By Michael Heilman

After coming off a 3-2 win over the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins Wednesday night, the Phantoms returned home for a “home and home series” against the Hershey Bears Saturday night at the PPL Center.

Six minutes and twenty-eight seconds into the first period, the Phantoms struck first as Mikhail Vorobyev (3), who just returned from the Flyers, scored a short-handed goal to give the Phantoms a 1-0 lead. Vorobyev’s lone goal sent the Phantoms to the locker room with a 1-0 lead at the end of the first period.

The action picked up in the second period at three minutes and forty-three seconds when both the Bears Kale Kessy and Phantoms Kurtis Gabriel were sent to the penalty box for fighting and unsportsmanlike conduct for removing their helmets. The Bears capitalized on the four on four play to tie the game 1-1 on a backhand goal by Matt Moulson (5). Martin Fehervary (5), and Mike Sgarbossa (7) assisted in Moulson’s goal.

Four minutes and four seconds later, the Bears would take the lead on a goal by Liam O’Brien (4) to give Hershey a 2-1 lead. With less than a minute left in the second period, the Phantoms tied the game 2-2 on a goal by Greg Carey (4). Mikhail Vorobyev (3), and Morgan Frost (6) assisted in Carey’s goal. Both teams headed to the locker room tied 2-2 at the end of the second period.

Neither team could score in the third period and had to settle for overtime. The Phantoms Andy Welinski (2) scored the game-winning goal to send the crowd home happy as the Lehigh Valley Phantoms defeated the Hershey Bears 3-2 in overtime. Morgan Frost (7) and Cal O’Reilly (5) assisted in Welinski’s goal.

The Phantoms had a total of thirty-two shots while the Bears had thirty shots. The Phantoms were one and four on the power play while the Bears went zero and five.

Phantoms goalie Alex Lyon made twenty-eight saves out of thirty, allowing two goals while Bears goalie Phoenix Copley made twenty-nine saves out of thirty-two, allowing three goals.

The three stars of the game were Phantoms defensemen Andy Welinski, who had one goal, Phantoms forward Mikhail Vorobyev had one goal and one assist, and Phantoms goalie Alex Lyon saved twenty-eight out of thirty.

The Phantoms will now finish the “home and home series” against the Hershey Bears Sunday at 5 pm from the Giant Arena.