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Hershey Bears lose 3-1 in Game 2 against Lehigh Valley Phantoms
The Hershey Bears were undone by poor special-teams play in Friday night's playoff loss to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
The Hershey Bears lose Game 2 against Lehigh Valley 3-1.
Chris Cerullo from RMNB writes that after blanking the Phantoms in Game 1 of the Atlantic Division Semifinal at Giant Center, the Hershey Bears couldn't string together back-to-back wins in the best-of-five series. Lehigh Valley capitalized with two shorthanded goals and skated away with a 3-1 victory in a physical, penalty-filled battle.
"Temperatures further flared when Givani Smith got away with an uncalled high stick on Bears goaltender Hunter Shepard. The two-time Calder Cup-winning netminder had his mask popped off by Smith's stick." -Cerullo
After the Bears failed to capitalize on an extended power play, the Phantoms broke the ice with 1:19 left in the second period on a goal by Anthony Richard. The tally ended Hunter Shepard's shutout streak to start the series at 98 minutes and 41 seconds.
"Phantoms forward Elliot Desnoyers put the Bears on a power play 1:53 into the third period, but the Bears almost immediately gave up a shorthanded goal to Zayde Wisdom. Miroshnichenko was boxed out on a net drive by Wisdom, who shoveled a backhand past Shepard." -Cerullo
The Bears answered right back on the same power play, as Alex Limoges buried a goal to tie the game. The tally went to review after Phantoms goalie Parker Gahagen dislodged the net, but AHL officials upheld the call and the goal stood.
Hershey had a chance to tie the game on a power play 4:38 into the third period, but instead surrendered another shorthanded goal, this time to Zayde Wisdom.
"The Bears are attempting to become just the second team in AHL history to three-peat as Calder Cup champions, joining the 1960-62 Springfield Indians." -Cerullo
Game 3 of the series is set for Sunday at Lehigh Valley's PPL Center. Puck drop is at 5:05 pm.
| POLL | ||
MAI 4 | 23 ANSWERS Hershey Bears lose 3-1 in Game 2 against Lehigh Valley Phantoms Do you think the AHL Hershey Bears will win Game 3? | ||
| yes | 19 | 82.6 % |
| no | 4 | 17.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
