Aeros v. Hershey Bears - Game 27

Well. That was a helluva thing.

I've seen some crazy things at the Toyota Center, but the Aeros outdid themselves tonight. With an hour of hindsight, 6-1 doesn't seem like THAT outlandish of a score. How it got that way WAS pretty outlandish.

The first period had the feeling of a typical Aeros grind-it-out game. The Bears came out strong, hitting everything in sight, trying to wear the Aeros down early. The Aeros were definitely on the losing side of the physicality. They weren't getting rattled by it but weren't firing on all cylinders either.

Kolanos got on the board first with a beauty of a goal from a terrific feed by Mike Hamilton. Kolanos just fired a rocket from the bottom of the circle that beat Bears goalie Machesney. Thus ensued the rain of teddy bears onto the ice. Always a fun moment.

The note I wrote during the middle of the first was: "Hard hitting team and they shoot EVERY chance they get." Sure enough, one of those shots went in. Nearly 14 minutes in, Kyle Wilson fired a laser past Brust's glove side that just beat him fair and square. It was so hard, it rattled around the top of the net for a while. Nothing to do with that one.

There was a group of what looked like about 30 Hershey Bears fans sitting together and they celebrated heartily, did a little chant, etc. I was thinking, "Oh boy. I'm gonna hate them by the end of this game."

The first period ended one-all, but the shot count was 4-10 in favor of the Bears. Clearly the score didn't reflect the Bears' dominance in the first.

Second period starts with more of the same, though the hitting let up a bit and it felt pretty even. At 6:20, Olvecky got a breakaway with Schultz trailing. Olvecky shot and Schultz banged the rebound in... except he didn't. The goalie got a pad on it and it wasn't a goal. Now, at this point in the game, it's 1-1 and knowing the Aeros, I'm thinking, "Oh crap. If THAT didn't go in, we're never going to score again."

I'm not sure when I've ever been more wrong about something.

At 10:58, Kolanos scored again from Locke and Madsen on a 3 on 4 power play opportunity and, suddenly, the floodgates were open.

• 12:02 - Goal by Deitch from Schultz and Mojzis on a 4 on 5 power play
• 12:57 - Goal by Locke on a semi-breakaway drive up the ice by Kolanos, who fed the puck across the crease and Locke banged it in from the other side of the net (second assist went to Albers... especially nice to see him get on the scoreboard having played a terrific, fearless defensive game tonight)
• 14:59 - Goal by Olvecky from Schultz and Deitsch
• 16:59 - Goal by Schultz on a terrific feed from the top of the circle from Rosa (!) and Olvecky

What's even more incredible is that this wasn't just 5 goals in quick succession. This was 5 goals on 5 consecutive shots.

Mercifully for the Bears and their beleaguered netminder, the period ended shortly thereafter with the Aeros still trailing in the shot count, 19-21.

There were no goals in third, but it wasn't for Hershey not trying. They put it to Brust with everything they had, but he and the defense cleaning up in front of him were absolutely unstopabble. There was one save by Brust during a 3 on 4 Bears power play that I still can't believe. Fred has pictures at the link below. I can't even explain this save, but it was un-f**king-believeable. Barry is one hell of a goalie.

Of course, when the score gets this far apart, there's gonna be a fight or two. Or three. Or four.

Greg Amadio fought 3 times, though for some reason, this ref penalized the fights in a way I've never seen. The first fight was between Amadio and Stoner. It wasn't a great one but it was a fight, for sure. But he gave both guys four minutes of roughing minors.

Then Scott and Amadio fought, with Scott kinda jumping him, though I didn't see what precipitated it. So the ref gave Scott four minutes of roughing minors and Amadio just two. The fight was about 5 seconds long, but it was a fight. I actually don't mind this way of calling fight penalties. Some fights are worthy of 5 minutes, some really aren't.

The next two were. Love dropped the mitts with Wellar and looked like he was going to get beaten pretty soundly, but he just doesn't ever quit and came back with some nice shots in the end. And of course, he finished with some arm-waving flourishes, encouraging the crowd to embrace their blood lust (a message I heartily approve, of course).

Then Scott and Amadio decided they had unfinished business and those silly roughing penalties weren't gonna cut it. They were both pretty pissed and went at it hard and with a ton of emotion. I love when Scott fights like that. There's just no stopping him; he won that one and then took a page from Love and did a little warrior shouting and fist pumping himself. Ha! What a show for one of, if not the, largest crowd the team has seen at home this season.

At one point, between minor penalties and fighting majors, there were 5 guys in the Aeros penalty box. I'm not sure how they were all sitting down but they were.

I think that's all the excitement I've got. If you're wanting to see the Aeros and have a spare $4, this one is worth watching in the AHLLive.com archives once it's available. Amazing stuff.

Some housekeeping:

Scratches were Falk, R. Hamilton, Lundbohm, and Kassian.

Stars were 3-Locke, 2-Schultz, 1-Kolanos, all of whom deserve the recognition but Brusty was incredible. He even delighted the crowd (okay, me, too) by throwing a huge elbow on a Bear who was coming in on him while he was playing the puck behind the net. He got 2 minutes for it, but it was late in the game and totally worth it.

I would say that makes Brusty the unsung hero of the night, but I was delighted by some slick moves by Paul Albers, who was a shot-blocking beast in the face of a ton of flawless PKs tonight. They'll have to share the honor, I guess. Gold stars for both of you.

Also, apparently Steve Valette's contract ended and was not renewed. Kind of disappointing as he was playing well, but it looks like Mike Hamilton will be filling his role. Seeing as how he's got a point in each of his last three games (and he's only been with the team for four), it's hard to send him back to Vegas.

Andrew's Chronicle article
Fred's photos
Royal's blog

That was the last home game until Dec. 26. Bummer. I've gotten spoiled on this home stand and am not looking forward to a couple of weeks of having to watch on the computer.

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Noticed that Joel Ward had two goals against Dallas tonight and got On The Fly's Performer of the Night. Atta boy, Wardo!