Bears Fall To Phantoms, 4-1; Damien Riat Scores Second Goal Of The Season

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms dropped the Hershey Bears 4-1 on Sunday afternoon at the Giant Center in Hershey, PA. The Bears scored the game’s first goal just 1:36 into the contest, but the Phantoms would respond with four unanswered goals in the next two periods for the victory. The loss drops the Bears record to 7-3-2 (16 points) on the season.

STARTERS
Zach Fucale (3-0-0-1, 0.67 GAA, .973 SV%) got the start between the pipes for the Bears. Zane McIntyre (5-1-1-1, 2.45 GAA, .915 sv%) got the start in goal for the visiting Phantoms. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:

Scratches: Lucas Johansen (upper body injury), Eddie Whittchow (lower body injury), Macoy Erkamps (lower body injury), Tyler Nanne, Mason Morelli, Kale Kessy, Will Graber.

FIRST PERIOD
The Bears struck first with a goal from Damien Riat (2) at 1:36 of the first frame. Blake Pietila (1) and Cameron Schilling (5) had the helpers.

Damien Riat with a ripper, gives Bears an early 1-0 lead. #CapsProspect #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/JYSb68TRmj

— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) March 14, 2021

But the Phantoms would quickly answer 42 seconds later at 2:18 of the first period. Tyson Foerster (1) would finish at close range to tie the game 1-1.

The Phantoms would take a 2-1 lead at 8:30 of the first period with a power play goal from Derrick Pouliot.

Garrett Pilon almost turned in the goal of the year late in the first frame. He would throw a stick to dislodge the puck from the Phantoms skater, and make a beautiful drive to the goal.

The Phantoms would stretch their lead to 3-1 right before the end of the period with a 5-on-3 power play goal at 19:55. Ryan Fitzgerald (5) would provide the finish.

The period would end with the Phantoms leading 3-1. The Bears led in shots 12-8. Lehigh Valley was 2 for 4 and Hershey 0 for 1 on the power play in the first frame.

SECOND PERIOD
The Phantoms would extend their lead midway through the middle frame with a snipe from Wade Allison (1) at 7:23 of the second period. It was Allison’s first professional career goal.

And that would be all for the second period. The Bears led in shots on goal 10-7 in the second period, and led 22-15 after two periods. The Phantoms were 2 for 5 and the Bears 0 for 3 on the power play after 40 minutes.

THIRD PERIOD
The Bears and Phantoms would skate to a scoreless draw in the final frame, making it a 4-1 final.

The Bears are back in action on Friday when they visit the Binghamton Devils in Newark, New Jersey. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM.