Oskar Osala has recorded four goals and two assists in six games since being dealt to the Carolina organization at the trade deadline. The Rats have won four consecutive games and show points in eight straight, opening up a 10 point lead on Norfolk for second place in the East Division. River Rats' leading scorer Jerome Samson boasts points in 12 of his last 13 games (12-11-23), while rookie Drayson Bowman is riding a four-game point streak (2-3-5). Samson has scored five goals in seven games against Hershey this season.
TEAM RECORDS
(1st place in East Division, 1st place in Eastern Conference)
Albany: 38-24-3-5, 84 points
(2nd place in East Division, 3rd place in Eastern Conference)
HOW THE BEARS AND RATS MATCH UP
2009-2010 HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS
Hershey: 5-2-0-0
Albany: 2-5-0-0
2008-2009 HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS
Hershey: 4-2-0-0
Albany: 2-2-1-1
THE LAST FIVE YEARS
Hershey: 24-8-0-1
Albany: 9-21-2-1
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
Feb. 12: Hershey @ Albany-- BEARS 5, Rats 2
Feb. 21: Albany @ Hershey-- BEARS 5, Rats 3
Chris Bourque (1-4-5) and Alexandre Giroux (3-2-5) each recorded the most points by a Bear this season with five against Albany--Bourque on Jan. 30, Giroux on Jan. 15. Hershey found its highest goal total in Albany with 10 on Jan. 15. Giroux has registered 13 points in five games against Albany (6-7-13), and Andrew Gordon shows 12 points in seven games (7-5-12).
BEARS BY THE NUMBERS
ON THE OFFENSIVE
Keith Aucoin (32-54-86) has been held scoreless in back-to-back contests for the fourth time in 2009-2010 and has never been scoreless through three straight games all season. Alexandre Giroux (36-51-87) surpassed Aucoin for the scoring lead with two assists against the Binghamton Senators on Wednesday. Aucoin continues to pace the league in game winners with nine. Andrew Gordon ranks second in power play goals with 15 and eighth in overall scoring (31-32-63). Steve Pinizzotto has recorded points in four straight tilts, though he is out this weekend. Giroux and Bourque have both found the score sheet in six of the last seven games. The Bears own six of the top 10 spots in plus/minus.
GOALTENDING
Michal Neuvirth suffered a loss in his only start against the Rats this season-- a 3-1 decision in Albany on Dec. 4. He posted a GAA of 2.04 and a 93.8% save percentage. Braden Holtby was chased from net in his only game against Albany on Feb. 21, when Jason Bacashihua came on in relief. Holtby gave up three goals before Bacashihua earned the 5-3 win.
A STRONG CASE FOR THE DEFENSE
Sean Collins found his first goal of the season in Wednesday's game. Karl Alzner and Bryan Helmer rank seventh and eighth in plus/minus overall, both at +28. The Bears have allowed the second fewest goals against (167 in 67 games)--a mark even with the Manchester Monarchs-- trailing only the Hamilton Bulldogs in that category (153 in 68 games).
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Chocolate and White have had a 21.7% conversion rate on the man advantage this season, the best power play in the AHL. Hershey owns a league-leading 88.3% success rate and shows 16 shorthanded goals. Steve Pinizzotto is tied for first in the league in that category with five on the season. Boyd Kane sits in fourth with four shorties, while Andrew Joudrey boasts three.
HERSHEY'S RECORD
In March: 5-1-0-1
At home: 28-3-0-2
On Fridays: 13-6-0-0
The Bears will wear St. Patrick's Day jerseys to be auctioned off after tonight's match-up. 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.
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