The Hershey Bears and Philadelphia Phantoms, bitter cross-state rivals slated to faceoff 12 times this season, hook it up for the first time tonight in The City of Brotherly Love.
Paced by the AHL’s leading point producer, Keith Aucoin (2g, 5a, 7 pts.), and leading goal scorer, Graham Mink (4g), Hershey enters the contest with an unblemished 3-0 record, with all three victories coming at the expense of divisional foes.
Both clubs, despite a definite veteran presence, have iced a healthy mix of rookies to compliment the greybeards in the early part of the campaign.
Forward Francois Bouchard, who has tallied a point in all three outings (2g, 5a), leads Hershey’s rookie contingent, which consists of 8 players who have donned the Chocolate and White this season.
Forward Darroll Powe, who leads Philadelphia in scoring through two games (1g, 1a), leads head coach John Paddock’s rookie charges, which consists of 10 players who have donned the Phantoms’ colors in the season’s early going.
Special teams figure to play a huge part in this encounter. Philadelphia, which has allowed only one power play goal in their two previous games, faces a huge challenge in Hershey’s league leading power play, currently operating at a 36.8% efficiency rate (7-for-19).
On the other hand, Hershey’s penalty killers, who after allowing three power play markers on opening night, have yielded just two in the last two games, face a Phantoms’ power play that has accounted for two of the five goals they have netted this season.
Not playing tonight for Hershey will be: Greg Amadio, Grant McNeill, Patrick McNeill, Josh Godfrey, Chris Bourque (call-up) , Steve Pinizzotto and goaltender Michal Neuvirth.
Simeon Varlamov, coming off a 22-save shootout win on Saturday in Norfolk, starts in goal for the Bears.
Not playing tonight for Philadelphia are: Jason Desantis and Patrik Hersley, Garrett Klotz, Josh Beaulieu, Jonathon Kalinski and goaltender Michael Teslak.
Jean-Sebastian Aubin, a veteran of 218 NHL games, will patrol the pipes for the Phantoms.