Hershey Bears Defeat Binghamton Senators

The Hershey Bears were on a six game winning streak heading into the team's away game against the Binghamton Senators. The Bears had a lot at stake in this game. The team was a mere six points away from clinching a playoff berth and was looking to keep momentum going. Luckily, the Bears managed a decisive victory against the Binghamton Senators.

Though the Senators got an early lead approximately six minutes into the game, the Bears answered back about halfway through the first with a goal from Mike Carman. Chris Bourque and Boyd Kane were credited with assists. As time expired in the first, the Bears got another goal to take the lead 2-1. This time it was Tomas Kundratek who got the power play goal and Julien Brouillette and Kyle Greentree who got the assists. In the opening seconds of the second period, Bourque got the team's third goal of the night. Kundratek and Ryan Potulny got the assists during this power play goal. Approximately two minutes later, Potulny got the team's fourth goal and Bourque and Greentree got the assists for a third power play goal. Seconds later, the Senators got their second goal of the night to bring the score up to 4-2. The Bears got their fifth goal later in the second thanks to Carman, who had help from both Bourque and Kane. Neither team would score in the third period and the Bears took the victory by a score of 5-2.

It appears that the Senators will shortly be eliminated from contention for the playoffs. This must be a disappointment for the team. The Senators were the winners of the 2011 Calder Cup. With the team at the bottom of not only the East Division, but also at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, the team would need 29 more points to earn a berth. Currently, it is looking like the East Division may be sending four of the five teams to the playoffs. Though the Senators are likely out of the running, the Norfolk Admirals were the first, and so far only, team to have clinched a berth in the playoffs. The Bears are just one point out of being the second team to clinch a berth and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are just two points away from clinch a berth. The Syracuse Crunch are on the bubble to make the playoffs. Though the team is currently in a position to make it, the Crunch are still 14 points from making it.

Up next for the Bears is a home game against the St. John's IceCaps on Saturday, March 31, 2012. On Sunday, the Bears will again face the Binghamton Senators. This time the Bears will be playing at home. With the team just one point away from making the playoffs, the Bears have a good chance of clinching a berth this weekend. This would be the perfect time for Hershey Bears fans to get out and support the team at the Giant Center.

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