GAME STORY: Hershey - 1 at Lehigh Valley - 2 (12/21/21)

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (7-11-6) extended their unbeaten in regulation streak to five games (4-0-1) with an exciting 2-1 win over rival Hershey Bears Tuesday night at PPL Center.

Charlie Gerard opened the scoring in the first period, Connor Bunnaman made it goals in three straight with an insurance marker in the middle frame and Pat Nagle more than held his own in stopping 29 of the 30 shots he faced to improve his own personal record on the season to 4-0-2.

Lehigh Valley Phantoms Lineup Notes

Pat Nagle got the start in net for Lehigh Valley Tuesday night in Allentown. Felix Sandstrom, back from Philadelphia after serving as the Flyers' backup goalie on Saturday against Ottawa, backed up Nagle.

Jackson Cates and Gerry Mayhew were returned from Philadelphia in advance of Tuesday night's game, and both were in the Phantoms' lineup.

Nick Lappin also returned from injury, leaving German Rubtsov and Brennan Saulnier as the odd men out up front.

Phantoms' Scratches: Samuel Ersson, Kirill Ustimenko, Cooper Zech, Mason Millman, Wade Allison, German Rubtsov, Brennan Saulnier and Tyson Foerster

Lines/Pairings:

Maksim Sushko - Cal O'Reilly - Charlie Gerard Garrett Wilson - Connor Bunnaman - Gerry Mayhew Nick Lappin - Jackson Cates - Linus Sandin Isaac Ratcliffe - Matthew Strome - Hayden Hodgson

Cam York - Adam Clendening Egor Zamula - Logan Day Linus Hogberg - Wyatte Wylie

Pat Nagle - Felix Sandstrom

Hershey Bears Lineup Notes

Pheonix Copley got the start in net for Hershey Tuesday night in Allentown, with Ryan Bednard serving as the Bears' backup.

Bears' Scratches: Hunter Shepard, Zach Fucale, Jake Massie, Cody Franson, Shane Gersich, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, Mike Vecchione, Riley Sutter, Brian Pinho, Jordan Subban and Eddie Wittchow

Lines/Pairings:

Joe Snively - Garrett Pilon - Brett Leason Beck Malenstyn - Mason Morelli - Matt Moulson Ryan Dmowski - Drake Rymsha - Chris Brown Kale Kessy - Marcus Vela - Kody Clark

Michal Kempny - Bobby Nardella Tobias Geisser - Alex Alexeyev Lucas Johansen - Dylan McIlrath

Pheonix Copley - Ryan Bednard

GAME RECAP

1st Period

The Phantoms took some early penalties in the offensive zone that prevented them from getting to the attack in the first half of the period, but the Lehigh Valley PK stood tall in the opening period - going a perfect 3-for-3 and allowing the home team some time to find their offensive game.

In fact, Lehigh Valley took the 1-0 lead late in the 1st frame shortly after their opening power play opportunity of the contest had expired.

Hershey looked to be starting a breakout, but Phantoms' captain Cal O'Reilly shut the door along the left-wing wall - forcing a turnover and getting the puck to the left-wing circle for Maksim Sushko. Sushko's pass was partially blocked, but it ended up making its way onto Charlie Gerard's stick at the side of the net and Gerard was able to push it past Bears' goalie Pheonix Copley for his first goal of the season.

2nd Period

A bit of a scare early in the middle frame after Wyatte Wylie's shot from the right point was blocked and headed the other way. Egor Zamula made a great defensive play to break up the Bears' ensuing 2-on-1 rush, sliding on his stomach and preventing a pass from ever being made by Bears' forward Beck Malenstyn.

Instead, Malenstyn fell on top of Zamula and the two slid into the corner boards with force. Zamula was initially unable to get up, but later got up on his own power after play was stopped. Thankfully for Zamula and the Phantoms, the defenseman stayed on the bench and returned moments later.

Crisis averted.

Hershey played better in the middle frame than they did in the first, out-shooting the Phantoms 11-5 in the 2nd period when things were all said and done. Credit some timely saves from Phantoms' netminder Pat Nagle to prevent the Bears from tying up the game at 1-1.

Connor Bunnaman has been playing well the past few games, and he made it goals in three straight games as he extended the Phantoms' lead to 2-0 at 7:14. Getting a puck down low from Gerry Mayhew, Bunnaman did the rest - weaving his way in and out of Bears' defenders on his way to the net. His initial shot was stopped by Copley, but he was able to put in his own rebound for his fourth goal of the season.

3rd Period

It wasn't a particularly flashy third period, but the Phantoms held a 2-0 lead entering the final frame and while they weren't in prevent defense Lehigh Valley was more than happy to get pucks deep and keep Hershey in their own end.

It was low-event hockey in the opening half of the period before a Michal Kempny interference minor at 9:52 gave the Phantoms a chance to add to their lead. Lehigh Valley was unable to extend their lead to 3-0 as Matthew Strome took a tripping minor halfway through the power play and the Phantoms were forced into a brief PK.

Credit to Hershey for plugging away, decimated by COVID in the Washington Capitals organization, and not quitting despite having several of their regulars - Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, Mike Vecchione and Brian Pinho, among others - out of the lineup.

The Bears made it interesting late after Ryan Dmowski made it a 2-1 game with 3:07 left in regulation, pulling the goalie and attacking to the final second - actually scoring on Nagle just after time had expired. Referees reviewed the play and confirmed the no-goal call they made on the ice, making it a 2-1 final in favor of the Phantoms.

GAME SUMMARY

1st Period

6:09: LV - (PP) Ratcliffe, minor (hooking) 9:24: LV - (PP) Sushko, minor (cross-checking) 11:57: HER - (PP) Vela, minor (high-sticking) 14:12: LV - Gerard (1) - Sushko, O'Reilly 15:22: LV - (PP) York, minor (cross-checking) 18:31: HER - (PP) Rymsha, minor (tripping) 18:31: HER - Rymsha, minor (roughing) 18:31: LV - Strome, minor (roughing)

2nd Period

7:14: LV - Bunnaman (4) - Mayhew, Zamula

3rd Period

9:52: HER - (PP) Kempny, minor (interference) 11:25: LV - (PP) Strome, minor (tripping) 16:53: HER - Dmowski (4) - Clark, Rymsha 19:49: LV - (PP) Mayhew, minor (tripping)

BOXSCORE

Hershey Bears 0 - 0 - 1 = 1 Lehigh Valley   1 - 1 - 0 = 2

Shots

Hershey Bears 8 - 11 - 11 = 30 Lehigh Valley   10 - 5 - 4 = 19

Goalies

HER: Pheonix Copley (17 saves - 19 shots) LV: Pat Nagle (29 saves - 30 shots)

Power Play

HER: 0-for-5 LV: 0-for-3

Penalty Kill

HER: 3-for-3 LV: 5-for-5