In the big picture, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (1-3-0) were playing with house money. They swept the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, to the surprise of more than a few. Then, facing elimination all week, they warded off the Hershey Bears (3-1-0) as long as possible.
Tonight, the Bears drove the final nail in the coffin.
Following a fantastic Game 3, the Phantoms couldn’t keep their postseason hopes afloat. Hershey took advantage of any defensive lapse.
It’s easy to look at the scoreboard and think Cal Petersen had a rough night. To an extent, yes. But he doesn’t shoulder all the blame. Overall, Lehigh Valley didn’t get the job done. Now, the next event on the itinerary is exit interviews.
“We battled through the end of the year. [I] felt like we gave Hershey a pretty good fight, but we couldn’t get the job done.” – Ian Laperrière; 5/11/2024
Here’s how it all finished for Lehigh Valley in Game 4 of the AHL Atlantic Division Semifinals:
First Period
Ethan Polei and Pierrick Dubé recorded the first scoring chances for their respective teams. Polei skated in close, but Hunter Shepard stopped at the crease. Petersen stoned Dubé on a two-on-one attempt, matching the early goaltending effort.
The Phantoms went on the powerplay. Dubé served a minor penalty for tripping. Bobby Brink, Emil Andrae, Olle Lycksell, Cooper Marody, and Tanner Laczynski were all in on the attack, but Shepard made the right play to freeze the puck. Lehigh Valley finished 0/2 on the powerplay.
Rhett Gardner and Ethen Frank upped the intensity and physicality. On the forecheck, Gardner made a stapling hit along the boards. Frank answered by leveling Louie Belpedio at center ice.
Gardner kept ornery on the forecheck. Eventually, he earned his reward. Brendan Furry created a juicy rebound with his shot on Shepard. Gardner batted the rebound into the back of the net, 1-0, with 10:59 remaining in the first period.
In 0:17, the Bears answered. Chase Priskie gained possession of the puck deep in the defensive zone. Turning the puck up the boards, Ivan Miroshnichenko gained possession behind Ronnie Attard on a breakaway. He beat Petersen, 1-1, with 10:42 remaining in the first period. It was the first of a few defensive lapses Hershey converted.
Jacob Gaucher won a critical puck battle along the boards a few minutes later. He tipped the puck to Garrett Wilson, and upon entry, he took a quick shot. The puck snuck high past Shepard, 2-1, with 7:42 remaining in the first period. It was the only weak goal Shepard surrendered.
“We left it out there. In the end, it wasn’t enough to get it done, but everyone battled their tails off. There’s no passengers tonight, and everyone wanted it tonight. [We] couldn’t find a way to capitalize on a couple of our chances.” – Garrett Wilson; 5/11/2024
Hardy Häman Aktell created space for the Bears in the offensive zone. He brilliantly kept the puck in the zone against the Phantoms deep into their defensive zone. Häman Aktell passed along the blue line to Logan Day, who chipped an easy pass to Dubé. Dubé elected to turn and shoot in space, 2-2, with 4:52 remaining in the first period.
At the end of one, Lehigh Valley led shot totals, 11-8.
Second Period
Jimmy Huntington and Dubé were the foundation of Hershey’s forecheck. Huntington closed in on Hunter McDonald, who moved the puck behind the net in the defensive zone. Miroshnichenko had possession momentarily, but Ethan Samson poked the puck away. Dubé returned the puck to Miroshnichenko for a quick shot. He gave the Bears their first lead, 3-2, with 17:24 remaining in the second period.
Petersen, at this point, allowed three goals on nine shots. Hershey began to assume control. Priskie hit the post, and shooting lanes were available for the Bears. The Phantoms were loose defensively.
McDonald served a minor penalty for delaying the game. An unforced error proved costly. Joe Snively managed the puck masterfully on the powerplay, waiting for a passing lane across the ice to Frank. Once he found the lane, Frank beat Petersen’s leaky glove, 4-2, with 9:03 remaining in the second period. Miroshnichenko and Frank beat Petersen with almost identical shots to generate a two-goal lead.
Brink served a minor penalty for slashing. This time, Gaucher and Furry were undeniable on the penalty kill. They made individual efforts to kill time in the offensive zone, taking on the entire Bears powerplay. Lehigh Valley finished 3/4 on the penalty kill.
After the penalty, Day lost an edge and the puck in the defensive zone. Adam Brooks recovered and found Laczynski as he joined the rush. Laczynski fired the puck quickly past Shepard, 4-3, with 3:43 remaining in the second period.
At the end of two, Hershey led shot totals, 19-17. Additionally, the Bears won the special teams battle.
Third Period
Regaining his form, Petersen was on a mission to give the Phantoms a chance to stay in the hunt. He and Shepard made acrobatic saves to keep momentum-changing pucks out of the net. Dubé antagonized Petersen on the attack. Lycksell nearly tied the game, but he was a force that met an immovable object when Shepard denied him at the goal line.
Petersen kept his end of the bargain, regaining his form after giving up two leaky goals in the second period. Miroshnichenko got behind Attard again, and a two-on-one nearly finished with Mike Vecchione scoring, but Petersen made the sprawling save.
Lehigh Valley seemed to expect a whistle when Petersen made the save, but one never came. Hershey gained possession. Häman Aktell scored the insurance goal, 5-3, with 5:08 remaining in regulation. It was the trifecta of lapses, sealing elimination for the Phantoms.
