The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are set to face the Hershey Bears in Game 4 of the Atlantic Division Semifinals tonight, May 9, 2025, at 7:05 p.m. at PPL Center in Allentown, PA, with a chance to clinch the best-of-five series, which they currently lead 2-1. However, Goaltender Parker Gahagen is unlikely to play due to an injury sustained in Game 3, where he left midway through the second period after making 15 saves on 17 shots. Cal Petersen stepped in, stopping all 15 shots faced, and is expected to start tonight, with Carson Bjarnason likely serving as the backup.
The Phantoms have momentum after a 4-2 win in Game 3, driven by goals from Jacob Gaucher (short-Handed), Garrett Wilson (Power Play), Nikita Grebenkin, and Olle Lycksell, with Petersen’s relief performance sealing the victory. Their penalty kill has been stellar, holding Hershey to 1-for-16 on the power play across the series, and they have capitalized on short-handed opportunities, scoring three shorties, including two from Zayde Wisdom in Game 2. Hershey, the two-time defending Calder Cup champions, faces elimination and will lean on goaltender Hunter Shepard, who has a 27-save shutout in Game 1 but has allowed seven goals over the last two games.
For the Phantoms to close out in dominant fashion, they will need to maintain their disciplined penalty kill, exploit special teams as they did with shorthanded and power-play goals, and rely on Petersen to stay sharp against Hershey’s potent offense, led by players like Alex Limoges and Ivan Miroshnichenko. The Bears, desperate to force a Game 5, are expected to adjust their struggling Power Play, which has been burned by shorthanded goals. Expect a physical, high-intensity game, with the Phantoms’ home crowd at PPL Center adding to the pressure on Hershey.
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The game will be broadcast on FOX43.2 Antenna TV
