HEARSHEY, PA – Chris Bourque ’s controversial goal 10:28 of overtime off of a two-on-one breakaway lifted Hershey to a 3-2 win in come-from-behind fashion Saturday night before a standing-room only crowd at the Giant Center in Hershey. The Bears are now 5-0 in overtime games during the postseason and take a 2-0 series lead back to Manchester on Monday night. Boyd Kane went in with Bourque and fed him as Bourque went down the right wing and fired a shot that went into the just as the net came off its moorings thanks to the Monarchs goaltender Jonathan Bernier who has pushed the net off the moorings as he was doing a spread eagle in an attempt to make the save. Still, after that game the official explaination was that the net came off by the lone Monarchs defender on the play, thus allowing the goal to stand. Hershey trailed 2-1 heading into the third period once but once again proved their metal improving their record to 4-1 in the playoffs when trailing after 2 periods. Bourque also scored in the first period to give the Bears a 1-0 lead, but the Monarchs Gabe Gauthier scored the next two goals of the game to give Manchester their first lead of the series. Gauthier has three of the Monarchs four goals in the series and has at least one point in the past six games (6 goals 1 assist). The Bears Steve Pinizzotto tied the game at 2-2 3:35 into the third period. Hershey goaltender Michal Neuvirth made 31 saves on 33 shots while Bernier made 37 saves on 40 shots on net.
Games 3-5 will be played in Manchester starting on Monday night.
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com
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