The Lehigh Valley Phantoms will visit the Hershey Bears at the Giant Center on February 21, 2026, with puck drop scheduled for 7:00 PM EST. Both teams are vying to improve their standings, with the Phantoms holding a 22-22-2-2 record and the Bears slightly ahead at 22-19-6-2. This Hershey Bears game preview highlights key players and recent performances as anticipation builds for this important AHL contest.
Recent Performance Insights for the Phantoms
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms defeated Hershey 4-1 during their previous meeting on Friday night. However, the Phantoms have struggled recently, earning just one win in their last five games while averaging 2.6 goals per game and allowing four goals on average. They currently lead the season series against Hershey with a 4-2-1-1 record, demonstrating competitive edge in head-to-head matchups.
Hershey Bears’ Current Form
The Bears also come off a 4-1 loss to the Phantoms, reflecting some inconsistency in recent play. Over their last five outings, Hershey has managed a 2-3-0-0 record, scoring 2.4 goals per game but conceding 3.6 goals on average. Their record against Lehigh Valley this season is 4-3-1-0, indicating a closely contested rivalry.
Projected Lineups for Lehigh Valley Phantoms
The Phantoms are expected to deploy the following lines: Bump-Pederson-Robertson; Gendron-Gaucher-Tomasino; Richard-Dorwart-Marody; Wilson-Wisdom-Kaplan; and McDonald-Bonk on forwards, with Kyrou-Guenette, Ginning-Grans, and Bjarnason-Kolosov on defense.
Expected Hershey Bears Line Combinations
Hershey’s lineup should feature Miroschnichenko-Protas-Trineyev; Suzdalev-Rybinski-Leason; Cristall-Strome-Clarke; Smith-Cruikshank-Hofer; and Schueneman-Chesley on offense, supported by Muggli-Belpedio and Gucciardi-McDonald on defense, with Gibson and Stevenson in goal-related roles.
Players to Keep an Eye On
Among the Phantoms, Lane Pederson leads with 32 points, including 16 goals. Christian Kyrou is the top assist provider with 19 assists, while rookie Ty Murchison stands out with a plus/minus rating of +12, reflecting his solid two-way play.
For Hershey, Ilya Protas tops the team in scoring with 40 points and 19 goals. Andrew Cristall leads the Bears with 29 assists, and David Gucciardi holds the highest plus/minus rating at +9 this season.
Upcoming Scheduling for Both Teams
Following tonight’s game, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms will face the Providence Bruins on February 25, while the Hershey Bears are set to take on the Utica Comets on the same date, continuing their respective campaigns in the AHL.
