Hard-Earned Standings Point at Hershey

January 7, 2024 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Lehigh Valley Phantoms News Release

Hershey, PA - The Lehigh Valley Phantoms scrapped and clawed and kept working against the top team in the American Hockey League to take a 2-1 lead into the third period but the host Hershey Bears responded with a tying tally with under six minutes left before eventually snagging the overtime winner in a 3-2 decision on Sunday evening at GIANT Center.

Jordy Bellerive (3rd) and Adam Brooks (1st) provided the offense as the hard-working fourth-liners scored back-to-back late in the second period to give the Phantoms a 2-1 lead. But Mike Sgarbossa (7th) evened the score with 5:20 left before Alex Limoges (10th) ended the night by pushing his way through from the right wing.

The physical game had a rivalry and playoff-intensity about it throughout with extra energy provided by the large crowd in Chocolate Town on the team's annual Teddy Bear Toss Night. Cooper Marody had three big shot-blocks in the second and third period while Wade Allison, Garrett Wilson and others also sacrificed and came up with big blocks along the way as well.

Lehigh Valley (14-13-6) finished the first weekend of 2024 by taking three out of four points on the road via consecutive overtime games at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Hershey.

Cal Petersen was magnificent in net for the Phantoms with a number of tremendous stops among his 26 total saves.

Hershey (29-7-0) broke a scoreless deadlock early in the second period on Bogdan Trineyev's sharp-angle connection from the bottom of the right circle that squeaked through Petersen for a 1-0 lead. The game was delayed for about 50 minutes for the team's annual Teddy Bear Toss Night as the Phantoms players exited the ice for the long break while the Hershey fans enjoyed the extended celebration and Teddy Bear Chaos.

When play resumed, the Phantoms kept the game close. Petersen kept up his solid work between the pipes with more strong stops.

Following a big penalty kill late in the second period, Bellerive bounced out of the box with an opportunity when a Hershey clearing try went right to him stepping in front of the blue line. The second-year Phantom was ready to unload and then quickly identified the shot-block rebound that came right back to him which was perfect for a conversion to the upper-right corner past the glove of Mitch Gibson with 4:15 remaining in the second period to forge a 1-1 tie.

The Phantoms penalty kill was stellar once again and held Hershey to 0-for-4 on the power play. Hershey is 1-for-22 against Lehigh Valley this season.

Less than two minutes later, it was Jacob Gaucher showing off his wheels as he out-raced a pair of Hershey defensemen to chase down a clear to the Hershey end. Gaucher flipped the puck out in front to Adam Brooks who was charging hard as the trailer. Brooks buried his first of the season right on top of Gibson after the hard effort of Gaucher to put the Phantoms ahead 2-1.

Both teams exchanged chances through a mostly even third period but eventually, the Bears broke through when Sgarbossa slipped underneath the defense to receive a feed from Chase Priskie. The veteran forward rifled home the equalizer from inside the left dot past the glove of the lefty-style Petersen with just 5:20 to go for a 2-2 tie.

Louie Belpedio almost won the game in overtime for the Phantoms on a connection from Wade Allison but his partial break was thwarted by Gibson. Moments later, it was Limoges up the right wing who was able to muscle his way in from the right boards despite some hard defending by Belpedio who appeared to get the stick of the Hershey winger. While on the move, the puck deflected off Limoges, perhaps off his skate, and past Petersen to the far post for the winning goal.

The Phantoms had a streak snapped of victories in three consecutive overtime decisions. Hershey has won two overtime games against the Phantoms this season.

The Phantoms return to PPL Center for the first home games of 2024 when they host the Hartford Wolf Pack and Hershey Bears back-to-back on Friday and Saturday. The 2-for-$24 ticket special provided fans the opportunity to purchase two tickets for $24 to ring in 2024.

SCORING SUMMARY

2nd 4:15 - HER, B. Trineyev (5) (H. Haman Atkell, C. Priskie) (0-1)

2nd 15:45 - LV, J. Bellerive (3) (Unassisted) (1-1)

2nd 17:34 - LV, A. Brooks (1) (J. Gaucher, E. Andrae) (2-1)

3rd 14:40 - HER, M. Sgarbossa (7) (J. Snively, L. Johansen) (2-2)

OT 2:04 - HER, A. Limoges (10) (E. Frank, C. Priskie) (2-3)

Shots:

LV 24 - HER 29

Power Plays:

LV 0/3, HER 0/4

Goaltenders:

LV - C. Petersen (OTL) (26/29) (4-7-2)

HER - M. Gibson (W) (22/24) (2-0-0)

Records:

Lehigh Valley (14-13-6)

Hershey (29-7-0)

RING IN 2024

The Phantoms have a pair of home games next weekend and fans can Ring in 2024 with a 2-for-24 special for either night. The Phantoms host the Hartford Wolf Pack on Friday, January 12 and then take on the rival Hershey Bears on Saturday, January 13.

UPCOMING

Friday, January 12 (7:05) - Hartford Wolf Pack at Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Saturday, January 13 (7:05) - Hershey Bears at Lehigh Valley Phantoms - Valley Youth House Night presented by Air Products

Wednesday, January 17 (7:05) - Lehigh Valley Phantoms at Rochester Americans

Friday, January 19 (7:00) - Lehigh Valley Phantoms at Cleveland Monsters

Saturday, January 20 (7:00) - Lehigh Valley Phantoms at Cleveland Monsters

Stay current with the latest Phantoms news with the Phantoms 365 app available for Apple and Android devices and at www.phantomshockey.com.

Lehigh Valley Phantoms exchange fist bumps along the bench

Lehigh Valley Phantoms try to slow the Hershey Bears

American Hockey League Stories from January 7, 2024

• Podkolzin and Bains Score Twice in Canucks 6-5 Comeback Victory - Abbotsford Canucks
• Bears Celebrate Teddy Bear Toss with 3-2 Overtime Win, Record Collection - Hershey Bears
• Anaheim Ducks Announce Roster Moves - San Diego Gulls
• Senators cap successful weekend in Winnipeg with 2-1 win over Moose - Belleville Senators
• Hard-Earned Standings Point at Hershey - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
• Moose Edged again by Belleville - Manitoba Moose
• Crunch Edge Marlies, 4-3, in Overtime - Syracuse Crunch
• Gruden's Shorty Lifts Penguins over Wolf Pack, 2-1 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
• Islanders Tip Charlotte in Overtime - Bridgeport Islanders
• Brandon Scanlin Scores Fourth Goal of the Season, But Wolf Pack Fall 2-1 to Penguins - Hartford Wolf Pack
• Hershey Bears 2024 Teddy Bear Toss Sets New Hockey Record - Hershey Bears
• Checkers Battle Back for Point, Fall in OT - Charlotte Checkers
• Richard, P-Bruins Down Thunderbirds for Fifth Straight Victory - Providence Bruins
• Early Hole Dooms T-Birds in Sunday Matinee in Providence - Springfield Thunderbirds
• Comets Gain Point in Third Straight in 4-3 Shootout Loss to Rocket - Utica Comets
• Gardner Returns to Phantoms - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
• Zach Aston-Reese Reassigned by Detroit - Grand Rapids Griffins
• T-Birds Recall D Marc-Andre Gaudet from Orlando - Springfield Thunderbirds
• Wolf Pack Battle Penguins in Atlantic Division Clash - Hartford Wolf Pack
• GIANT Teddy Bear Toss Game Preview: Bears vs. Phantoms, 3 p.m. - Hershey Bears
• Reign Down Barracuda, 5-4, in Overtime - Ontario Reign
• Firebirds Blank Canucks in Front of Another Sold-Out Acrisure Arena Crowd - Coachella Valley Firebirds
• Wranglers Down 'Knights in Shootout - Calgary Wranglers

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Lehigh Valley Phantoms Stories

• Ābols and Eklind Sign Contract Extensions
• Phantoms Fall in Playoff Series Finale
• Luchanko Geared for Phantoms' Biggest Game
• Preview: Phantoms at Bears, Game 5
• Bears Survive to Force Game 5