The Hershey Bears came within a split second of sending Tuesday’s game at Lehigh Valley into overtime as the final horn sounded. But the puck did not cross the goal line in time, during a 2-1 loss to the Phantoms of Lehigh Valley.
Lehigh Valley took a first-period lead at the 14:12 mark on Charlie Gerard’s first goal of the season. A defensive zone turnover allowed Maksim Sushko to find Gerard for an easy backdoor tap in.
The Phantoms made it 2-0 in the second stanza when Connor Bunnaman beat Bears goaltender Pheonix Copley for his fourth goal of the campaign.
Hershey got on the board with 3:07 left in the final period when Ryan Dmowski tallied his third goal in as many games. Kody Clark and Drake Rymsha picked up assists on the play.
The Bears pulled Copley for the extra attacker in the final minute and had a 6-on-4 power play for the final 11 seconds, but a last second effort came up short.
Garrett Pilon’s shot as the horn sounded did not cross the goal line and the referee indicated no goal, a call that the video review upheld and one that secured the Phantoms’ 2-1 victory.
Final shots on goal favored Hershey 30-19.
Bears Notes:
Forwards Brett Leason, Beck Malenstyn and Joe Snively were returned from Washington.
Two new players, ECHL forwards Christopher Brown and Marcus Vela, were added to the roster on professional tryouts as the bus was leaving Giant Center.
The Milwaukee Admirals lead the AHL with 388 penalty minutes and the Bears are second with 379.
The American Hockey League has announced that the December 22 Hershey game versus Lehigh Valley at Giant Center was postponed due to league COVID-19 protocols affecting the Bears. A make-up date has yet to be determined.
Fans who purchased tickets to the game are asked to hold them at this time, and further information will be communicated once the game is rescheduled. Fans who have questions may contact the Giant Center Box Office at hersheyboxoffice@hersheypa.com.
This decision was made in consultation with medical experts and the AHL and due to the health and safety of players, coaches, and game day personnel.
The Bears are scheduled to return to the ice on Monday, December 27 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and close out the 2021 calendar year hosting the Penguins on December 29.