Bears visit Norfolk for first time in 2010-11

Hershey is in Norfolk prepared to take on the Admirals and complete their 5 games in 7 days stretch which has not gone too smoothly.  But the trip can turn out to be a success with a win tonight.  Should Hershey win they will again have gone 3-2 over the 5 games and will sit 8 points behind the Baby Pens with 26 games to play.

After tonight's game Hershey gets a 2 day break before playing 3 more times this weekend.  And the schedule after that doesn't get easier.

The Bears have no more than 2 days off between games until the 3rd week in March.  It will be a much deserved break when it arrives.

But in the interest of taking things one game at a time....

Norfolk.

This will be Hershey's first of four trips to Virginia this season to face the Admirals.  Norfolk has made 2 trips to Hershey this season and by a combined 5-1 they have 2 losses to show for it.

The Admirals have won 3 of their last 4 after losing 6 straight to close out January. 

They are a talented offensive team.  10 different players have double digit goals including former Bear, defenseman, Troy Milam.  (Johan Harju is on recall currently so the active number is 9 players).

This will be a good rebound game for Hershey.  Surely they are upset by the outcomes this past weekend and they need to get back on track. 

Looking up in the standings is always the goal but you have to be aware (at least a little) of what is behind you. 

Currently Hershey is closer to being in 5th place (8 points out) than 1st place (10 points).  Norfolk sits in 4th, only 5 points behind the Bears.  A loss tonight puts Norfolk within 3 points and sets up an exciting finish at the wrong end of the standings.

27 games to go.  Anything can happen still. 

Hershey can absolutely still catch the Pens (although that took a hit on Sunday) but they can also still miss the playoffs.


Now for some fun with stats:

• Norfolk has lost 8 games in overtime, by far the most in the league (next closest is 4)
• Hershey has lost only 1 game in overtime
• Norfolk is 3rd in the league with 3.45 goals per game
• Hershey is 4th at 3.43
• Norfolk is 13th in the league allowing 2.77 goals per game
• Hershey is 3rd at 2.47
• Norfolk outscores their opponent by 20 in the 3rd period (4th in the league)
• Hershey by 23 in the 3rd period (tied with 2 others for the best in the league)
• Norfolk leads the league in shots per game with 34.25
• Hershey is 7th at 31.40
• Norfolk is only 10-3-5-2 when out shooting their opponent at home
• Hershey is 7-2-1-1 when being out shot on the road

Hershey Bears
record ~ 33-16-1-3 70 points
standings ~ 2nd in East Division
most recent game ~ 7-1 Loss @ Wilkes-Barre, 2/13
last 5 games ~ 3-2-0-0
road record ~ 16-7-1-1
goals for ~ 182
goals against ~ 131
power play ~ 21.5% (5th)
penalty kill ~ 85.1% (6th)

 

Norfolk Admirals
record ~ 27-15-8-3 65 points
standings ~ 4th in East Division
most recent game ~ 4-0 Win vs Syracuse, 2/12
last 5 games ~ 3-1-1-0
home record ~ 12-5-5-3
goals for ~ 183
goals against ~ 147
power play ~ 17.5% (16th)
penalty kill ~ 83.7% (13th)

 

  
last time teams met - Hershey won 2-0 on January 2nd and 3-1 on December 26.  This is the 3rd of 8 meetings between the teams and the first in Norfolk.

  

 

Players to watch:

 

Hershey:

C Keith Aucoin (11) - Coiner has now gone 2 games without a point.  Amazingly that is tied for the longest pointless streak of the season for him.  Hopefully he breaks that streak tonight and adds to his 1 goal and 3 assists against Norfolk this season.
LW Kyle Greentree (37) - Third on the team in goals (20) and fourth in points (45), Greentree has only 1 goal and 1 assist during the current 5 in 7 stretch.  He did score 1 against Norfolk back in December.
RW Steve Pinizzotto (13) - The feisty winger has 12 goals and 19 assists for a total of 31 points this season.  He is 1 goal and 10 points away from tying his career highs (set last season) in both categories.  He has 1 goal and 2 assists in his last 3 games and also scored against the Admirals.

Admirals:
C Marc-Antoine Pouliot (11) - The team leader in points with 46 he also has 15 goals on the season.  He has 3 goals and 4 assists in his last 5 games.
C Blair Jones (9) - Second on the team in points with 40 and the active leader in goals with 16 (Johan Harju is on recall to Tampa Bay).  He has 4 goals and 3 assists in his last 7 games.
RW Alex Berry (27) - One of 10 players (when Harju is active) on the team with double digit goals.  He has 12 goals and 13 assists this season and is also 2nd on the team in penalty minutes with 115.  He has 1 goal and 3 assists in his last 4 games.

  

LET'S GO BEARS!!!