Bears @ Sharks Preview, 1/4

Hershey Bears
record ~ 25-9-0-1 51 points
standings ~ 1st in East Division
most recent game ~ 6-2 Win @ Hartford, 1/3
last 5 games ~ 3-2-0-0
road record ~ 11-6-0-1
goals for ~ 138
goals against ~95
power play ~ 16.3% (15th)
penalty kill ~ 82.2% (17th)


Worcester Sharks
record ~ 19-16-0-1 39 points
standings ~ 3rd in Atlantic Division
most recent game ~ 3-2 Win vs Lowell, 1/3
last 5 games ~ 3-2-0-0
home record ~ 12-6-0-1
goals for ~ 103
goals against ~ 105
power play ~ 15.3% (23rd)
penalty kill ~ 82.0% (18th)

last time teams met - First meeting this season.

Players to watch:

Hershey:

LW Alexandre Giroux (12)- 1 goal and 3 assists last night gives him points in 10 straight games. The offense has struggled without him....will it strengthen with him back?
RW Graham Mink (21) - 2 goals last night ties his total from December and were also his first points in 6 games.
G Simeon Varlamov (31) - The rookie is expected to make his first back to back starts on the season. He is usually extremely tired after a game and the next day. Will he be okay to go the full 60?

Worcester:

RW Riley Armstrong (20) - Team leader with 14 goals he was in a slump for 7 games with no points until the last 2 games where he has scored 4 goals.
RW Ryan Vesce (17) - Team leader in assists and points. In the last 4 games he has 3 goals and 4 assists.
G Taylor Dakers (39) - I expect Dakers to get the start tonight. He is 7-4 on the season with a 2.50 goals against average and a .902 save percentage.


News and Notes:

• Mathieu Perrault was injured late in the game last night and I wouldn't be surprised to see him scratched tonight.
• As mentioned before Varly is expected to make his first consecutive night starts in his AHL career. In Russia and Europe in general back to back games are rare so he is not used to doing this. Machesney will be on the bench if needed.
• With Giroux back the Bears have most of their opening night roster intact minus Karl Alzner and Sean Collins. Collins could be back anytime but Alzner probably won't be back for a while if ever.