The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (17-18-6-2) concluded the weekend Sunday afternoon at the PPL Center against the Hershey Bears (24-15-3-3). This was Lehigh Valley’s third straight game and part of a makeup game from December 4th.
Morgan Frost returned to the lineup after missing two games with a non-COVID illness, while Jackson Cates also returned to the lineup after being recalled by the Flyers.
Felix Sandstrom started in goal, and the scratches were Mason Millman, Linus Sandin, Brad Morrison, Nick Lappin, Ryan MacKinnon, Cam York, Tyson Foerster, Sam Ersson, and Garrett Metcalf.
In the first period, the Phantoms got off two shots in the first twenty seconds of the game. Phantoms goalie Felix Sandstrom and Bears goalie Zach Fucale were stopping shots that kept the game scoreless for most of the first period.
Then with 6:33 left, the Bears were on the attack in the Phantoms’ zone when Marcus Vela (4) redirected the shot of Macoy Erkamps (4) down low past the left glove of Sandstrom to take a 1-0 lead. Shane Gersich (13) earns the secondary assist.
The Bears had the momentum after the goal. With 3:17 left, Felix Sandstrom came out of his net to retrieve the puck, but Shane Gersich was right on it and nearly scored. However, Adam Clendening blocked the shot as Sandstrom got back to his net in time to block another shot.
The Bears led 1-0 after one period and led the shots 11-6. Hershey was starting the second period on the power play after Adam Clendening was called for slashing.
In the second period, the Phantoms killed off the penalty. German Rubtsov was briefly hurt after blocking a shot. However, he was able to stay in the game. At 3:37, the Phantoms went on the power-play after Marcus Vela was called for slashing.
The Phantoms took advantage when Adam Clendening (23) set up Hayden Hodgson (13) for a blast to the top left side of the net for a power-play goal, tying the game 1-1 with 16:11 left in the second period.
Both teams went back and forth, looking to break the tie. Garrett Wilson and Charlie Gerard had chances to break the tie, but Zach Fucale stopped them. Hershey was winning the battle in puck possession.
Late in the second period, Felix Sandstrom made a save that kept the game tied 1-1 after two periods. The shots were 21-15 Bears.
In the third period, Brennan Saulnier got hit in the mouth by Marcus Vela with a high stick. Saulnier went down hard and was bleeding immediately.
Trainers rushed out to his aid. Saulnier was helped to the locker room. However, the refs made the worst call ever on Saulnier for kneeing. The crowd let the refs know their displeasure.
The Phantoms players were furious. They killed off another Bears penalty, but they also had momentum on their side. Morgan Frost, Charlie Gerard, and Alex Kile had chances to score but were denied by Fucale.
Then with 4:16 left, Morgan Frost (5), with great hand-eye coordination, got a piece of Charlie Gerard’s (4) shot that went past the left skate of Fucale to take a 2-1 lead. Garrett Wilson (12) earned the secondary assist.
After that goal, Hershey was on the attack. With 1:23 left in the game, the Bears pulled Fucale for an extra attacker. The Phantoms did a nice job protecting Sandstrom. Then with 27-seconds left, Cal O’Reilly (12) sealed the game with a shot from the red line that hit the stick of Bears defenseman Dylan McIlrath before going in making it 3-1.
With one second left, Lucas Johansen’s (13) shot was tipped in by Mason Morelli (7), making it 3-2. Marcus Vela (3) got the secondary assists.
The Phantoms finished the game with 21 shots, 1/4 on the power-play, and Felix Sandstrom made 33 of 35 saves.
The Phantoms will get a much-needed rest before their next game on Saturday, February 19th, against the Utica Comets at 7:05 pm.
