Phantoms/Bears recap for Wednesday, February 2, 2005
Hershey Bears 4, Philadelphia Phantoms 1
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HERSHEY, PA -- Mathieu Darche recorded two goals and an assist as the Hershey
Bears cruised past the Philadelphia Phantoms, 4-1, on Wednesday. The Montreal
native helped Cody McCormick establish a 2-0 lead late in the first period and
netted his fifth power-play goal of the season midway through the second. He
then tacked on an empty-netter late in regulation for his first three-point
performance since December 31. Through Thursday, Darche leads the club with 18
goals. McCormick added an assist and Jeff Ulmer contributed a goal and two
assists for Hershey, which has won four of its last five. Peter Budaj stopped
all 20 shots he faced in the first and second periods combined and finished
with 29 saves to give him a record of 17-13-0 with a .919 save percentage in
32 games this year. Antero Niittymaki gave up two goals on nine first-period
shots and ended with 23 shots in defeat. Riley Cote spoiled the shutout bid
for Budaj with 2:28 left in the contest for Philadelphia, which has lost four
straight on the road and six of its last eight overall.
