Bill Meltzer

5 days ago | hockeyhotstove.com | Bill Meltzer

he Lehigh Valley Phantoms dropped a 6-4 verdict to the Hershey Bears at PPL Center on Friday evening. It was a lost opportunity for the Phantoms to move on in the playoffs. Instead, the best-of-five series will be decided on Sunday at Giant Center in Hershey. The victor will take on the winner of the Charlotte Checkers series against the Providence Bruins. The Phantoms spent most of Friday’s match chasing the game. Ian Laperriere’s team showed its characteristic resilience.

5 days ago | nhl.com | Bill Meltzer

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms have a golden opportunity on Friday night. Ian Laperriere's team, with a home-ice victory in Game 4, will eliminate the two-time defending Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears in the Atlantic Division semifinal. Win and the Phantoms move on to the best-of-five Atlantic Division Final. Lehigh Valley would play the winner of the Charlotte Checkers vs. Providence Bruins series. The B-Bruins avoided a sweep on Thursday with 3-2 road win in Game Three.

6 days ago | hockeyhotstove.com | Bill Meltzer

Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen remained scorching hot in Game One of the Western Conference Semifinal against the Winnipeg Jets. Coming off consecutive four-point nights in the final two games of the first round, Rantanen assembled a natural hat trick in the Western Conference Semifinal opener against the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday. In the end, Dallas prevailed, 3-2. The Stars trailed, 1-0, in the second period. At 8:43, Rantanen knotted the score. Next, the Finn put Dallas in the lead at 16:43.

6 days ago | hockeyhotstove.com | Bill Meltzer

Former Flyers coach Craig Berube and forward Scott Laughton enjoy a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Semifinal. The Dallas Stars took their Western Conference Semifinal opener. Meanwhile, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms can clinch their series against Hershey on Friday. The IIHF World Championships start preliminary round play on Friday. Simultaneously, the Philadelphia Flyers quietly go about off-season business.

1 week ago | hockeyhotstove.com | Bill Meltzer

The Dallas Stars in Manitoba on Wednesday for Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals. Both team earned massive comeback victories in Game Seven of their respective first-round series. The Stars trailed the Colorado Avalanche, 2-0, in the third period. Mikko Rantanen saved the season, exploding for a hat trick and an assist. Meanwhile, Wyatt Johnston (power play) scored the series-winning goal. The Stars prevailed, 4-2.