Ice Caps Melt Chocolate and White 3.31.12

The Hershey Bears’ seven-game winning streak melted away on Saturday night at Giant Center when they fell to the St. John’s IceCaps, 3-2.

Mike Carman, obviously enjoying his time on the top line, gave the Bears a 1-0 lead at 12:36 of the first period when he deflected a point shot by Sean Collins past Chris Carrozzi, St. John’s netminder, who was making his first AHL start of the season.

Patrice Cormier, whose clearing attempt was intercepted by Collins, which led to the Bears’ goal, made amends less than four minutes after his miscue when he buzzed a rising wrister by the catching glove of Bears’ netminder Dany Sabourin. Cormier’s caper, his 16th of the season, was notched while his club was shorthanded.

Arturs Kulda’s second period goal gave the IceCaps a 2-1 lead, and Cormier added his second goal of the game in the third period to give the visitors a 3-1 lead.

In the last minute of play in the third period, with Sabourin on the bench in favor of an extra attacker, Ryan Potulny extended his goal-scoring streak to five games with his 28th goal of the season, but the Bears could not get the equalizer and fell to defeat in regulation for the first time since a 6-1 setback to IceCaps in St. John’s on March 9th.

Notes-

Saturday was the 84th birthday of hockey legend Gordie Howe, whose son Mark, a scout for the Detroit Red Wings, attended tonight’s game.

Sabourin, who was making his 9th straight start in net for the Bears, yielded his first third period goal in seven outings when he allowed Cormier’s second goal of the game.