Game Preview: Bears at Phantoms, 7:05 p.m.

May 5, 2021

The Hershey Bears continue the 2020-21 season, presented by Penn State Health, this evening on the road versus the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. at the PPL Center. Hershey enters the contest in first place in the North Division, and the Bears are going for a fourth straight win. 

Hershey Bears (20-6-2-0) at Lehigh Valley Phantoms (15-6-3-1)
May 5, 2021 | 7:05 PM | Game #29 | PPL Center
Referees: Jordan Deckard (#14), Rob Hennessey (#87)
Linesmen: Patrick Dapuzzo (#57), Tom DellaFranco (#71)

DOWNLOAD: AHL MEDIA KIT (Rosters, stats, and standings)

Broadcast Information 
RADIO: WFVY-100.1 FM, Fox Sports 1460-AM, SportsRadio 98.9-FM & WOYK 1350-AM
WATCH LIVE: AHLTV
LISTEN LIVE: Fox Sports AM-1460 Stream
Voice of the Bears, Zack Fisch on the call

LAST TIME OUT:
These two clubs met up last Sunday at GIANT Center with the Bears earning a 2-0 victory. The win was Hershey's third straight victory and netminder Hunter Shepard earned a 28-save shutout in his AHL debut for the Chocolate and White. Brett Leason was the lone shooter to beat Lehigh Valley goaltender Felix Sandstrom, who turned aside 40 shots in the losing effort. Axel Jonsson-Fjallby added an empty net goal in the closing minute of regulation to give Hershey a seventh straight win on home ice. The Bears outshot the Phantoms 42-28 in the win. Shane Gersich had two assists for the Bears.

CINCO DE MAYO HOCKEY:
The Bears take the ice tonight on Cinco De Mayo for the first time in eight years. The last time the Chocolate and White had a game on May 5 was in 2013 during the opening round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. That day, the Bears hosted the Providence Bruins in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal, falling 5-4. Carter Camper, who would join the Bears a few seasons later, had a hat trick for the Bruins, and Hershey got a pair of goals from Joey Crabb, and a tally from current Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson. The last time the Bears won on Cinco De Mayo came in 2007 in Game 3 of the East Division Final versus Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Baby Pens went 0-for-10 on the power play and Hershey netminder Freddy Cassivi posted a 19-save shutout in a 2-0 victory. Matt Hendricks and Quintin Lang had the goals for the Bears. 

THE MATCHUP:
Hershey is 4-3-2-0 versus the Phantoms this season. The Bears have won the last two matchups in the season series, outscoring their Keystone State foes, 8-1, in those games. Lehigh Valley enters on a 0-2-1-0 skid while Hershey has won three straight games and is 9-1-0-0 over their past 10 contests. Both teams are exceptional when they gain early leads as the Phantoms are 10-0-2-0 when leading after 20 minutes, while the Bears are a perfect 9-0-0-0. Hershey's Cameron Schilling is the leading scorer in the season series with eight points (one goal, seven assists). 

KEEPING IT 100:
Goaltender Pheonix Copley enters tonight's game with 99 career victories in the AHL. He looks to become the first goaltender to earn his 100th victory in a Hershey sweater since both Dan Ellis and Justin Peters accomplished this in the 2015-16 season. Copley is 99-59-22 in his 189-game AHL career, posting a 2.55 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage. He is 2-1-1 versus the Phantoms this season is four appearances, with a strong 2.24 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.