The two-time defending champion Hershey Bears are in unfamiliar territory after falling to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 4-2 in Game 3 of the Atlantic Division Semifinals.
The Bears now trail in the best-of-five series 2-1 and are facing elimination on Friday for the first time since June 12, 2024 — Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
“Well right now it’s do or die,” Bears head coach Todd Nelson said. “We have to come back and try to get a win Friday.”
Playing without two-way centermen Henrik Rybinski and Garrett Roe, Hershey gave up their third shorthanded goal in the last two games. Phantoms forward Jacob Gaucher was the beneficiary of a lucky bounce — the Phantoms’ clear hit an official — and a Bears turnover, beating goaltender Hunter Shepard on a breakaway 11:23 into the first period.
Gaucher’s shorty came two days after Zayde Wisdom scored two consecutive shorthanded goals in the third period of Game 2, giving Lehigh Valley a 3-1 win in Game 2.
“They get another shorthanded goal, so our power play is going to be shaken up a bit,” Nelson said. “It’s going to be a different look on Friday for sure.”
The Bears would battle back from the 1-0 deficit early in the second period, scoring two goals in 1:24.
Defenseman Andrew Perrott, in the lineup for an injured Nicky Leiverman, scored his first career AHL playoff goal in his AHL playoff debut. Perrot sent a one-timer from the point through Parker Gahagen’s five-hole. The goal was set up by Matt Strome, who patiently waited for Perrott to skate into the zone before sending him the puck.
Ivan Miroshnichenko, the Bears’ leading goal-scorer in the regular season (23), made it 2-1 after he snapped a shot off Gahagen’s glove and in. The talented Russian forward lit the lamp despite being converged on by three different Phantoms defenders at the same time. The tally marked his first of the 2025 postseason.
The Bears grabbed momentum after the two tallies, but it was short-lived. The Phantoms rallied after Gahagen was forced out of the net with 8:48 remaining in the second period.
Gahagen was hurt as he stretched out to stop a Mike Sgarbossa high-danger chance near the crease. At the next TV timeout, he left the game and immediately went down to the locker room, yielding the crease to veteran Cal Petersen.
After a dubious holding call on Pierrick Dubé, the Phantoms tied the game nine seconds after the Frenchman entered the box via a Garrett Wilson power-play goal. Wilson stuffed a rebound under Shepard after the 2023 Playoff MVP made an incredible stop on Jett Luchanko.
The Phantoms took the lead for good after Nikita Grebenkin scored what would end up being the game-winner with 4:09 remaining in the second period. The Phantoms’ 22-year-old left wing benefited from a fortunate bounce off the end boards, sending home a quick shot past Shepard from the left circle.
Olle Lycksell gave the Phantoms an insurance goal with 5:51 remaining in the third period, beating Shepard to the top corner.
Petersen stopped all 15 shots he faced in relief, including an incredible stick save late in the third period, to help push Hershey to the brink.
“They’re playing smart, they’re playing strong. You know, their top guys are getting it done,” Nelson said of Lehigh Valley. “Our guys aren’t. You know, so internally for us, we’ve got to dig deep. I don’t think everybody in that locker room right now is giving us 110 percent. I don’t. We’ll address that. And there’ll be changes made for the next game.”
Game 4 is set for PPL Center on Friday. If the Bears can tie the series, a decisive Game 5 will be at Giant Center on Sunday.
