After Statement Weekend In Springfield, Phantoms Still Believe In Postseason

While time will certainly tell, it's possible that the Lehigh Valley Phantoms' sweep of the top team in the Atlantic Division over the weekend in Springfield saved their season.

"No one probably had us winning one game, you know, but definitely not two," Phantoms forward Tanner Laczynski said of the weekend sweep of Springfield. "But I mean, for us, we know what we're capable of, and coming in here and taking two games on the road against the best team in our division. I mean, I think that's huge for us. And I think that's a confidence boost that's gonna take us into the next week."

The Philadelphia Flyers traded impending UFA defenseman Justin Braun and forward Derick Brassard prior to Monday's NHL trading deadline, but GM Chuck Fletcher opted not to move backup goaltender Martin Jones - citing the Phantoms' recent success and uncertainty about their goaltending depth as to why he didn't accumulate another draft pick for Jones.

"We just wanted to be a little bit careful here with 20 games to go and you know, Lehigh Valley is battling for a playoff spot," Fletcher told media at his post-trade deadline media availability Monday evening, adding that goaltender Samuel Ersson has been ruled out for the rest of the season, Kirill Ustimenko has been battling injury and Felix Sandstrom - though healthy now - had been battling injury as well.

Fletcher also confirmed defenseman Cam York and forward Max Willman were assigned to the Phantoms prior to the 3pm ET deadline Monday, making them eligible to play with the Phantoms down the stretch and in the 2022 Calder Cup Playoffs - should the Phantoms qualify for the postseason. Both remain with the Flyers currently.

Heading into Wednesday's games, the Phantoms find themselves eight points behind the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for what is currently the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. Lehigh Valley has two games in hand on the Penguins, in addition to three head-to-head meetings with their in-state rival.

Oh, absolutely. Absolutely," Wade Allison told InsideAHLHockey.com after Saturday's 7-3 win in Springfield, when asked if there was still a belief in the Phantoms' locker room that this team could make the postseason. "We're coming for you. We're really going to make some noise in these next [19] games."

The Phantoms are in the midst of a six-game road trip, which continues Wednesday night in Hershey before the team heads to Canada for a pair of games this weekend against Laval on Friday and Belleville on Saturday.