Phantoms Close it Out with Feisty 4-3 Rivalry Win at Hershey
April 19, 2025
Hershey, PA – Don’t tell the players on these two teams that the game didn’t mean anything. While both the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Hershey Bears were already locked into their positions in the standings, Game #72 was played with plenty of emotion befitting the fierce rivalry the teams have developed through the years. Newcomer Alex Bump scored his first pro goal as part of a two-point game in helping lead the Lehigh Valley Phantoms to a 4-3 win in the final game of the regular season.
Lehigh Valley (36-28-8) closed it out with a three-game win streak as the Phantoms built momentum into the upcoming Calder Cup Playoffs matchup against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Both teams were resting several of their regulars and key players in the season finale. But when it’s the Phantoms against the Bears, you know it’s not going to be a casual night of going through the motions.
Sawyer Boulton opened the scoring with his first goal of the season at 8:30 into the game slamming it home from out in front after Bump stripped a defenseman of the puck behind the Hershey goal. Boulton’s first career AHL goal and second as a pro gave the Phantoms a 1-0 lead.
Ivan Miroshnichenko (22nd) scored the first of his two goals on the night with a blast from the left wing on the rush that just did barely dribble over the line behind Parker Gahagen after he almost got all of it. The Bears had tied it at 12:25 into the first.
Then came Bump’s first pro goal. From inside the left dot, he received the flick back from the crease on a nifty exchange from Elliot Desnoyers and Jett Luchanko on the power play for a 2-1 lead at 14:47. The 21-year-old from Prior Lake, Minn. had just won the NCAA Championship with Western Michigan last Saturday before making his pro debut on Friday at PPL Center against Cleveland followed by his first pro goal and multi-point performance against Hershey to conclude his whirlwind week.
Luke Philp (10th) converted at 6:41 into the second on a little give-and-go into the zone to even the score for the Bears.
Brendan Furry (10th) held off the defense staying trying to chase im down and the speedy winger cut in on goaltender Seth Eisele for a little backhand knock five-hole for another breakaway beauty. Furry’s fifth shorthanded goal of the season put him in a tie for the AHL lead with Graham Slaggart of Rochester and Jon Leonard of Charlotte.
Miroshichenko (23rd) would score again at 11:57 of the second on a backdoor blast past the stick side of Gahagen to even the count at 3-3.
Ben Gleason (2nd) scored against Hershey for his second consecutive game on a power drive from center point on the power play to put the Phantoms ahead at 4-3 at 17:06 of the second period.
The third period included many scraps and physical exchanges as the play intensified. Brendan Furry defending his goaltender received a misconduct after exchanging some punches and shoves with former Phantom and well-known pot-stirrer Brennan Saunier.
With the various overlapping penalties, the Phantoms penalty kill was put to the test even more down the stretch, including a brief 6-on-4 kill in the final minutes. Lehigh Valley finished at 8-for-8 on the P.K.
Hershey had a wild exchange at the net front with about a minute remaining and appeared to have tied the game when the puck tumbled over the shoulder of Gahagen and into the net. But the goal was waived off after a high stick was called against Luke Philp trying to get a piece of it on the way.
Zayde Wisdom blocked a shot with two seconds left during another 6-on-4 to finish off the victory as well as the regular season.
Alexis Gendron and Jacob Gaucher finished tied for the team lead in goals with 20 apiece. Both players had the day off for this one.
Olle Lycksell was the team’s points leader scoring 19-25-44 on the season in just 43 games played. Lycksell also was out of the lineup for the finale. Lycksell’s 25 assists were also tops on the team barely beating out Louie Belpedio who had 23.
The Phantoms finished the regular season with a three-game win streak and scored 16 goals in the stretch including wins by scores of 5-1, 7-3 and 4-3. Lehigh Valley finished with a 5-4-1 mark against Hershey this season.
Up next are the Calder Cup Playoffs beginning with Game 1 of the Best of 3 Series on Wednesday night at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
The Phantoms will host Game 2 of the series on Friday night at PPL Center.
Game 3, if necessary, will take place back in Wilkes-Barre on Sunday.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st 8:30 – LV, S. Boulton (1) (A. Bump) (1-0)
1st 12:25 – HER, I. Miroshnichenko (22) (H. Rybinski, B. Hunt) (1-1)
1st 14:47 – LV, A. Bump (1) (E. Desnoyers, J. Luchanko) (PP) (2-1)
2nd 6:41 – HER, L. Philp (10) (R. Chesley, L. Persson) (2-2)
2nd 8:48 – LV, B. Furry (10) (E. Desnoyers, T. Murchison) (SH) (3-2)
2nd 11:57 – HER, I. Miroshnichenko (23) (H. Rybinski, B. Trineyev) (3-3)
2nd 17:06 – LV, B. Gleason (3) (O. Eklind, M. Rizzo) (PP) (4-3)
Shots:
LV 20 – HER 33
PP:
LV 2/6, HER 0/8
Goaltenders:
LV – P. Gahagen (W) (12-4-3) (30/33)
HER – S. Eisele (L) (0-1-0) (16/20)
Records:
Lehigh Valley (36-28-8)
Hershey (44-20-8)
UPCOMING
Calder Cup Playoffs
Game 1 – Wednesday, April 23 – Lehigh Valley at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Game 2 – Friday, April 25 – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Lehigh Valley
Game 3 (if necessary) – Sunday, April 27 (6:05) – Lehigh Valley at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
