Trailing for the first time at home during their record-tying 22 home winning streak, it looked like the Hershey Bears might have to reset the clock and start another home run because of the relentless Adirondack Phantoms; however, buoyed by a pair of goals by former Phantom, Boyd Kane, the Bears extended their streak to a record-breaking 23 home wins.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really came out hard in the third. Going into the third, we weren\u2019t happy because we hadn\u2019t played a good game. We wanted to break the record, and we knew what was on the line,\u201d said Bears\u2019 center, Keith Aucoin.<\/p>\n
Kane initiated the scoring at 16:10 of the first period denting the twine for the 20th time this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI gave it to Bourque up high and he went down low and made a great pass to me,\u201d said Kane, who has reached the 20-goal mark twice in his career, both times with the Bears. \u201cI was all alone in the slot and I was able to put it far side.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adirondack\u2019s Andreas Nodl knotted the score at one by fending off defenseman, Karl Alzner, and then beating Bears\u2019 goaltender, Michal Neuvirth through the five-hole at 18:24.<\/p>\n
Rob Bellamy gave the Phantoms a 2-1 lead 6:11 into the second period by taking advantage of Neuvirth turning the puck over in the trapezoid behind the net and banking the puck off the glove and body of the second year netminder.<\/p>\n
The Bears opened the third period on a power play and seemingly tied the game when Chris Bourque\u2019s bullet appeared to bounce quickly in and out of the net. Though the goal light went on, the goal was waived off and play continued. Shortly after the controversial shot, Zach Miskovic\u2019s missile from the point eluded Phantoms\u2019 netminder, Johan Backlund, and officially tied the game at two.<\/p>\n
At 6:25 of the final frame, Aucoin, thanks to a solid screen provided by Kane, put the home team in front for the second time.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy job on the power play is to go stand in front of the net and screen the goalie,\u201d Kane said. \u201cThat\u2019s what I was doing, and Aucoin was actually trying to pass it to me and it just went through me and Mormina and got through the goalie, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hershey head coach, Mark French, who was not with the organization when Kane captained the club to the Calder Cup in 2006, realizes what Kane\u2019s presence means to the team.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s every bit a professional,\u201d said French. \u201cHe\u2019s a great asset in our dressing room, and a workman\u2019s type player. You appreciate his work ethic. He shows up every day with his lunch box and his work shoes and he goes to work. I think everybody can appreciate the type of player he is. He\u2019s very versatile, as you mentioned. He can step up and play, as he did at times this year, on our top line, or he could play on your third-line checking line and do each equally as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kane capped off the scoring with an empty net goal at 19:40, establishing a new career-high goal total of 21.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nice. When you come so close and don\u2019t get there, you want to get there,\u201d said Kane of breaking the 20-goal barrier. \u201cIt\u2019s a good feeling to get it out of the way, and now I\u2019ll just keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n
While playing against players that one called teammates just last season may present problems for younger, less experienced players, for Kane, it\u2019s all in a day\u2019s work.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a lot of fun to go out there and play against your friends. I\u2019ve been around a bit and done it a lot, so I think it brings the best out of me sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"