Eric Bertrand's overtime goal lifted the Phantoms to a 5-4 win last night over the Hershey Bears in an American Hockey League game at the First Union Spectrum.
Serge Aubin, the league's top scorer, had a hat trick for the Bears, but the Phantoms rallied in front of a sellout crowd of 17,380 for their sixth consecutive victory.
The Phantoms' net was empty when Andy Delmore scored with one minute remaining in regulation to tie it, 4-4. Bertrand scored 2 minutes, 15 seconds into OT.
After controlling play for most of the first two periods, the Phantoms had only a one-goal lead. Aubin then took over in the third period, scoring twice to give Hershey the lead.
But with the Phantoms' net empty, Delmore took the puck out of his team's end and streaked down the ice. He put a wrist shot past goalie David Aebischer to force overtime.
With less than three minutes left in OT, newcomer Todd White warded off two Hershey defenders and muscled his way to the middle of the ice. He then found Bertrand in the slot, and Bertrand put a low shot through Aebischer's legs for the win.
It was the first home win against Hershey in three tries this season.
