What a Mess: Bears 5, Phantoms 2

Friday night at the Winter Classic Outdoor event, everyone was on their best behavior.  With the tv cameras rolling and President Dave Andrews in attendance, both teams kept their emotions in check and the rough stuff to a minimum.  Saturday the teams met up in Hershey for a "normal" night of hockey.  Game on.

The way things ended Friday night, a Bears fan like me might have expected the home team to come out with an attitude.  In fact, during pregame warmups, Joel Rechlicz was jawing with Tom Sestito giving the fans the impression that the Bears were going to whomp 'em good.  However, when the puck dropped the home team didn't really have too much jump to their step.  At 8:17, Andrew Rowe sent the puck from behind the net where it bounced off Danny Richmond's skate and past Dany Sabourin giving the Phantoms the early lead.  The rough stuff started at 11:12 when Andrew Carroll and Kevin Marshall tangled behind Michael Leighton each earning a fighting major (and Joel Rechlicz a 10 minute misconduct, which earned ref Ryan Hersey a BS chant).  The Phantoms were controlling play and the Bears were letting their emotions control them as they kept ending up in the penalty box.  With less than a minute to play, Chris Bourque caught a Phantoms turnover and skated shorthanded in on Leighton.  Leighton couldn't protect the five-hole and the Bears end the period tied at one.

The Bears killed off the remainder of Adirondack's power play and then pulled ahead on the scoresheet at 2:29 when Boyd Kane tipped a Patrick McNeill wrister.  Unfortunately the Phantoms answered right back on a pretty play resulting in Tyler Brown's third of the season.  The period turned UGLY when the Bears were unable to control play even allowing a two minute stretch when they could not get the puck out of their zone - and it was even strength play people.  Luckily Sabourin was the star of the period keeping it tied as we headed for the third.

Cullen Eddy started the third with a tripping penalty.  On the faceoff Chris Bourque sent the puck on net that deflected off a Phantoms player.  Jacob MicFlikier caught the rebound and stuffed it past Leighton giving the Bears the lead.  At 8:02, Cody Eakin sent the puck over/around a discarded stick to a charging Julien Brouillette who cashed in as well putting the Bears up 4-2.  At 9:54, Keith Aucoin skated into the zone, but when he could not get a shot off because of a Kevin Marshall block, he passed to Patrick McNeill who sealed the victory for the home team.  Then all hell broke loose.  With about four minutes left in the period, Coach French decided to let Recker off the bench for a shift.  As my hubby described it, Recker was just like a little puppy who had been penned up all day and had plenty of energy.  He hit everything in sight - cleanly might I add.  He levelled Tom Sestito, who put his tail between his legs and skated for the bench.  Tyler Brown was man enough to skate in on Recker for the hit, but Andrew Carroll intercepted him and the two of them had a tangle.  Meanwhile, Cullen Eddy grabbed poor Zach Miskovic and began pounding on him.  Suddenly, as Joel Rechlicz skated past the bench, Sestito found his cahones and punched Recker who of course tried to jump on the Phantoms bench to take up the challenge.  This was when it all exploded.  The linesmen had taken Carroll to the penalty box and were in the process of breaking up the Misko bout.  One linesman grabbed Recker, but there was no linesmen left to help Danny Richmond who had skated in to defend Rechlicz.  Four or so Phantoms grabbed Richmond and held him down and started pounding on him (and yes, the brave souls were all standing on the bench!).  Richmond was finally assisted to the dressing room in much distress and things quieted down on the ice.  Here's a link to the box score to read the exact penalties, but suffice it to say it was BS.  Recker got more minutes than the gutless wonder, but both will probably come up for review with the league for possible suspension.  But SUCK IT Phantoms, Bears win!
Items of Note:   Bears scratched King, Mink, Wellar, and Mitchell.....Patrick Wellar was hurt during the first period of the Outdoor Classic Friday night.  Frenchie said after the game that he will not play this weekend and probably will not make the trip to Charlotte midweek.  Wellar was spotted in Loser Lounge walking with the aid of crutches......Wellsie was kept company up there with former Bear Steve Pinizzotto!.....The teams combined for 166 penalty minutes (Rechlicz owned 45 of his own)....The Bears went 1-5 on the power play, but killed off all Phantoms advantages.
Tweet of the Night:  @timleone:  With his assist on PMAC goal, Aucoin takes sole possession of #6 in all-time AHL assists (545) passing Jody Gage (544) - Congrats Coiner!
Ref:  #46 Ryan Hersey  - I can say with some certainty that he will not be welcome in Hershey any time soon.
Goalies:  Dany Sabourin for the Bears, Michael Leighton for Adirondack
Shots on Goal:   Bears 29, Phantoms 30
Stars of the Night:  as chosen by the media:  1. Keith Aucoin (3A), 2.  Patrick McNeill (1G, 1A +3), 3.  Chris Bourque (1G, 1A)
Morgan:  Miskovic and Richmond
Zack:  Jacob MicFlikier, Aucoin, and Bourque
Joel:  Patrick McNeill had a great game.
Me:   Dany Sabourin gets my honorable mention.  Especially for a while in the 2nd, he was the only thing keeping the Bears alive.  My star of the night goes to Boyd Kane - he hit everything in site, his mouth and his legs never stopped moving, and he also chipped in with a goal.  Great job el capitan!

While everyone was on their best behavior in Philly, tonight it was a complete throw down.  I wasn't happy with the cheap shots the Phantoms were throwing - like Ben Holmstrom pushing Keith Aucoin around even though he's almost a foot taller and wearing a full face cage.  Don't worry, Coiner TOOK HIM DOWN!  Ref Hersey lost control and there was no way he could save face by the time the Phantoms were pounding Richmond's.  I hope everyone's okay.  We'll be on the lookout for Stingrays callups to bolster the defense because Rochester rolls into town tomorrow night......GO BEARS!