(Kate Frese/SB Nation)
By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 
One night after a 4-1 win over Providence gave them a 2-1 series lead, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms put together a tremendous first period in a potential elimination game, they nearly let it get away.
The Bruins rallied back from a three-goal deficit to tie the game and force overtime. They were in total control, even in sudden death, when Maxim Lamarche stepped up and played hero.
Lamarche scored the game-winning goal with 1:24 left in overtime, giving the Phantoms a 4-3 win and sending them to the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs with a 3-1 series win.
The Phantoms opened the scoring at 7:27 as a long-range shot by T.J. Brennan went through traffic and beat netminder Jordan Binnington to make it 1-0.
Less than a minute later, the Phantoms struck again with Chris Conner scoring to make it 2-0 with all players becoming engaged in extra-curriculars and even Binnington trying to engage Alex Lyon in an altercation.
There was a wild scrum just over a minute after Connor's goal.
With 3:34 left in the period, the Phantoms capped off a tremendous first period with another goal as Connor scored his second of the game to make it 3-0.
The Phantoms outshot the Bruins, 14-6, in the opening 20 minutes.
Binnington exited after one period in favor of Zane McIntyre and the Bruins started to apply pressure. By the end of the second period, shots were even at 20 apiece and the Bruins finally got on the board with 2:26 remaining on a goal by Tommy Cross.
In the third period, Providence completely outplayed the Phantoms, who sat back in the final 20 minutes. The Phantoms were outshot, 18-4, and the Bruins made them pay.
Anton Blidh cut the lead to one with eight minutes to play. Austin Czarnik deflected a shot by Paul Postma by Lyon with 5:01 remaining in the third to tie the game at three.
That forced overtime and when the two teams returned to the ice, it was more of the same. The Bruins outshot the Phantoms, 14-4, and Lyon kept the Phantoms in the game with several great saves.
Finally, with 1:24 left, it was Lamarche who played hero, taking a sharp-angle shot and finding a way to beat McIntyre to give the Phantoms the win in Game 4 and the series win.
In total, Lyon made 49 saves in the win. McIntyre made 13 saves on 14 shots in the loss.
The Phantoms now advance to the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs to face the Charlotte Checkers. Games 1 and 2 will be in Allentown at PPL Center. Games 3 and 4 will be in Charlotte. If necessary, Game 5 will also be in Charlotte and Games 6 and 7 will be back in Allentown. The series begins with the first two games in Allentown on Friday, May 4 and Saturday, May 5.
