The Hershey Bears were shut out 2-0 by the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at PPL Center as they attempted to close out the best-of-five Atlantic Division semifinal series in Game Three, Wednesday. The Bears played uncharacteristically flat, staying mostly to the perimeter and firing only 11 shots total in the second and third periods combined. The team’s power play also went 0-for-5.
Bears head coach Todd Nelson called out his players’ effort in the moments after the final horn sounded and cautioned them publicly that they couldn’t overlook a talented and hardworking Phantoms team.
His tenor turned more optimistic on Friday morning after the team had an energetic practice at Giant Center.
“After the game, it wasn’t so much that we lost the game, it was how we did,” Nelson said. “Lack of effort from a lot of people. We were out-competed. We were disengaged for whatever reason. Our heads weren’t into it. I don’t know why. But obviously, the way the game went, they gave it to us pretty good. Got to give them credit, they’re a good hockey team, they’re a big hockey team, they play physical. We got to match the competitive side of things and I think you guys realize that now. Today was a really good practice. The energy was great. The guys in chocolate are good to play [Saturday] night.”
He added, “I pretty much threw the video in the garbage, to be quite honest. There was so much stuff going on. We just have to simplify and keep it basic. We were out of sync and that’s partly because we weren’t ready and they were. I think they met us off balance. But I think the biggest thing that we have to adjust is our mindset going into the game. We understand it’s a series. We’re going back into the building — they’ll have a big crowd there, I’m sure. It’s a tough place to play. And we’re a good hockey team, like I said, so I think it’s more of a mindset than anything from a technical standpoint. We’re not going to adjust a whole lot; we just have to get back to playing basic hockey.”
One major change the Bears are making heading into Game Four is healthy-scratching high-scoring forward Matthew Phillips. The diminutive Phillips has been a non-factor in the first three games of the series so far, posting no points and generating only two shots on goal. He has a plus-minus of minus-two.
In the second half of the season after being reclaimed by the Washington Capitals on waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins, Phillips volleyed back and forth between the Caps and Bears. He posted 6 points (3g, 3a) in 9 games for the Bears down the stretch.
“Well, it’s been something I probably couldn’t have predicted coming into this year, and there’s been some ups and there’s been some downs,” Phillips said to RMNB in April. “There’s been a lot of uncertainty, I would say, and it’s obviously been — I’m very happy that I kind of made that jump and made it in the NHL out of camp and got my feet wet there.
“It’s not easy being in and out of the lineup; any player would say that. And then the whole Pittsburgh stint for a little bit and then reclaimed. The last about month and a half has been a lot of craziness for me, but it’s just one of those things where sometimes you just have to kind of laugh and keep moving and just bring your best wherever you are.”
Nelson also moved Jimmy Huntington to second line center, and bumped Mike Vecchione down to third line right wing. Garrett Roe substituted in for Phillips and will center a line with Ivan Miroshnichenko and Vecchione on the wings.
Bears lineup for Game 4
“We’re trying to find some line combinations that work,” Nelson said. “I think just playing a solid 200-foot game will be beneficial. Arguably our fourth line’s been our best line in the series. The top line, they produced in Game Two. But the other two lines, we’ve been tinkering with the lines and the combinations. So hopefully what we did will help us out.”
Having a good start has been crucial in this series. So far, the team that has scored first has gone on to win each game. Per Bears PR, Hershey had a league-leading 40 wins when scoring first, going 40-2-0-1. In the 2023 postseason, Hershey went 9-2 when scoring first, and 5-4 when allowing the first goal.
“They have a great team,” defenseman Aaron Ness said. “They’re a great lineup, top to bottom, great coaching. They’re doing a good job and they battled hard on us last game. And now we need to reset. Everyone knows that now and we learned from it.”
Puck drop is at 7:05 pm at PPL Center. If the Bears can close out the series, they will face the Hartford Wolf Pack in the Atlantic Division finals. A deciding Game Five will be held at Giant Center on Sunday if Hershey loses to Lehigh Valley tonight.
