Sharks @ Bears Preview, 1/18

Hershey Bears
record ~ 29-12-0-2 60 points
standings ~ 1st in East Division
most recent game ~ 4-3 SO Loss vs Philadelphia, 1/17
last 5 games ~ 1-3-0-1
home record ~ 15-5-0-1
goals for ~ 169
goals against ~126
power play ~ 17.2% (14th)
penalty kill ~ 81.7% (22nd)


Worcester Sharks
record ~ 23-18-0-1 47 points
standings ~ 3rd in Atlantic Division
most recent game ~ 5-4 OT Win @ Norfolk, 1/17
last 5 games ~ 4-1-0-0
road record ~ 9-10-0-0
goals for ~ 121
goals against ~ 128
power play ~ 14.9% (24th)
penalty kill ~ 82.2% (18th)

last time teams met - Hershey won 7-2 in Worcester on January 4th.

Players to watch:

Hershey:

LW Alexandre Giroux (12)- In the previous game against the Sharks he had 4 goals and an assist. Currently riding an 18 game point streak.
C Keith Aucoin (11) - He also had a good game a couple weeks ago in Worcester with 2 goals and 2 assists. The league leader in points has 14 in 10 games in 09.
C Jay Beagle (14) - After taking the night off last night expect Beagle back in the lineup and I don't have anything to go off of but I think he is going to score tonight.

Sharks:

RW Ryan Vesce (17) - The team leader with 42 points is on a tear of late. He has points in 10 straight games with 6 goals and 8 assists in that span. Included in that is a goal against Hershey.
LW Lukus Kasper (22) - Also riding a hot streak as he is on the opposite wing of Worcester's top line with Vesce. He has points in 7 of 8 with 4 goals and 5 assists including a goal and an assist against Hershey.
RW Claude Lemieux (32) - The Stanley Cup veteran is on what can be described as a hot streak for him with 1 goal and 4 assists in his last 8 games.


News and Notes:

• Michal Neuvirth is expected to get the start in Hershey tonight.
• Hershey is 5-1 against the Atlantic division so far this season.
• In those 5 wins they have outscored the opposition 23-8 and the one loss was 7-2.
  

• Worcester has won 2 straight on the road (both against Norfolk)
  
• Before that they had lost 6 of 7 road games
• The Sharks are 6-6 against the East Division with 3 of their wins coming against Norfolk