Photos by @cory_lyons_pic
First Period:
The Hershey Bears and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms continue their home and home series, this time in Hershey. Gates were opened as soon as the puck dropped. Hard hits from both sides set the tone early on. You could say there was some animosity in the air from the night before when Colby Williams got ejected for a hit to the head. Williams was scratched tonight due to the match penalty and the league will be reviewing for further punishment.
The scoring opened with a quick pass to the front of the net from Mathias Bau and Chris Bourque tipped it past Alex Lyon. This was Bourque’s 12th goal of the season but more importantly, Travis Boyd picked up the secondary assist, giving him his 100th career AHL assist.
1st Period Scoring – HER Goal: Chris Bourque (12), Assist(s): Mathias Bau (6), Travis Boyd (20)
1st Period Shots: LV – 9, HER – 7
Second Period:
The Bears picked up the play during the second period, collecting more shots than the Phantoms for the first half. However, the Phantoms were the one to put the puck in the net. A 3 on 1 headed toward Pheonix Copley but the pass from Mike Vecchione went through Hubert Labrie’s dive and Nicolas Aube-Kubel chipped it home.
The second period would end with Phantoms gaining momentum to start the third.
2nd Period Scoring – LV Goal: Nicolas Aube-Kuble (11), Assist(s): Mike Vecchione (16) and T,J, Brennan (19)
2nd Period Shots: LV – 10, HER – 10
Third Period:
Hershey would be granted a power play with Steven Swavely went to the box for holding the stick. The Bears were unable to collect once again.
Later in the period, Hershey would be granted their fifth and final power play of the evening with the penalty going to Alex Krushelnyski for slashing at 14:55 into the period.
Hershey had great chances, best coming from a one timer on Bau’s stick but it hit the side of the net. The biggest event from the power play was the short handed breakaway that the Bears gave up. Copley would bail them out with a glove save.
When 43 seconds remaining, the Phantoms poured it on in Copley’s crease but he came up huge once again, snagging the shot out of the air with a quick glove save.
This game would head into extra time.
3rd Period Scoring – None
3rd Period Shots: LV – 12, HER – 12
Overtime:
Overtime was a short period. Aaron Ness would take his second penalty of the game, holding the jersey of a Phantom’s player as they skated up the ice. This would cost them the game.
Off of the face off, Zach Sill would break his stick, leaving the Phantoms pretty much with a 4 on 2 power play.
This was easy picking for someone like T.J. Brennan, who sniped Copley over his blocker side.
Overtime Scoring – LV Goal: T.J. Brennan (7), Assist(s): Greg Carey (9) and Phil Varone (29) on the Power Play.
Overtime Shots: LV – 1, HER – 0
Total Shots: LV – 32, HER 29
Three Stars of the Game:
- LV – T.J. Brennan – GWG and 1 Assist
- HER – Pheonix Copley – 30 Saves
- LV – Alex Lyon – 28 Saves
Hershey returns to the ice in Springfield on Wednesday to take on the Thunderbirds. This is the last game before the Outdoor Classic at Hershey Park Arena against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
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