By Al Cohen
Philadelphia Phantoms Correspondent

Kirby Law scored with 12.3 seconds left in overtime to lift the Philadelphia Phantoms to a 3-2 victory over the Hershey Bears tonight at the GIANT Center.

Law actually scored on a redirection of a Dennis Seidenberg shot with 1:35 to go in overtime, but the goal was disallowed due to a high stick. After the Phantoms returned from prematurely celebrating in the locker room, Hershey captain D.J. Smith was sent off for interference with 66 seconds remaining, setting up a 4-on-3 advantage for the Phantoms.

On the decisive play, defensemen John Slaney and Seidenberg worked the puck to Law, who uncorked a long slap shot from beyond the near circle at 4:47 of the extra session for his fourth goal of the year and seventh point in the last three games.

Philadelphia won its third game in a row - all vs. Hershey - following a six-game winless streak. The Phantoms had won the previous two games over the Bears by a combined score of 11-3 and now lead the all-time series, 40-32-8-5.

Neil Little, who hadn't played since Oct. 25, made 29 saves to notch his first win since Oct. 12. The Phantoms have now won three straight games for the first time since Jan. 15-18 of last season.

Peter Budaj finished with 40 saves for Hershey, which has lost four of its last five games overall and four of its last six at home.

Hershey tallied the lone goal of the first period at the 15:49 mark. On the play, defenseman Pascal Trepanier controlled the puck behind the Phantoms net before finding Steve Moore alone in front for a one-timer past Little. Mikhail Kuleshov also assisted on Moore's second goal of the year.

Philadelphia didn't retaliate until the 14:51 mark of the second period. With Hershey's Shane Willis serving a roughing minor, Peter White fed Mike Peluso for a slap shot from the near circle. The rebound kicked out to rookie defenseman Freddy Meyer, who tallied his first career goal from the far circle.

But the Bears went up 2-1 with 47.6 seconds to go in the second on Ryan Craig's second goal of the season. Eric Perrin and Willis received assists during the scramble in front of the Philadelphia goal.

Philadelphia evened the score at 2-2 at 7:57 of the third period. After taking a feed from Seidenberg, captain Boyd Kane streaked down the far side and took a shot that Patrick Sharp barely redirected in for his fourth goal of the year and second in as many nights.

The Phantoms are back in action on Sunday at 6:05 p.m. when the Bridgeport Sound Tigers invade the Wachovia Spectrum. Philadelphia then plays four games in five days next week, beginning with its second annual School Day Game on Wednesday at 11:05 a.m. at the Wachovia Center vs. the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks.

Phantoms Notes: B.J. Abel and Nick Deschenes were healthy scratches ... Philadelphia has 14 goals in its last three games after tallying 17 in its first nine contests ... White has four assists in his last three games ... Kane has five points (1G, 4A) in his last three games ... Mike Siklenka, who was claimed off waivers from the New York Rangers on Wednesday, made his season debut with the Phantoms ... The Phantoms killed off all 16 Hershey power-play chances over the last two games.