LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa – The Phantoms welcomed their fans back to PPL Center after two weeks away with a thrilling shootout win over their division rival Hershey Bears on Friday night 6-5. It was just the third meeting between the two teams on the young season, and it would end much like the first.
The scoring affair would get started early, as Tyrell Goulbourne gave the Phantoms a 1-0 lead just 1:22 into the first. Kevin Goumas found himself below the near side circle, and saw Goulbourne cutting between the circles. He set number 12 up for a perfect one timer that beat Dan Ellis and the Phantoms were rolling early. The Bears would respond 
just over seven minutes later as Mike Moore would tally his first professional goal on a shot from the top of the circles that goalie Connor Knapp could not see. Tyler Lewington would also get in on the action with his first pro goal in a much similar way. A failed clearing attempt found Lewingtons stick at the point a he floated a little knuckler over the shoulder of Knapp through a screen. A Connor Carrick slashing minor just a minute later would give the Phantoms a power play opportunity to tie the game. The Phantoms were 0-20 in their last five games on the man advantage, but that would all change thanks to a returning forward. Taylor Leier, who had just been swapped with Nick Cousins earlier in the day, found the puck along the near side boards and sped down the wing. He started to cut toward the net at the goal line, and snapped a wrist shot from a bad angle that beat Ellis top shelf to tie the game.
A crazy first period made for an even more hectic second, and these two teams with such a long history would start showing what this rivalry has been all about. Hershey would take the lead back early though on a play that has become very popular in the Capitals system. Austin Fyten would skate below the goal line and spin a pass back out in front to Travis Boyd who would pot his third back door on Knapp. This play has become Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsovs bread and butter this year. The Phantoms would get the goal back on another power play goal half way through the period. Leier would be tripped up, but able to slide a cross crease feed to Petr Straka to score his league leading 13th goal in 20 games, and he would add another just over six minutes later. A point shot from Davis Drewiske would be tipped on goal by Tim Brent, and the puck would come flying off Ellis pad right to Straka who had a wide open cage to extend his AHL lead to 14 goals. The other highlight of the period would be another Tyrell Goulbourne knock out, this time of Bears rookie Tyler Lewington. Goulbournes been preaching that his more than just a player that can throw them, and he proved that in this game.
The scoring would stop till a little over half way through the third, when Nathan Walker would find his own rebound. He took a shot that Knapp thought he had, but it sat in the crease till walker found it a put it just over his pad to retie the game at four. Four minutes later, a three on two break out would see Evan Rankin reach below the far side circle, and spin a pass back out in front, where who else but Goulbourne would be waiting to tap in his second of the game. Post game, Tyrell would tell me that “I want to be able to be a complete player, be good in my defensive zone, and be ready to drop the gloves if I need to, and I think I’m doing a good job of that this year.” Unfortunately, the Phantoms and Goulbourne would not be able to hold the lead, as a Riley Barber cross ice saucer pass would find Paul Carey for a tap in out of mid-air to tie the game with under four minutes to play. The two teams would remain scoreless through the rest of the way, setting up the second overtime between the two in just three meetings this year.
Much like all other three on three overtime games, this one would see a lot of two on one breaks, with both teams countering them magnificently on the defensive side of the puck. The teams would remain scoreless and go to a shootout, but there would be a scary situation for Lehigh Valley before the OT clock expired. Knapp would sprawl to make a save, and come up favoring his left leg. Obviously hurt, the goalie would push on till the shootout, and stay in to show his toughness.
After four scoreless shootout rounds, Tim Brent would finally break the tie with a beautiful top shelf back hander to set the Phantoms up for a win if Knapp could stop Sean Collins. He would do just that to send Phan Nation home happy with a win. This is the second time the Phantoms have beaten the Bears in a shootout this season, doing it once in Chocolate Town earlier. They will complete their Bear-filled weekend when the Bruins invade Allentown on Saturday night at 7:05.
You must be logged in to post a comment.