Rats @ Bears Preview, 12/28

Hershey Bears
record ~ 22-8-0-1 45 points
standings ~ 1st in East Division
most recent game ~ 4-1 Loss vs Binghamton, 12/27
last 5 games ~ 2-3-0-0
home record ~ 13-3-0-0
goals for ~ 119
goals against ~77
power play ~ 16.2% (17th)
penalty kill ~ 82.9% (16th)


Albany River Rats
record ~ 11-15-3-2 27 points
standings ~ Last in East Division
most recent game ~ 3-2 Win vs Rochester, 12/27
last 5 games ~ 2-3-0-0
road record ~ 4-10-0-1
goals for ~ 78
goals against ~ 98
power play ~ 15.2% (20th)
penalty kill ~ 84.1% (10th)

last time teams met - Hershey won 3-2 in OT on November 28th in Albany.

Players to watch:

Hershey:

C Keith Aucoin (11)- He had a goal last night and played a very good offensive game but he needs to do more. Mink and Bourque need to score and Coiner needs to get them the puck.
Rookie Line (36,24,22) - This line was doing so very well a while back but so far in December they have totaled 1 goal and 3 assists in December. They need to do more.
C Kyle Wilson (18) - He has carried the Bears this month with 4 goals and 3 assists in 7 games. He is going to need to continue this for a while longer it looks like.

Albany:

LW Michael Ryan (21) - Tied for the team lead in goals with 9 and second on the team with 18 points. He has been the most consistent point producer with 18 points in 22 games.
RW Jakub Petruzalek (16) - Team leader with 20 points (8 g, 12 a) this season. He has produced a goal and an assist in the 3 games against Hershey this season.
C Dwight Helminen (11) - Third on the team in points with 15 (9 g, 6 a). He had 2 goals last night and this is only his second game against Hershey this season.


News and Notes:

• Hershey has NOT scored more than 3 goals against Albany yet this season.
• 2 of the games went to overtime...1 ended in a shootout the other about 2 minutes into OT.
• Both overtime games came against Jason Peters in goal while Daniel Manzato recorded the 3-0 loss.
• This is Albany's first trip to Hershey this season. These teams will play 2 more times in Hershey before the 15th of January. And there are no games after that between the teams.