Hershey Bears Drop Game Three to Lehigh Valley 2-1 in OT

The Hershey Bears were unable to close out their series with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Wednesday night, as the Phantoms took the game in overtime on Chris Conner’s breakaway goal. Hershey rematches the Phantoms with another chance to close things out on Saturday.

The game was similar to the first in the series, as both teams played a tight-checking game. Hershey had its best start of the series, energized by the loud crowd at Giant Center.

The teams exchanged close calls until the Bears took the puck on a three on one rush in the second period. Stanislav Galiev ripped home a shot past the short side of the Phantoms’ goaltender to give Hershey a 1-0 lead.

It seemed like the Phantoms might need a break or a miracle to tie things up, and they got just that. Colin McDonald put a dump in from the center red line that dipped incredibly on its way to the goal, and Pheonix Copley, despite a stellar performance of 28 saves, could not stop.

The game was not without bad breaks for the Bears on the offensive side as well. It appeared as though the Bears scored on a loose puck off a rebound chance, but the officials had blown the whistle prior to Hershey putting away the puck, and could have easily sent the game in the opposite direction had the goal counted. The teams would go into overtime tied at one.

The extra session would not last long, as the Phantoms spotted former Bear Chris Conner on a breakaway just under two minutes into the extra period, and he beat Copley to ensure there’d be a Game 4 at the Giant Center on Saturday night.

The loss puts an end to Hershey’s seven-game win streak dating back to the regular season, and winning streak of seven straight over the Phantoms dating back to the turn of the century. Hershey still holds the 2-1 series edge and can eliminate the Phantoms on Saturday night with a bounce back game.