kane is the league leader with 4 shorthanded markers this season, while Steve Pinizzotto sits in fifth place with three.  

HERSHEY'S RECORD
In February:  1-0-0-0
At home:  21-3-0-2
On Sundays:  9-1-0-0


The Bears and Penguins will face off at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow.  The game is sold out, but John Walton's call of the game is available on WQIC 100.1 FM or at sportsjuice.com beginning at 12:40 p.m.