Bears seeing Stars

HERSHEY, PA – For the second game in a row the Texas Stars stunned the Hershey Bears on home ice, this time with a 4-3 win thanks to a goal with only 45.3 seconds left in the game. The Texas Stars, who are in their inaugural season, are now up 2-0 in the best-of-seven series with Game 3 of the Calder Cup finals set for Monday night.
“Scott (McCulloch) came down the side and shot the puck on net and I picked it up and chipped it in,” said the Stars Travis Morin after game about his game winning goal.  
McCulloch had broken in on the left side and came in over the blue line.  
“Yeah, I came in over the blue line,” said McCulloch.   “ I took the shot and it bounced in and Morin just took a chip shot.”
The Stars came out early and nearly dominated the first seven minutes of the game. Aaron Gagnon scored his seventh goal of the playoffs exactly one mini breakaway, his shot just barely snuck by Hershey goaltender Michal Neuvirth for the 1-0 lead. The Bears struck back on a goal by Steve Pinizzotto 7:40 into the first period shorthanded to tie the game. Both teams settled down and played more defensive minded the rest of the game but defensive breakdowns hurt Hershey the most. Texas scored on the power play thanks to Garrett Staffrod’s fourth of the playoffs. Hershey once again bounced back 46 seconds later when Francois Bouchard’s shot from the point beat the Stars Matt Climie low glove side to once again tie the game 11:49 into the second period.
As in Game 1, Texas truck early in the third period to take the lead, this time it was Mathieu Beaudon who scored off of a nice two-on-one break to once again stun the Bears faithful. This time, however, Hershey bounced back to tie the game, the third time in the game, when Patrick Weller’s shot from the point was saved by Climie, but a huge rebound came back to Ben Gordon pounced on it and slammed the shot home for his 11^th of the playoffs.
The bad news for the Bears was that it wasn’t the last time Hershey had to come from behind. With 45.3 seconds left in the game, Travis Morin went in on a rush and moved to the left of Neuvirth, backhanded a shot that somehow flipped over Neuvirth’s left shoulder and into the net for the 4-3 lead.
Hershey tried to mount a late comeback but went offsides three times to halt any possible comeback. The Bears outshot the Stars 28-23 and 15-8 in the third period. Texas scored once on the power play while Hershey’s PP unit was shut down for the second straight game, something they have not done all playoffs.
For Morin there was some added benefit to scoring the game winner tonight.
“Yeah, there was a little satisfaction,” Morin said.   “I didn’t have many chances here last year.   They obviously know what they’re doing since they won last season.   They did what they had to do and now I am playing Texas hockey.”
For Morin, the benefit to playing in Texas is clear and was demonstrated tonight.
“We’re playing Texas Stars hockey,” Morin added.   “It’s not selfish hockey, a team effort.”
Tonight’s attendance of 10,872 set a record for the Hershey Bears.
Games 3-5 will be held in Cedar Park, Texas on  Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com