Photo: Lehigh Valley Phantoms
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms downed the Hershey Bears, 2-1, Tuesday night at PPL Center in Allentown. The loss drops the Bears record to 12-9-2-1 (27 points) on the season.
The Phantoms struck first late in the opening frame for a 1-0 lead at the first intermission. They would stretch their lead to 2-0 midway through the second frame and held the 2-0 lead at the second break. Ryan Dmowski would cut the Phantoms lead to 2-1 late in the final frame, but the Bears could not notch the tying tally. It appeared the Bears scored the tying tally in the waning seconds, but the officials ruled the goal came after the horn.
STARTERS
Pheonix Copley (8-4-1-1) 2.81 GAA, .897 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the visiting Bears. Pat Nagle (3-0-2-0, 2.36 GAA, .896 sv%) got the start in goal for the Phantoms. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:
Scratches: Brian Pinho (upper-body injury), Riley Sutter (upper-body injury), Cody Franson (lower-body injury), Mike Vecchione (upper-body injury), Eddie Whittchow (lower-body injury) and Jordan Subban.
Re-assignments – Brett Leason and Joe Snively were re-assigned from the Capitals to the Bears on Tuesday. Goaltender Hunter Shepard was also re-assigned to Hershey from South Carolina (ECHL) on Tuesday.
Signed: The Bears signed forward Marcus Vela (#25) to a professional tryout (PTO) prior to tonight’s game. The Bears also signed forward Christopher Brown (#15) to a PTO with the club on Tuesday.
COVID Protocol – Zach Fucale, Shane Gersich and Axel Jonsson-Fjallby.
FIRST PERIOD
The Phantoms struck first with a goal from Charlie Gerard (1) at 14:12 of the first frame. Maksim Sushko (3) and Cal O’Reilly (8) had the helpers.
Phantoms pot the game’s first tally, lead 1-0 late in the first period. #HBH pic.twitter.com/FCTjuarD34
— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) December 22, 2021
The first period would end with the Phantoms leading 1-0. Lehigh Valley led in shots 10-8 in the period. The Bears were 0 for 3 and the Phantoms 0 for 2 on the power play in the first period.
SECOND PERIOD
The Phantoms made it 2-0 with a tally from Connor Bunnaman (4) at 7:14 of the middle stanza. Gerry Mayhew (7) and Egor Zamula (9) had the assists.
Phantoms stretch lead to 2-0, midway through the middle frame. #HBH pic.twitter.com/zXuzn9yskg
— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) December 22, 2021
That would be it for the second period. Hershey led in shots 11-5. There were no power plays in the second period.
THIRD PERIOD
The Bears would cut the Phantoms lead to 2-1 with a goal from Ryan Dmowski (4) at 16:53 of the final frame. Kody Clark (5) and Drake Rymsha (3) had the assists.
Ryan Dmowski cuts the Phantoms lead to 2-1. He has goals in three straight games. #HBH pic.twitter.com/a7Y8akVbGu
— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) December 22, 2021
The Bears appeared to score the tying tally in the waning seconds of regulation, but the officials ruled the goal came after the horn.
Bears appear to score tying tally as time expires, but officials rule it was after the horn. Bears fall, 2-1. #HBH pic.twitter.com/yfcO7hCiCk
— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) December 22, 2021
The Bears are back in action Wednesday night when they host the same Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM.
SHAVINGS
- AHL Box Score
- Attendance: 4,101
- This was the 4th game in five days and seventh game in 11 days for the Bears.
- This game was originally scheduled for December 1, but was postponed due to COVID.
