Bears vs Pirates preview, 2/8

Hershey Bears
record ~ 35-12-0-4 74 points
standings ~ 1st in East Division
most recent game ~ 3-2 SO Win vs San Antonio, 2/7
last 5 games ~ 4-0-0-1
home record ~ 19-5-0-2
goals for ~ 198
goals against ~146
power play ~ 18.2% (12th)
penalty kill ~ 80.8% (24th)


Portland Pirates
record ~ 25-20-1-3 54 points
standings ~ 4th in Atlantic Division
most recent game ~ 3-2 SO Loss @ Albany, 2/7
last 5 games ~ 2-2-0-1
road record ~ 8-10-1-3
goals for ~ 145
goals against ~ 135
power play ~ 15.1% (24th)
penalty kill ~ 85.7% (5th)

last time teams met - First meeting this season. Portland won both games last season.

Players to watch:

Hershey:

LW Alexandre Giroux (12)- After missing the last 2 games due to a call up to Washington I expect the leading scorer will be back in Hershey tonight for the game.
C Mathieu Perrault (24) - Along with the other two rookies (Osala, Bouchard) he played very well last night. Probably the best performance from the rookie line in over a month.
C Kyle Wilson (18) - Managed to convert twice in the shootout last night but didn't light the lamp during the game. Maybe tonight will be different.

Portland:

C Nathan Gerbe (19) - The rookie is tied for the team lead in goals and second in points with 19 and 35. He has 5 goals and 6 assists in his last 9 games.
RW Mark Mancari (25) - The other team leader in goals with 19. He also leads the team in points with 44 this season. A goal and an assist in his last 3 games.
C Colton Fretter (27) - He is 3rd on the team in 15 goals this season. 3 goals in his last 4 games. And he is the team leader with a +13 rating.


News and Notes:

• These teams will meet again in Portland on March 21st.
• A new affiliation means this is not the same team that went against Hershey in the 05-06 Eastern Conference Finals. That was an epic 7 game series.

• Portland is 2-9-0-1 in their last 12 road games.
• Expect Jhonas Enroth to get the start in net tonight for the Pirates.
• The rookie is the number 1 goaltender for the Pirates. His number are : 18-13-3, 2.47 gaa, .922 save %.
  

• Hershey has gotten at least a point in 10 straight games.
• Kris Mayotte is expected to start in goal today for Hershey. He was signed to a tryout contract earlier this week with Neuvirth up in Washington and Varly not ready to return yet.
• Mayottes's numbers this season in the ECHL: 30 games, 18-9-2, 2.70 gaa, .912 save %.