The Hershey Bears, in what has become a trademark of the Todd Nelson-coached team, notched another big playoff win.
Facing elimination for only the third time in the last three postseasons, the Bears defeated the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 6-4 in Game 4 and will return home for a series-deciding Game 5 at Giant Center on Sunday.
Hershey got two goals from Pierrick Dubé while Bogdan Trineyev, Mike Vecchione, Chase Priskie, and Ivan Miroshnichenko also dented the twine to give the Bears a hockey touchdown. Clay Stevenson won his first career AHL postseason start, making 28 saves on 32 shots.
Bogdan Trineyev got the Bears on the board first, 5:46 into the opening frame, beating Cal Petersen from the top of the circles with a wrist shot. Riley Sutter set up the Russian forward streaking down the middle lane.
Defenseman Chase Priskie struck next with a big shot from the left point as a Bears power play expired.
Mike Vecchione made the score 3-0 Bears during a reload up the ice as both teams were skating four-on-four. Spencer Smallman left a pass for Vecchione at the top of the left circle, giving the author of the 2023 Calder Cup-winning goal enough open ice to find the back of the net.
The Phantoms responded early in the second period, scoring twice in 35 seconds to narrow the score to 3-2. Zayde Wisdom notched his third goal of the series while Rodrigo Ābols made the Bears pay after a Vincent Iorio turnover in the defensive zone.
But Big Game Pierrick Dubé officially put the game out of the reach, tallying twice in 3:14 late in the frame. His first goal came on a Bears power play. Dubé found a rebound off a Brad Hunt shot from the point.
As Dubé celebrated his marker, he cuffed his hand to his ear to a quieted PPL Center crowd.
Dubé’s second goal came at five-on-five after a great carry-in and work along the sideboards by Hendrix Lapierre. After Alex Limoges put a shot on net, Dubé again found the rebound, beating Petersen. The tally would mark the game-winning goal.
Ivan Miroshnichenko added a goal late, scoring his second goal of the series on a wraparound during a power play.
The Phantoms’ Oscar Eklind and Jacob Gaucher added strikes late in the third period, but their comeback bid came up short.
Game 5 will be at Hershey’s Giant Center on Sunday. Puck drop is at 5 pm.
Notes: Stevenson’s start in goal came after Hunter Shepard started 43 consecutive games in net, nearing a franchise record. Todd Nelson went with 11 forwards and 7 defensemen for the game, healthy-scratching Mike Sgarbossa and dressing veteran Garrett Roe.
