Hershey has huge 2nd & 3rd periods to win 6-3, cuts series lead to 2-1

With the Hershey Bears each getting 2 goals from Andrew Gordon, Kyle Wilson and Mathieu Perreault helped lead the Bears score 5 unanswered goals in the 2nd & 3rd periods after the Texas Stars got out to a great start which included taking a 3-1 lead Hutchinson, Wathier and Sawada all got early goals and were looking to a huge night and looking to take a 3-0 series lead with a chance to close it out on Wednesday Night.

Other huge Hershey nights came from Keith Aucoin, Chris Bourque and Karl Azner each had two assists last night in the big win to keep the Bears in the series.

Matt Climie definitely had his worst performance this year as he gave up 6 goals including 5 in the last 40 minutes. While Hershey Goalie Michal Neuvirth came back very well after the rocky start and the Bears were blocking shots left and right including one that was blocked by Bears defensemen John Carlson that allowed the team in Chocolate and white to set up a goal by Andrew Gordon early in the 3rd that took a 4-3 lead for Hershey and never looked back after that.

No worries for the Stars though as the Stars are still leading the series 2-1. This does mean that Game 5 is now on for Friday Night at Cedar Park Center.

Also great job by the fans as the team set a record crowd of 7014 for the night for the team's first season. This sets up well for the team to have a great atmosphere to bring the Stars back, and help them win on both Wednesday & Friday night as the team's quest for their 1st ever Calder Cup continues.

Also don't forget to wear white as the Stars are continuing the white out for the rest of the Championship Series.

Austin American Statesman: www.statesman.com/sports/pro/hershey-beats-stars-gets-back-in-series-733270.html

Penn Live: http://blog.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2010/06/hershey_rallies_from_3-1_defic.html

AHL Website: http://theahl.com/bears-spring-to-life-cut-series-deficit-to-2-1-p142949

Hershey Bears Website: www.hersheybears.com/news/detail.php?bp=index.php&id=3253


From the Texas Stars Website: www.texasstarshockey.com

In Austin, Texas: The Texas Stars were defeated by the Hershey Bears on Monday Night in front of 7,014 fans at Cedar Park Center in Game 3 of the Calder Cup Finals. Hershey scored five unanswered goals after trailing at the end of the first period 3-1. The Bears cut the series lead to 2-1 in the best-of-7 series. Bears forwards Andrew Gordon, Kyle Wilson and Mathieu Perrault each scored two goals, leading Hershey to its first win against the Stars in the Final.

Hershey goalie Michael Neuvirth made 27 saves in the win, while Texas Goalie Matt Climie stopped 23 of 29 shots in the defeat. Texas defensemen Andrew Hutchinson, as well as wingers Francis Wathier and Raymond Sawada each notched a goal in the loss. Texas will host Game 4 of the Calder Cup Finals on Wednesday Night at 7:30 PM at the Cedar Park Center.

Stars defensemen Andrew Hutchinson opened the scoring for Texas with a power-play goal at 5:59 of the first period. Hutchinson Received a cross-ice pass from Garrett Stafford and ripped a one-timer from the top of the left point. The shot went off a Bears defender past Hershey Goalie Michal Neuvirth and into the net for the 1-0 Texas Lead. Stars winger Jamie Benn notched an assist on Hutchinson's fifth goal of the playoffs. Wilson received a pass from winger Francis Bouchard and sent a shot past the stick of Stars Goalie Matt Climie, tying the game at 1-1.

Just 42 seconds later, Texas went ahead 2-1 after winger Francis Wathier scored a shorthanded goal off a Hershey Turnover. Wathier picked up the puck and scored after Hershey's Neuvirth misplayed it. Wathier's 2nd goal of the postseason gave Texas a 2-1 lead. With 2:03 remaining in the opening frame, Texas increased its lead to 3-1.

Winger Scott Mccullough brought the puck up the left wing side and sent a pass back to Raymond Sawada in the slot. Sawada beat Neuvirth on the gloveside, scoring his third goal of the postseason. Center Warren Peters also added an assist.

At 12:27 of the 2nd period, Wilson scored his second goal of the night. bringing the Bears within one goal of Texas at 3-2. Wilson received a pass from Keith Aucoin in the crease and fired a shot past Climie on the stickside.

Chris Bourque also notched an assisted on the power play goal. Just 88 seconds later, Hershey tied the game 3-3 after center Mathieu Perrault tipped in a shot from defensemen Karl Azner. Perrault was posted in front of Climie in the crease and redirected Azner's shot from the left point, scoring his sixth goal of the postseason.

In the third period, Hershey went ahead 4-3 after Winger Andrew Gordon poked the puck through the Texas Crease and Past Climie. Gordon's 12th goal of the playoffs came at 6:41 of the final frame and was assisted by Aucoin and Bourque. At 8:12, The Bears gained a 5-3 lead by Perrault scored his second goal of the evening.

Perrault received a pass from Andrew Giroux on the backdoor and snuck a shot past Climie on the gloveside. The Bears extended their lead to 6-3 at 12:07. Gordon ripped a shot from the blueline and down the slot, beating Climie for his second goal of the night and team leading 13th goal of the playoffs. Alzner tallied an assist on the goal.


Calder Cup Finals Update

Game 1: Texas Stars 2 Hershey Bears 1 (0-0, 1-1, 1-0)
http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1007318

Game 2: Texas Stars 4 Hershey Bears 3 (1-1, 1-1, 2-1)
http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1007319

Game 3: Hershey Bears 6 Texas Stars 3 (1-3, 2-0, 3-0)
http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1007320

Game 4, 6/9: Hershey Bears VS. Texas Stars 7:30 PM

Game 5, 6/11: Hershey Bears VS. Texas Stars 7:30 PM

Game 6, 6/14: Texas Stars VS. Hershey Bears 6:00 PM*

Game 7, 6/16: Texas Stars VS. Hershey Bears 6:00 PM*

*If Necessary


Texas Stars Lead Series 2-1

Game 3 Boxscore

0-1 TEX: Andrew Hutchinson (PP) (Stafford, Benn) 5:59 1st

1-1 HER: Kyle Wilson (Bouchard) 10:33 1st

1-2 TEX: Francis Wathier (SH) (Unassisted) 11:15 1st

1-3 TEX: Raymond Sawada (Mcculloch, Peters) 17:57 1st

2-3 HER: Kyle Wilson (PP) (Aucoin, Bourque) 12:27 2nd

3-3 HER: Mathieu Perreault (Alzner, Pinizzotto) 13:55 2nd

4-3 HER: Andrew Gordon (Aucoin, Bourque) 6:41 3rd

5-3 HER: Mathieu Perreault (Giroux, Helmer) 8:12 3rd

6-3 HER: Andrew Gordon (Alzner) 12:07 3rd


Game Stats

SOG: HER 29 TEX 30

PP: HER 1/5 TEX 1/7

PIM: HER 28 Minutes on 10 Penalties TEX 24 Minutes on 8 Penalties

Goalies: HER Michal Neuvirth 27 Saves on 30 Shots TEX Matt Climie 23 SVS on 29 Shots

ATT: 7014

3rd Star: Aaron Gagnon (TEX)

2nd Star: Mathieu Perreault (HER)

1st Star: Andrew Gordon (HER)