A Late Hershey Surge gives the Bears a 4-2 win, ties the Series at 2-2

As it began to look like Game 4 of the Calder Cup Finals in Austin would go to OT in front of another crowd of 7,000+ fans at the Cedar Park Center on Wednesday Night. John Carlson who's had a very strong year from playing nearly 50 games at the AHL by scoring 39 points and winning the WJC Gold with Team USA back in January with the OT Game Winner which ended Canada's 5 Year Gold Medal Streak.

Now with his 1st goal of the playoffs, has given the Bears a lot of momentum and a guaranteed trip back to Pennsylvania for Game 6 on Monday Night of the Calder Cup Final.

It looked like it was going to take a special teams goal or taking advantage of a major turnover that was going to make the difference. Well it was a power play goal after Too Many men on the Ice Penalty by Scott Mcculloch with 2:39 left gave the Bears a golden opportunity to take advantage and they did just 30 seconds into the PP.


Then in the final minute, Claude Giroux scored his 13th of the playoffs with an empty netter with just 30 seconds left to clinch the 4-2 win and continue the trend of the road team winning every game in this series.


With the series now tied at 2-2, Texas needs to find a way to get the momentum that carried them through the first 2 games and the 1st period in Game 3. I think the winner of Game 5 on Friday Night will eventually win the Championship this year.

Andrew Hutchinson was injured in the previous game and sat out with an ankle injury. Trevor Ludwig took his place and had a -1 on the night. Both Matt Climie and Michal Neuvirth both made timely saves and kept their teams in the game for most of the night, especially when the game was tied 2-2 in the 3rd period.


In order for the Texas Stars to win this series, the Stars need one more great night from Jamie Benn. Other then 2 assists (1 each in Games 2 & 3), the Bears have done a great job of defending him and not allowing him to go crazy. Can he find a way to evade the defenders and help the Stars win Game 5 on Friday and later to win the championship, or can the Bears ride the momentum of late to the Calder Cup Championship for the 2nd straight year.

Regardless of the result on Friday Night, this will be the final home game of the season for the Texas Stars. So if you haven't been to Cedar Park Center to see the Stars play, this is your last chance to see them till the new season starts in October.


AHL Website: http://theahl.com/bears-power-past-stars-to-even-series-2-2-p142964


Hershey Bears Website: www.hersheybears.com/news/detail.php?bp=index.php&id=3256


Hundred Degree Hockey: http://hundreddegreehockey.blogspot.com/2010/06/stars-fall-4-2-on-late-pp-tally-tied-in.html

Penn Live: http://blog.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2010/06/john_carlsons_late_power-play.html

Austin American Statesman: www.statesman.com/sports/pro/stars-fall-again-to-hershey-738433.html

From The Texas Stars Website: www.texasstarshockey.com

In Austin, Texas: The Texas Stars were defeated by the Hershey Bears 4-2 on Wednesday Night in front of a capacity crowd of 7,032 at Cedar Park Center in Game 4 of the Calder Cup Finals. However defensemen John Carlson scored the game winning goal with 2:08 left in the third period, lifting the Bears over the Stars. Hershey forward Keith Aucoin, Jay Beagle and Alxeander Giroux each scored a goal, as they tied the best-of-seven series at 2-2.

Hershey goalie Michal Neuvirth made 26 saves in the win, while Texas Goalie Matt Climie stopped 25 of 28 shots. Stars Center Greg Rallo and Perttu Lindgren each notched a goal, and forward Travis Morin added two assists in the defeat at home. Texas will host Game 5 of the Calder Cup Finals on Friday Night at 7:30 PM at the Cedar Park Center.

Hershy opened the scoring with a power play goal at 5:17 of the first period. Forward Keith Aucoin received from Alexander Giroux, and slipped a shot from the corner past Stars Goalie Matt Climie.

Andrew Gordon also recorded an assist on Aucoin's second goal of the postseason. Texas countered with 2:27 remaining in the third period, tying the game at 1-1. Center Greg Rallo ripped a slapshot from the high slot, beating Bears Goalie Michal Neuvirth on the gloveside. Defensemen Dan Jancevski and forward Travis Morin set up Rallo's third goal of the playoffs.

At 10:47 of the third period, the Stars went ahead 2-1 with a power-play goal from Perttu Lindgren. Defensemen Garrett Stafford faked a shot at the blueline and sent a cross ice pass to Lindgren, who carried the puck to the top of the left wing circle and fired a shot to the net. Morin also notched an assist on Lindgren's seventh goal of the postseason.

The Bears tied the game 2-2 after forward Jay Beagle capitalized off a turnover in the Texas Zone, sending a shot past Climie on the glove side. Mathieu Perrault and defensemen Patrick Mcneil assisted Beagle's second goal of the playoffs, which came at 13:45 of the middle frame.

The game remained tied 2-2 until Defensemen John Carlson scored a power play goal for Hershey in the third period, giving the Bears a 3-2 lead. Carlson's first goal of the postseason was scored from the slot with 2:08 left on the clock. Keith Aucoin and winger Chris Bourque set up the eventuall game winner. Giroux added an empty net goal with 27 seconds remaining, lifting the Bears to the 4-2 victory over the Stars.

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: Hershey Bears 4 Texas Stars 2 (1-1, 1-1, 2-0)

http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1007321

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

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

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

*If Necessary

Tickets are going fast for the Calder Cup Finals at the Cedar Park Center. The Stars expect a capacity crowd for Friday Night's Game; for pricing and availability, fans may call 512-GO-STARS. Ind playoff tickets can also be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 , visiting any Ticketmaster outlet or online at www.ticketmaster.com This will also be the Stars final Home game of the year regardless of the result; so if you don't get a chance to see them Friday Night, you will have to wait till the 2010-2011 season gets underway in October.

The Texas Stars are also wanting their fans to wear WHITE to Cedar Park Center for all the home games of the 2010 Calder Cup Final. For Game 5, the first 5,000 fans will get a pair of Texas Stars Thundersticks. Cedar Park Center will also have $2 Domestic Drafts and $1 Hot Dogs

Also Season Tickets for 2010-2011 are on sale right now starting as low as $12.00 a game. For more info call 512-467-8277 or visit www.texasstarshockey.com for more info.

Series Tied at 2-2

Game 4 Boxscore

Hershey Bears 4 Texas Stars 2 (1-1, 1-1, 2-0)

1-0 HER: Keith Aucoin (PP) (Giroux, Gordon) 5:17 1st

1-1 TEX: Greg Rallo (Jancevski, Morin) 17:33 1st

1-2 TEX: Perttu Lindgren (PP) (Stafford, Morin) 10:47 2nd

2-2 HER: Jay Beagle (Perreault, Mcneil) 13:45 2nd

3-2 HER: John Carlson (PP) (Aucoin, Bourque) 17:52 3rd

4-2 HER: Alexander Giroux (EN/PP) (Perreault) 19:33 3rd

Game Stats

SOG: HER 29 TEX 28

PP: HER 3/5 TEX 1/4

PIM: HER 8 Minutes on 4 Penalties TEX 10 Minutes on 5 Penalties

Goalies: HER Michal Neuvirth 26 SVS on 28 Shots TEX Matt Climie 25 SVS on 28 Shots

ATT: 7032

3rd Star: Jay Beagle (HER)

2nd Star: Greg Rallo (TEX)

1st Star: John Carlson (HER)