Bears Clinch Atlantic Division Title with Win over Phantoms

April 16, 2016

HERSHEY, Pa. – Zach Sill scored early in the third period, a goal that turned out to be the winner in a 4-2 decision over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Saturday night in front of a crowd of 10,527 at GIANT Center.  With the win, Hershey clinched the Atlantic Division title.

The Bears made their first power play of the game count just 1:38 into the contest.  Riley Barber turned and fired from the slot, and his low shot split the pads of Anthony Stolarz for Barber’s 26th goal of the season and seventh on the power play.

But the Phantoms would knot the score when a one-timer from Samuel Morin went wide of the net to the right.  The puck bounced wildly back toward the net and before Justin Peters could get his pad on the chance, Dalton Smith tucked it home at 4:34.

Lehigh Valley took the lead in the second period on a goal that required video review to confirm.  Peters would squeeze a bouncing wraparound try by Reading native Steven Swavely against the left post.  After a whistle, Peters fell back into the net with the puck under him.  A goal was awarded to Swavely at 9:51 for a 2-1 advantage.

The Bears battled for the equalizer by spending well over a minute forechecking in the Phantoms’ end.  The Phantoms had a chance to clear the zone but Ryan Stanton stepped off the bench and blocked the attempt.  He then fed Travis Boyd, who turned and fired a shot past Stolarz at 16:21.

Sill’s game-winning goal came at 2:19 of the third period.  Liam O’Brien and Garrett Mitchell did the grunt work of getting the puck free from behind the net.  Sill set up shop at the top of the crease and one-timed O’Brien’s feed over Stolarz for his ninth of the season.

Sean Collins capped off the win with an empty-net goal inside the final minute of play.  Chris Bourque set it up for his AHL-leading 80th point of the season.

Peters stopped 26 of 28 shots to improve to 17-8-7.  Stolarz made 28 saves on 31 shots and fell to 20-18-7.  The Bears finished the night 1-for-7 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.

The Bears wrap up the regular season with Fan Appreciation Night and a matchup against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins tomorrow, April 17.  Face-off will follow a pre-game player awards ceremony set to begin at 5:00 PM.  All fans in attendance will receive a scratch-off card containing one of several prizes.  Individual tickets are available at the GIANT Center box office, by calling 717-508-BEAR or online at TicketMaster.com.

NOTES: Hershey’s first-round playoff opponent is yet to be determined and will be announced at the conclusion of tomorrow’s game…Travis Boyd recorded his 16th point (9-7-16) in 14 career games against the Phantoms…Chris Bourque collected the Les Cunningham Award for being voted AHL MVP prior to the game…Dylan Margonari made his AHL debut for Hershey…Justin Peters improved to 5-0-1 in his last six starts…The Bears scratched LW Paul Carey, C Carter Camper, G Adam Carlson and RW Dustin Gazley…D Tyler Lewington served a one-game suspension announced by the AHL earlier in the day…The Phantoms scratched C Phil DeSimone, LW Radel Fazleev, G Jason LaBarbera, D Christian Marti, LW Danick Martel, RW Aaron Palushaj, RW Michael Parks, D Logan Pyett, LW Jay Rosehill and D Travis Sanheim.