The Lehigh Valley Phantoms welcomed the Hershey Bears to the PPL Center Friday night in front of 6,745 fans. The Phantoms were coming off a 3-1 loss to the Springfield Thunderbirds Wednesday night.
The Bears jumped to an early 1-0 lead five minutes and fifty seconds into the first period as Matt Moulson (6) scored with Phillippe Maillet (4) and Liam O’ Brien (6) assisting Moulson’s goal. With under two minutes left in the first period, the Phantoms Andy Welinski (5) tied the game 1-1 with David Kase (3) and Mark Friedman (7) assisting Kase’s goal. The game remained tied 1-1 at the end of the first period.
The Bears regained the lead with under six minutes to play to the second period on a goal by Joe Snively (6) with assists from Mike Sgarbossa (12) and Garrett Pilon (8). The Phantoms had plenty of chances to tie the game as the Bears committed two penalties to make it a five-on-three matchup for the Phantoms; however, they could not take advantage of it. The Bears led 2-1 at the end of the second period.
The Phantoms had another opportunity to tie the game early in the third period as Bears left-winger Beck Malenstyn was called for checking to head. The Phantoms failed to capitalize on the power play for the fifth time of the night. The Phantoms made one last attempt to tie the game, pulling Alex Lyon for the extra attacker but to no prevail as the Hershey Bears defeated the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 2-1.
The Bears won the shots on goal total with thirty-seven to the Phantoms twenty-six. The Bears were zero for two on the power play while the Phantoms were zero for five. Phantoms goalie Alex Lyon made thirty-five of thirty-seven saves allowing two goals while Bears goalie Vitek Vanecek made twenty-five of twenty-six saves, allowing one goal.
The three stars of the game were Bears left-winger Matt Moulson with one goal, Phantoms defenseman Andy Welinski with one goal and one assist, and Bears left-winger Joe Snively with one goal.
The Phantoms and Bears will conclude the home-and-home series Saturday night at the Giant Arena with the puck dropping at 7 pm.
