Alexandre Giroux has been so hot lately that even when he's not trying to score he succeeds.

Exhibit A came Saturday night in Giant Center.

The Hershey Bears' leading goal scorer was on a 2-on-1 break when he skated in and attempted to pass to teammate Keith Aucoin.

He basically whiffed on the pass, but no problem.

The slow-dribbling puck drifted past Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goalie John Curry and into the goal, proving to be the game-winner in Hershey's 4-2 victory.

"Everyone asked me if I meant to do that," Giroux said afterward, a sheepish grin on his face. "I would've lied if I said I did. I was trying to pass about 20 times tonight to 'Coiner.

"The goalie never moved. He never bite on anything. So I just let it go and I was lucky enough that it went in."

The goal broke a 2-2 tie at 15:28 of the second period and put the Bears ahead to stay.

It was Giroux's American Hockey League-leading 41st of the season and his fourth of the weekend. He had three Friday night in a 7-2 win over Worcester.

Giroux needs one more goal to reach 300 for his AHL career. He ranks 18th on the league's all-time list.

"I didn't know that," he said. "I'll just have to get it [tonight]."

The Bears host Binghamton today at 5 and another win will overshadow any success Giroux has.

Last night's win ran their record to 55-14-0-3 and point total to 113. A win tonight will set a team record for most points in a season, breaking the record of 114 that the 2006-07 team rang up.

In addition, the Bears are one win away from tying a team record for most home wins (32), set in 1985-86 and matched in1987-88. They are currently 31-4-0-2 in Giant Center.

Although Giroux and Aucoin (three assists) were again right in the middle of the win, the defensive performance might've been more important, especially with the playoffs a couple of weeks away.

In a tight-checking game, Bears' goalie Jason Bacashihua made 23 saves, including a sprawling stop on Steve Wagner early in the second period to keep the game tied at 1-1.

Defenseman Zach Miskovic dove to break up a Penguins 2-on-1 break midway through the third period, and winger Steve Pinizzotto was a force on the penalty kill all night long. The Bears killed off all seven of WBS's power play attempts.

Miskovic and fellow defenseman Karl Alzner also had goals.

That's the kind of defensive effort that wins in the postseason.

"Arguably our best player tonight was Karl Alzner," Bears coach Mark French said. "He played 25 minutes and got a goal, which from him is unexpected.

"Defensively, he does everything right and it's nice to see him get rewarded."

Wilkes-Barre scored on its first shot, a wrister from the slot by Tim Wallace with Hershey on the power play at 1:35.

Hershey tied it at 14:47 of the first on an unassisted goal by Miskovic, whose drive from the right point appeared to be deflected in.

WBS recaptured the lead when Jesse Boulerice fed Eric Tangradi, who beat Bacashihua from the slot at 3:34 of the second.

Hershey tied it again on a power play goal from defenseman Alzner, who took a pass from Andrew Gordon and beat Curry (21 saves) from in close at 9:27.

Giroux's goal at 15:28 of the second put Hershey ahead, and Andrew Joudrey added an insurance goal in the third period, set up by Pinizzotto.

Bacashihua, the Bears' No. 3 goalie who was left off the playoff roster in favor of Michal Neuvirth and Bradon Holtby, has now won 11 straight appearances.

His record as a spot-starter is 16-2-1.

"It has to be tough for him not knowing when his next start is going to come, not being on the clear-day [playoff] list and having two developing goalies ahead of him," said French.

"But he's handled it absolutely the best you could ever expect somebody to do it."

"Hopefully I can go out and play well and try to make a statement for next year," Bacashihua said. "I don't see there being any pressure on me now. I understand my part."

Notes: The Penguins fall to 38-30-2-3, 81 points, third in the AHL East. ... Hershey won the season series with the Pens 10-2-0-0. ... Aucoin has recorded 18 points in 11 games this season against WBS. ... The Bears on Friday night clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the Calder Cup playoffs. ... The crowd of 10,703 gave Hershey seven straight home crowds of 10,000-plus. blog comments powered by Disqus