
Phantoms Fall in Rivalry Matchup
January 28, 2023 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Lehigh Valley Phantoms News Release
Lehigh Valley, PA - Cal O'Reilly and Ronnie Attard both tallied for a second consecutive night in front of a packed, sold out PPL Center crowd of 8,624. The first 2,000 kids age 12 and younger rocked meLVin Youth Winter Hats presented by Lehigh Valley Reilly Children's Hospital to add to the fun environment. The Atlantic Division-leading Hershey Bears spoiled the party with a 7-3 decision over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (20-16-5).
Hershey scored thrice in the first period to claim a 3-0 lead by first intermission. Former Phantoms' power forward Mike Vecchione opened
the scoring at 7:55 from Ethan Frank and Mike Sgarbossa off a quick off-man rush. Shane Gersich later finished a tic-tac-toe passing play at 11:05 to double Hershey's lead, and Sgarbossa hit pay-dirt on a 3-on-1 odd-man rush at 19:31.
Next period, the Bears soon extended their advantage to 4-0 on a strike from Garrett Pilon at 1:49 from Connor McMichael and Gabriel Carlsson.
But the Phantoms soon solved Hershey goaltender Zach Fucale courtesy of a shorthanded dandy by captain Cal O'Reilly. Racing into the offensive zone, O'Reilly chipped a perfect backhander over Fucale's shoulder to tickle the twine at 10:34. Max Willman earned the lone assist.
Both teams traded back-and-forth blows in the final frame to put on an entertaining show in front of the Phantoms' passionate hometown faithful. Hershey's Ethen Frank tallied twice in the period at 34 seconds and 12:05, but each goal was met with a sound Lehigh Valley response.
Rookie rearguard Ronnie Attard jumped into the play as a trailer in the offensive zone and tallied his seventh marker of the season at 2:53. O'Reilly earned the primary assist for his third multipoint night of the season.
After Frank's second goal, Jackson Cates joined the scoring parade for the Orange and Black. Firing a fade-away shot from the right circle, the puck changed direction off a Hershey defender at the net front to elude Fucale. Zayde Wisdom and Wyatte Wylie both earned the helpers at 14:03.
Mason Morelli completed the scoring with a power-play deflection at 16:46 to round out the 7-3 final. Shots on goal finished 28-23 Hershey.
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms return to action on Wednesday, February 1 in a rematch against the Hershey Bears. Fans are encouraged to arrive early at PPL Center for a Pregame Happy Hour! $2 Miller Lites and Yuenglings will be available until Puck Drop.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st - 7:55 - HER M. Vecchione (14) (E. Frank, M. Sgarbossa) 0-1
1st - 11:05 - HER S. Gersich (3) (V. Iorio, B. Nardella) 0-2
1st - 19:31 - HER M. Sgarbossa (15) (E. Frank, L. Day) 0-3
2nd - 1:49 - HER G. Pilon (6) (C. McMichael, G. Carlsson) 0-4
2nd - 10:34 - LV C. O'Reilly (5) (M. Willman) (SH) 1-4
3rd - :34 - HER E. Frank (19) (M. Vecchione, L. Day) 1-5
3rd - 2:53 - LV R. Attard (7) (C. O'Reilly, A. Ginning) 2-5
3rd - 12:05 - HER E. Frank (20) (D. McIlrath, G. Carlsson) 2-6
3rd - 14:03 - LV J. Cates (8) (Z. Wisdom, W. Wylie) 3-6
3rd - 16:46 - HER M. Morelli (8) (C. McMichael, M. Sgarbossa) (PP) 3-7
Shots:
LV 23 - HER 28
PP:
LV 0/1, HER 1/2
Goalies:
LV - P. Nagle (L) (1-5-1) (21/28)
HER - Z. Fucale (W) (14-7-2) (20/23)
Records:
Lehigh Valley (20-16-5)
Hershey (28-8-5)
Images from this story
![]() Lehigh Valley Phantoms' Adam Johnson on the ice |
![]() Lehigh Valley Phantoms' Adam Johnson in action |
American Hockey League Stories from January 28, 2023
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- Wild Beat Firebirds 5-2, Extend Point Streak to 10 Games - Iowa Wild
- Belleville Sens Conclude Road Trip with Loss to Thunderbirds - Belleville Senators
- Wolves Tip IceHogs 3-2 in OT - Chicago Wolves
- Specialty Teams Deliver In Colorado's 5-1 Win Over Stars - Colorado Eagles
- Late Surge Falls Short in Griffins' Loss to Milwaukee - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Eagles' Power Play Snaps Stars' Point Streak - Texas Stars
- Phantoms Fall in Rivalry Matchup - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- T-Birds Trounce Sens at Sold Out Thunderdome - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Monsters Stumble in 7-4 Loss to Rocket - Cleveland Monsters
- Admirals Power Past Griffins - Milwaukee Admirals
- Amerks Drop Second Straight to Checkers - Rochester Americans
- Welinski Records 100th Career AHL Assist, But Wolf Pack Fall 7-3 to Crunch - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Penguins Stop Islanders - Bridgeport Islanders
- Lettieri's Three Points Help P-Bruins Fly Past Comets - Providence Bruins
- Crunch Blow Past Wolf Pack, 7-3 - Syracuse Crunch
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- Checkers Battle Back to Pull Off Weekend Sweep of Amerks - Charlotte Checkers
- Comets Can't Capitalize on Momentum, Fall to Bruins 5-1 - Utica Comets
- Bears Extend Point Streak To Eight Games In 7-3 Win Over Phantoms - Hershey Bears
- Eagles Transactions --- Forward Ben Meyers Reassigned to Colorado Eagles - Colorado Eagles
- Syracuse Crunch Loan Defenseman Tyson Feist to Orlando Solar Bears - Syracuse Crunch
- Iowa Wild Recalls Balmas, Signs Zmolek to PTO - Iowa Wild
- Monsters Announce Pair of Roster Moves - Cleveland Monsters
- Wolf Pack Host Crunch with Eye Toward Weekend Sweep - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Game Preview: Iowa Wild vs. Coachella Valley Firebirds - Iowa Wild
- Toronto Marlies Wrap up Road Trip against Manitoba Moose - Toronto Marlies
- Game Preview: Bears at Phantoms, 7:05 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Goaltender Clay Stevenson Re-Assigned to South Carolina - Hershey Bears
- Game #42 - Canucks at Roadrunners - Tucson Roadrunners
- Hogs Renew Rivalry with Wolves - Rockford IceHogs
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