Bears @ Albany Preview - 11/7

Hershey Bears
record ~ 8-3-0-1 17 points
standings ~ 1st in East Division
most recent game ~ 4-3 SO Loss @ Philly, 11/2
last 5 games ~ 2-2-0-1
road record ~ 5-1-0-1
goals for ~ 53
goals against ~43
power play ~ 16% (16th)
penalty kill ~ 75% (28th)

Albany River Rats
record ~ 2-5-1-1 6 points
standings ~ 6th in East Division
most recent game ~ 4-3 Win @ Bridgeport 11/2
last 5 games ~ 1-3-0-1
home record ~ 1-2-1-1
goals for ~ 21
goals against ~ 31
power play ~ 13.7% (21st)
penalty kill ~ 87.2% (11th)

last time teams met - Hershey won 4-3 in a shootout last Friday night in Albany.

Players to watch:

Hershey:

RW Jay Beagle (14)- Beagle only has 1 goal and 2 assists through 12 games but he has been playing on the checking line. He is expected to get a shot on the first line in Albany and needs to produce.
C Andrew Joudrey (23) - Judging from the lines at practice this week and the potential of some players not making the trip Joudrey is the 2nd line center. He will bring energy and solid defensive zone play to a team that needs both.
C Mathieu Perrault (24) - Why again was he scratched for a game this past weekend? The all rookie line with Osala and Francois Bouchard has consistently put offensive pressure on opposing teams when they are all dressed.

Albany:

RW Jakub Petruzalek (16) - He is tied for the team lead in goals with 3 through 9 games. He has also added 3 assists and is 2nd on the team in points.
D Mark Flood (4) - The defenseman is leading the Rats in points with 8. He has 2 goals and 6 assists on the year.
RW Nick Dodge (8) - He has scored 2 goals and 2 assists so far this year. He is leading the Rats in plus/minus with +4.



Notes:

• Graham Mink and Tyler Sloan are a little banged up and will not make the trip to Albany.
• Dean Arsene is feeling some effects of his sports hernia surgery from last season and could be out for an extended period.
• Simeon Varlamov is expected to start in goal tonight for his first game since October 17th.
• Bobby Goepfert has been reassigned to South Carolina of the ECHL.

LET'S GO BEARS!!