What A Game!!!

I was in Hershey last night to see the Bears play host to the Binghamton Senators. And what a game to go to. The final was 5-3 but the game was incredible. To get things started, former coach Bruce Boudreau performed a ceremonial puck drop between Chris Bourque and former Bears captain Lawrence Nycholat. After that and the national anthem you would have thought the Bears hadn't come out yet.

The Senators came out flying scoring 27 seconds in on a shot by Ilya Zubov. That was the kind of night it was for Frederic Cassivi in goal. He only lasted 12:35 of the first period and only faced 9 shots but gave up 3 goals. At least one of those goals was horrible defense in front when they left Shawn Weller come in and pick up a rebound and put it home. The third goal was a nice shot to the high glove side that got by. Right after that Coach Bob Woods pulled the plug on Freddie and put in Daren Machesney.

That was the story for the rest of the first and almost half the second before Sami Lepisto scored his second of the year on a long rebound which he roofed stick side. Before the second ended Kyle Wilson scored an impressive goal, his 14th of the year, by beating 2 Sens to a puck down the left side and firing a shot high glove that beat goalie Jeff Glass clean. That momentum carried over into the third period when Scott Barney added his 12th goal 9 minutes in that tied the game at 3. And then the play of the game. Andrew Gordon on a determined forecheck leveled Nycholat into the boards and won the puck and immediately looked up and saw Andrew Joudrey coming right down the middle and put the puck on his stick which Joudrey fired past Glass for the game winner and his 6th this season. Jay Beagle added his 10th goal into the empty net which I thought was fired in after the light when on to end the game but it was counted.

This was the third game in a row that the Bears have come out flat in the first period and hopefully they can get this straightened out soon. I read somewhere yesterday that some "know it all" fan who claimed to know hockey said that Bob Woods is not a good enough coach to get the Bears through the playoffs. I think his decision to pull Freddie last night and not to wait too long proved that he knows what he is doing. Any more goals would have ended the Bears hopes and Freddie just wasn't up to the challenge last night. Good decision Coach Woods!

On to the Freddie vs Cheese argument. I would say that based on stats and performance this year that Daren "Cheese" Machesney should be and has earned the number 1 goaltender role. Cassivi has been huge for the franchise through his career and especially the last two years. But Cheese has been playing lights out and deserves his chance. Woods has said that the two goalies would split games about 50/50 for now but I think Cheese needs more of those games. Maybe as much as 75/25.

A few other updates here:

Kris Beech will not be a Bear, the Pittsburgh Penguins claimed him on waivers.

Louis Robitaille is a new father, his fiancee gave birth to their son Kayden at 7:44 Sat morning.

Ben Clymer sat out the game with a groin injury.

The Bears wore special Washington Capitals jerseys last night and auctioned them off for charity after the game. I did not stay for all of them, I know Clymer's got $1300 and Morgan's $1050. If I can get more info on how much the jersey's went for I will let you know.

The Bears are off until next Saturday when the Albany River Rats come to town. I will be at that game as well due to my buddy finding two tickets on the ground at Giant Center last night.