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Takeaways from Phantoms’ season-ending 4-2 loss in Game 5 to Bears

The Hershey Bears surrvived a furious third period by the Lehigh Valley Phantoms to win the fifth and deciding game of their playoff series 4-2 Sunday in Hershey.

Posted on by Jason MacNeil
Photo credit: Just Sports / Lehigh Valley Phantoms

The Hershey Bears dominated the first 48 minutes. The Lehigh Valley Phantoms were gangbusters the last 12, attempted to stage a furious comeback, but couldn’t overcome a three-goal Hershey lead. The Phantoms lost 4-2 in the deciding fifth game of their playoff series and were eliminated by the defending Calder Cup champs.

The basics

First period: 5:19- Spencer Smallman (Alex Limoges, Hendrix Lapierre), 16:13- Riley Sutter (Matt Strome, Luke Philp)

Second period: 13:09- Riley Sutter (Garrett Roe)

Third period: 2:08- Anthony Richard (Emil Andrae), 14:03- Hunter McDonald (Jett Luchanko, Louie Belpedio), 18:20- Bogdan Trieyev (Matt Strome, Vincent Iorio) (ENG)

SOG: 21 (LHV) – 22 (HER)

Some takeaways

Not broke don’t fix it

After going with 11 forwards and seven on the back end in Game 4, Hershey went with the exact same lineup Sunday at home. But probably the biggest hurdle Lehigh Valley avoided early was not getting bulldozed out of the building, ending up down a goal or two a few minutes into the deciding game. Perhaps the biggest thing keeping the Phantoms in the game early was some dumb penalties Hershey took, allowing Lehigh Valley a chance to get some offensive zone time.

The Phantoms’ second power play saw the Bears’ Matt Strome lose his stick, but Garrett Wilson couldn’t tie things up. A nice little set up to Jacob Gaucher for a one-timer also proved futile as it was blocked before it could get to Hershey’s Hunter Shepard.

Disciplined but dismal at even strength

If it wasn’t for the two power plays in the first, it’s doubtful Lehigh Valley would’ve had a shot on goal. The Phantoms couldn’t create much five-on-five, the only time they did Lycksell again was stopped by Shepard.

Thankfully, whatever message was given about playing penalty-free (or as close to it) was heard loud and clear. Outside of one or two hits that were on the line, the Phantoms played a very clean first period. It was a saving grace as a bad turnover in the neutral zone gave Hershey a 2-0 lead. Riley Sutter took a Matt Strome pass for an almost gimme late in the first. Not a backbreaker but definitely not something Lehigh Valley needed.

Grebenkin great, Luchanko looking lost

Before his great chance early in the second to beat Shepard and cut the deficit in half, Lehigh Valley’s Nikita Grebenkin was one of the best Phantoms in game five. He was all over the ice and seemed to be a thorn in the side of Hershey most of the contest. Grebenkin was on the right side of the puck most of his shifts, leading the way if Lehigh Valley was to overcome a 2-0 Hershey lead.

Meanwhile, Jett Luchanko wasn’t that great in the early part of the tilt. Luchanko’s speed wasn’t apparent as the well-oiled and experienced Bears were rarely allowing an odd-man rush. The Phantoms’ first shot of the second period came almost halfway through, with Luchanko and Alex Bump starting to become a bit more visible. Hershey just wasn’t giving either player (or any skater) much room to create something.

McDonald hurt?

About 11 minutes into the first Hunter McDonald lined up to deliver a hit but got the worst of the collision, holding his side before heading towards the bench. He looked to be okay as he was standing waiting to get back into action. McDonald, who scored later in the game, was back on the ice after a television timeout with seven minutes to go in period one.

Petersen keeps them in it

Petersen had a few key saves in the second to keep Lehigh Valley within punching distance of Hershey. He made a great glove save on a Hershey power play and then was agile enough to stop a shot from a rebound off the backboards.

Unfortunately, Hershey broke the game open a bit more when Riley Sutter put a shot over Petersen’s left shoulder to make it 3-0.

That was the straw that broke the Phantoms’ back as Hershey effectively (and repeatedly) almost shut down any thoughts of a huge comeback in the third period. Given the long changes in the middle frame and the possibility of a bit more open ice, Lehigh Valley registered all of three shots on goal in the second. Not great. But Petersen still kept them in it, making a sensational save nine minutes into the third with the Phantoms a goal away from being a goal away.

Third period heroics….?

Early in the third the Phantoms got a power play. And they hit paydirt. Anthony Richard beat Shepard to give Lehigh Valley a chance.

That was nearly destroyed seconds later when they took not one but two dumb minor penalties on the same play. As Givani Smith and Louie Belpedio watched from the penalty box, Hershey had a full two minutes to give themselves their three-goal cushion. At one point, the Bears had a five-on-two as Rodrigo Abols went to get a stick.

The penalties had three seconds left when Emil Andrae had a brain camp, taking another minor penalty. But Richard had the best chance on a short-handed breakaway, nearly beating Shepard but the goalie came up huge. One got the sense if the Phantoms could simply not take any more foolish minors they might make things very interesting. And very difficult for Hershey.

Lehigh Valley looked possessed the last 12 minutes of regulation, seemingly hitting a different gear and intensity while making life hell for Hershey and Shepard. Every time the Phantoms went up ice they were three or sometimes four on the rush. With six minutes to go, Luchanko fed Hunter McDonald in the slot, making it 3-2.

Where this intensity and ferocious display was the first 48 minutes we’ll never know. What was clear was Lehigh Valley were on a mission. Unfortunately a high hit on Zayde Wisdom wasn’t called with three minutes to go. With Petersen pulled, the Phantoms saw the puck slide into the empty net. Their own net, giving Hershey a 4-2 lead and putting the final nail in Lehigh Valley’s coffin.

Hitting and missing

The game’s first shift saw Hershey’s Spencer Smallman throw a hit on Phantoms’ defenseman Helge Grans. It was the first of many hits both sides threw to wear out their opponent. Hershey’s Luke Philp however hit Garrett Wilson from behind and between the numbers to give the Phantoms their first power play of the day. Olle Lycksell had a few good shots to break the ice but Shepard was up to the task.

Unfortunately, Hershey turned the momentum around seconds later when a scramble in front of Cal Petersen saw Smallman find the puck and beat the Phantoms goalie for a 1-0 lead.

The goal energized both Hershey and the hometown fans as the Bears kept coming with Petersen swallowing the puck to stop play.

Ginning and Grans have a game to forget

Adam Ginning and Helge Grans were exposed Sunday afternoon, being -3 each through 40 minutes. It’s a pairing that obviously struggled in game five, but rare to be on the ice for all three goals that beat Cal Petersen. Grans had one shot on goal while Ginning was held without a shot after two periods.

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