Regular Season Game 74: Lehigh Valley Phantoms 4, Hershey Bears 1 (4/14/15)

Box Score


Hershey (44-21-5-3) at Lehigh Valley (32-32-7-1)
PPL Center: Allentown, PA
Goalies: Grubauer (27-16-5, 2.29) vs. Zepp (20-18-4, 2.63)




1st Period
Scoring
4:14- HER Goal: J. O'Brien (10), Vrana & Gazley


Penalties
0:13- LV Penalty: Stortini for Charging (2:00)
18:24- HER Penalty: Schmidt for Holding (2:00)


2nd Period
Scoring
0:51- LV Goal: Laughton (13), Alt & Akeson


Penalties
12:57- HER Penalty: Mitchell for Slashing (2:00)


3rd Period
Scoring
6:41- LV Goal: Straka (14), Goumas
12:44- LV Goal: Akeson (23), Leier & Laughton
19:05- LV Goal (EN): Martel (1), Lauridsen


Penalties
0:40- HER Penalty: Broda for High-Sticking (2:00)


Shots
HER: 14-13-11=38
LV: 10-7-12=29


Recap


Considering the shot differential, this should have been a closer game than it ended up being. It was that close game in the first two periods, but it changed in the 3rd. The referees would only give out 4 penalties the entire game, so it felt quicker than normal. The Bears would start off on the right foot with a goal in the 1st at the 4:14 mark. Jim O'Brien scored his 10th of the season, from Jakub Vrana (1st professional point) & Dustin Gazley. After the 1st, the Bears had the 14-10 shot advantage. In the 2nd, the Phantoms would tie it up quick (51 seconds in). Scott Laughton scored his 13th of the season, from Mark Alt & Jason Akeson. After the 2nd, the Bears had the 27-17 shot advantage.


In the 3rd, even though the Phantoms only had one more shot than the Bears in the period, they would run away with it. A strong performance from Rob Zepp helped that. 6:41 into the period, the Phantoms would take the lead. Petr Straka scored his 14th of the season, from Kevin Goumas. At the 12:44 mark, the lead would be stretched to two. Jason Akeson scored his 23rd of the season, from Taylor Leier & Scott Laughton (2nd point of the night). The Phantoms would finish the night with an empty-net goal with 55 seconds left. Danick Martel scored his 1st of the season, from Oliver Lauridsen. The Bears finished with the 38-29 shot advantage.


Next Game: Friday vs. Binghamton, 7:00


Standings Update
1. Manchester  105 pts
2. Hershey  96 pts
3. Hartford  91 pts
4. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton  93 pts
5. Syracuse  91 pts
Hartford is in front of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton due to being a division leader.