MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com – HERSHEY, Pa. – The Lowell Devils rallied late, but could not overcome Alexandre Giroux’s hat trick in a 5-3 loss to the Hershey Bears on Sunday at the Giant Center.
ADVERTISEMENT Already leading 2-1 going into the third period, the Bears pulled away with two quick goals over a span of fifty-five seconds. Chris Bourque pushed Hershey’s lead to two goals at 5:08 when he pulled the puck out of the corner and was able to stickhandle to the crease before sweeping a shot under a sprawled Dave Caruso. Giroux’s second of the night proved to be the eventual game-winner, as he started the play by intercepting a pass at his own blueline. The Bears right-winger beat his man up-ice and lifted a backhand shot into the net to make the score 4-! 1.
Though the Devils couldn’t muster any goals at even-strength, a 3-for-5 effort on the power play almost helped them pull even late in the game. Olli Malmivaara’s point shot through traffic snuck by Frederic Cassivi at 15:33 for Lowell’s second of the game on the man-advantage. Petr Vrana would then notch another power play goal for the Devils and pulled his team with one, as he banged home a loose puck with just 1:07 remaining.
Lowell skated with the extra attacker in an attempt to send the game into overtime, but instead saw Giroux complete his hat trick on an empty-net goal with 1.2 seconds left on the clock.
Jason Ryznar’s second goal in as many games gave the Devils the 1-0 lead with 5:29 left in the first period. Skating 5-on-4, Malmivaara fired a shot from the point that was saved by Cassivi, but Ryznar backhanded in the rebound for his eighth goal of the season.
The Bears needed only 1:20 of the second period to even the score at 1-1 as Scott Barney tipped Jonathan Paiement’s nearside wrist shot under the arm of Caruso. On Lowell’s second man-advantage of the game, it was Hershey taking their first lead of the night with a shorthanded goal. Giroux broke in the Devils’ zone one-on-one and unleashed a slapshot that was saved by Caruso. The long rebound came right back to Giroux, who put the puck top corner at 5:53 for a 2-1 Bears lead.
Caruso stopped 34-of-38 shots in the game. Lowell was perfect on two penalty kill opportunities.
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