The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (1-3) hosted the Hershey Bears (3-1) on Saturday night at the PPL Center for Game 4 in the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs.
At 9:01 of the first period, Lehigh Valley center Rhett Gardner (2) scored to take a 1-0 lead with assists by Brendan Furry (2) and Bobby Brink (4). However, 17 seconds later, Hershey tied the game 1-1 by Ivan Miroshnichenko (1).
At 12:18, Lehigh Valley center Garrett Wilson (1) put the Phantoms back up 2-1 with assists by Jacob Gaucher (1) and Cooper Marody (5). Once again, at 15:08, Hershey tied the game 2-2 by Pierrick Dubé (1). The Phantoms had 11 shots on goal but the game remained tied 2-2.
Two minutes and thirty-six seconds into the second period, Ivan Miroshnichenko (2) scored his second goal for Hershey putting them up 3-2. Then at 10:57, Ethen Frank (3) scored a power play goal extending Hershey’s lead 4-2.
At 16:17, Lehigh Valley forward Tanner Laczynski (4) cut the Bears lead down to 4-3 with an assist by Adam Brooks (2). The Phantoms had eight shots on goal but trailed 4-3 after two periods of play.
In the third period, Hershey put the game away at 14:52 by Hardy Häman Aktell (1) to make it 5-3. The Phantoms had some good chances but time ran out and their 2023-24 season came to an end losing to the Hershey Bears by the final score of 5-3. Hershey wins the series 3-1.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with 32 shots on goal, committed four penalties, and Cal Peterson made 22 saves of 27 shots.
