Bears add another win by beating the Checkers 1-0

Sheldon Souray scores the only goal of the game. (Photo credit: Kyle Mace)

It seemed like the Bears played a man down for most of the game. Despite that, they were able to prevail. A late power play goal from Sheldon Souray lifted the Bears over the Checkers.

The first period was a little slow. Each team registered only 5 shots on goal for the entire period.  Both teams were missing some passes and seemed to be playing not to lose rather than to win.  This makes sense since they both needed points from the game.

The second period started the same way that the first ended.  At the begining of the period Braden Holtby had to come up big.  Charlotte picked up the puck behind the Bears net.  Holtby had to make a save stretching from post to post.  He then came up with another big save on the rebound.  The reminder of the period saw a few more chances (and a few more penalties) than the first, but the result was the same.  At the end of two periods it was locked at 0-0.

The third period started out with a high sticking double minor on Keith Aucoin at 1:24.  This was followed by a Sheldon Souray cross checking penalty at 2:49.  The Checkers had a full two minutes of 5 on 3 power play.  The Bears penalty killers came up HUGE!  They killed off both penalties and turned the momentum squarely in their favor.  At 9:50 in the third period, the Checkers took a penalty giving the Bears their first full two minutes of power play time in the game.  Unlike the 20-30 second power plays that they had before, they made this one count.  Aucoin sent the puck across the point to a waiting Souray.  Souray fired away and found the back of the net.  That was the only goal of the game, and the Bears held on to that lead to get another win.

Tonight’s Notes:

• Both teams played a very tight game almost akin to a playoff game.
• There were some questionable calls from the Referee on both sides.
• Holtby was his usual self making plays far from the crease.  Some of them were on the edge of dangerous.
• The Bears had 5 power play chances, but only one of them was a full two minutes.  They were one for five on the power play
• Conversely, the Checkers had eleven (yes 11!) power play chances, and they failed on every single one of them.
• This win put the Bears four points ahead of the Checkers.

Lines and Pairings:

Bouchard – Aucoin – Gordon
Greentree – Willsie – Pinizzotto
de Kastrozza – Joudrey – Kane
Lacroix – Kugryshev- Rome

Souray – Fahey
McNeill – Collins
Wellar – Sloan

Actual Three Stars of the Game:

1. Braden Holtby (HER)
2. Sheldon Souray (HER)
3. Justin Pogge (CHA)

Sweetest Hockey On Earth’s three stars of the game:

1. Holtby: Another shutout
2. Souray: game-winning goal
3. Kane: great work on the PK and in the corners

Photos

Toothless Patrick Weller

Rough stuff in front of the net. Tyler Sloan and Andrew Gordon in the center of the action.

Mark French upset after Aucoin got 4 minutes for high sticking.

The Bears celebrate Braden Holtby’s latest shutout.