Bears use power play to end Phantoms' hopes

Unable to contain a relentless Hershey Bears power play, the Phantoms took a 7-2 loss last night and were eliminated from playoff contention in the AHL.

The Bears were 4 for 6 on the power play at the Wachovia Spectrum and took control of the game with four straight goals that left them coasting, 5-1, after two periods.

Ryan Parent scored his first professional goal for the Phantoms, and John Slaney also scored.

Claude Giroux, the Flyers' first-round pick in the 2006 NHL draft, made his debut.

After Hershey had taken a 1-0 lead on a goal by Kip Brennan early in the first period, the Phantoms responded with the goal from Slaney in a five-on-three situation.

But Hershey scored the next four goals, with one coming before the first intermission and three in the second period.

Joey Tenute scored on the power play at 16 minutes, 20 seconds of the opening stanza, followed by a man-up goal by Scott Barney at 7:09 of the second period.

About 90 seconds later, Chris Bourque scored at even strength, putting one past goalie Scott Munroe at 8:37. The Bears grabbed one more goal before the break, a power-play goal by Alexandre Giroux at 17:46.