The Bears’ top four leading scorers (and Zach Sill) provided the goals in Hershey’s 5-2 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Monday. Reigning AHL player-of-the-week, Vitek Vanecek, made 23 saves in the win.

The Bears’ second leading scorer, Chris Bourque, got the Bears’ first goal, his 499th career point for Hershey. Travis Boyd, the team’s leading scorer, would put the Bears up less than a minute later. Next, Paul Carey would extend his point streak to 19 games on a deflection. Christian Thomas and Zach Sill finished the game off for the Bears with goals in the third.

Boyd now has 29 points in 29 games. The goal also marks his second straight double digit goal season in the AHL.

Chris Bourque goal

Travis Boyd goal

Full highlights

Game recap

(Allentown, PA- December 26, 2016)-Goals from five different players, and 23 saves from Vitek Vanecek propelled the Hershey Bears to a 5-2 victory over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Monday night at the PPL Center. Hershey forward Paul Carey scored in the win, extending his point streak to 19 games.

Trailing 1-0 after the opening period, Hershey charged out with a strong middle frame, scoring three times to take a 3-2 lead through 40 minutes. Forward Chris Bourque opened the scoring for the Bears, tying the game, 1-1, at 4:22. Chandler Stephenson tracked down a loose puck on the left wing and fed Bourque in the slot. The forward struck for his eighth goal of the season, and his 499th career point with Hershey.

Only 53 seconds later, the Bears struck again on the power play. Travis Boyd scored his 10th goal of the season, one-timing a shot from the left wing past netminder Alex Lyon’s glove to make it 2-1 Hershey. Christian Djoos collected his 10th assist in the month of December, feeding Boyd for the goal.

Hershey briefly took a 3-1 lead on Carey’s streak-extending goal at 17:09. Carey deflected Aaron Ness’ shot from the left point past the glove of Lyon. Carey, who has collected a point in every game he has skated in since October 26, is now tied for third in club history for the longest point streak. He matched Tony McKegney’s mark of 19 established during the 1978-98 season.

Leading 3-2 entering the third period, Christian Thomas deflected a Ryan Bourque shot over Lyon for his 13th goal of the season at 5:37 to make it 4-2 Hershey. Zach Sill added an additional tally for the Bears at 14:02, firing a slapshot by the glove of Lyon for his sixth goal of the season.

Hershey moved within one point of the Phantoms in the Atlantic Division standings with the win. The Bears outshot the Phantoms 30-25.

Hershey plays next on Wednesday evening in Syracuse. The puck drops at 7 p.m. and the game can be heard on the Bears Radio Network.

Headline photo: Amanda Statland