Game Preview: Hershey @ Springfield

The Bears take on the Springfield Falcons at MassMutual Center tonight for the second installment of the season's home-and-home series.  The Falcons prevailed in the first game of the series with a 3-2 shootout win at Giant Center on Nov. 21.  Hershey has won 21 of its past 24 tilts and six straight since a Feb. 25 loss in Toronto.  The Chocolate and White look to claim the East Division crown tonight and will do so with a regulation win in Springfield, an Albany regulation loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, or a combination of an overtime or shootout loss to the Falcons and an Albany overtime or shootout loss to the Baby Pens.

Springfield sits in the Atlantic Division cellar, suffering a 4-2 loss to the Hartford Wolf Pack last night.  Charles Linglet leads the Falcons in scoring at a point-per-game pace (18-49-67) but was held off the score sheet last night after finding points in six straight games.  He ranks third in the league in assists and fourth in overall scoring.  Colton Fretter and Ryan O'Marra each posted a goal against the Bears in the shootout win over the Bears.         

TEAM RECORDS

Hershey:  50-12-0-2, 102 points
(1st place in East Division, 1st place in Eastern Conference)

Springfield:  21-34-9-3, 54 points
(8th place in Atlantic Division, 15th place in Eastern Conference) 

  






HOW THE BEARS AND FALCONS MATCH UP

2009-2010 HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS
Hershey:  0-0-0-1
Springfield:  1-0-0-0


2008-2009 HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS
Hershey:  1-0-0-1
Springfield:  1-1-0-0


THE LAST FIVE YEARS
Hershey:  5-1-0-3
Springfield:  4-4-0-1


THE 2009-2010 SEASON SERIES
Nov. 21:  Springfield @ Hershey-- FALCONS 3, Bears 2 (shootout)

Alexandre Giroux notched a goal and an assist in the Nov. 21 shootout loss, while Keith Aucoin shows a goal against Springfield this season.  

BEARS BY THE NUMBERS

ON THE OFFENSIVE
Keith Aucoin and Alexandre Giroux remain the top two scorers in the league with 85 and 83 points respectively.  Giroux and Chris Bourque have both posted points in five of the last six games, with Giroux striking twice in last night's overtime win in Glens Falls.  Aucoin leads the league in game-winning goals with nine.  Andrew Gordon ranks second in the league in power play goals with 14 and 10th in overall scoring (30-31-61).  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 276; Hershey averages 4.3 goals per game overall this season.


GOALTENDING
Braden Holtby took the shootout loss in net against the Falcons earlier this season, showing a 1.85 GAA and an 88.2% save percentage.  He ranks sixth overall among AHL goaltenders with a record of 19-5-1 in 26 starts, owning a 2.26 GAA and 92% save percentage.


A STRONG CASE FOR THE DEFENSE
With two assists last night, Zach Miskovic is now riding a three-game point streak.  Karl Alzner boasts points in three of his last four games and is fifth in plus/minus among defensemen and seventh overall with +28.  Bryan Helmer scored his third game winner of the season last night.  The Bears have allowed the second fewest goals against (153 in 64 games), trailing only the Hamilton Bulldogs in that category (145 in 66 games).


SPECIAL TEAMS
The Chocolate and White have had a 22.2% 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 14 shorthanded goals.  Steve Pinizzotto ranks third in the league in shorties and Boyd Kane sits in fifth, each with four.


HERSHEY'S RECORD
In March:  4-0-0-0
On the road:  22-9-0-0
On Saturdays:  18-2-0-2


Opening faceoff between the Bears and Falcons is slated for 7:00 p.m.  John Walton's call of the game is available on WQIC 100.1 FM or sportsjuice.com beginning at 6:40 p.m.