Olle Lycksell extends point streak to three
November 30, 2022
Lehigh Valley, PA – Olle Lycksell (4th) scored for a second consecutive game and Garrett Wilson (4th) tallied late in the middle frame, but the Hershey Bears came away with a 4-2 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Wednesday night at PPL Center. Throughout the night, fans at PPL Center paid tribute to all branches of the United States Military on Military Appreciation Night. The bitter rivals are slated to rematch on Sunday, December 18 at GIANT Center in Hershey.
Lehigh Valley (8-7-2) erased two separate one-goal deficits against opposing Hershey (14-4-2), but a third-period strike by Bears’ forward Mike Sgarbossa later stood as the game-winner. Sam Ersson turned aside 31 of 34 Hershey shots in his first start since November 19 at Providence.
The Bears broke the ice in the later stages of the first period for the opening stanza’s lone marker. In the low-slot, Henrik Rybinski connected with an open Hendrix Lapierre for a lay-up at the 16:57 mark. Shots totaled 10-9 in favor of the Chocolate and White after 20 minutes.
Lehigh Valley’s first of an eventual two equalizers came courtesy of red-hot Olle Lycksell at 9:19 of the second period. On a nifty give-and-go play, Lycksell went to the cage and buried a pass from Cooper Marody. Cam York earned the secondary helper for his team-best 10th assist of the season.
Hershey regained the lead at 12:43 after hitting pay-dirt on their third power play chance of the night. Connor McMichael rifled a shot from the top of the left face-off circle for his second goal of the season.
Once again, the resilient Phantoms found an answer for the Atlantic Division-leading Bears. Garrett Wilson, from an improbable angle, eluded Hershey netminder Zach Fucale with 1:15 to spare before intermission. After catching a pass from Hayden Hodgson beneath the goal line, Wilson snapped a shot along the near-post to send a 2-2 game into the dressing room.
In the third period, Mike Sgarobssa jammed home a loose puck sitting in the blue paint for Hershey’s eventual game-winner at 3:28. Ethen Frank added an empty net goal with one minute remaining to round out a 4-2 final. Final shots on goal totaled 35-20 Hershey.
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms return to action on Friday, December 2 to open a back-to-back road set against the Charlotte Checkers. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 p.m. The next home games for the Phantoms are December 9 and December 10 in a weekend series against the Charlotte Checkers including Berks $1 Hot Dogs on Friday, December 9 followed by Phantoms Ballcaps from Service Electric on Saturday, December 10.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st 16:56 – HER H. Lapierre (5) (H. Rybinski, B. Nardella) 0-1
2nd 9:19 – LV O. Lycksell (4) (C. Marody, C. York) 1-1
2nd 12:43 – HER C. McMichael (B. Nardella, M. Sgarbossa) (PP) 1-2
2nd 18:45 – LV G. Wilson (4) (H. Hodgson, J. Bellerive) 2-2
3rd 3:28 – HER M. Sgarbossa (D. McIlrath, E. Frank) 2-3
3rd 19:00 – HER E. Frank (A. Ness, M. Sgarbossa) (EN) 2-4
Shots:
LV 20 – HER 35
PP:
LV 0/1, HER 1/3
Goalies:
LV – S. Ersson (L) (5-5-1) (31/34)
HER – Z. Fucale (W) (8-4-0) (18/20)
Records:
Lehigh Valley (8-6-2)
Hershey (13-4-2)
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Friday, December 2 (7:00) at Charlotte Checkers
Saturday, December 3 (6:00) at Charlotte Checkers
Wednesday, December 7 (7:00) at Hartford Wolf Pack
Friday, December 9 (7:05) vs. CHARLOTTE CHECKERS
Saturday, December 10 (7:05) vs. CHARLOTTE CHECKERS
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
Friday, December 9 (7:05) vs. Charlotte Checkers – Berks $1 Hot Dogs!
Saturday, December 10 (7:05) vs. Charlotte Checkers – Phantoms Hat Giveaway Presented by Service Electric
Saturday, December 17 (7:05) vs. Providence Bruins – Teddy Bear Toss Presented by Big Woody’s
