Game 39 Recap: Phantoms Hold Off Hershey
ALLENTOWN - If the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Hershey Bears were trying to add fuel to the fire in their first of two games against each other this weekend before next weekend's 2018 AHL Outdoor Classic at HersheyPark Stadium, the second period of Saturday night's game will surely have all players on high alert.
Danick Martel, tied for the team's lead in goals with 17, was coming up ice to collect a puck in the neutral zone and was blasted up high by Bears defender Colby Williams. The hit to the head sent Martel flying, and he was unable to get up on his own power - needing to be helped off the ice by his teammates.
The Phantoms were unable to capitalize on the ensuing power play, Williams was assessed a check to the head match penalty and ejected, but they were able to grab a third period lead and hang on for a 2-1 win - setting up a rematch between the two teams Sunday at Giant Center.
Looking Ahead: The Phantoms and Bears rematch Sunday evening in Hershey at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Phantoms' Lines (Starters in Bold/Italics)
Greg Carey - Phil Varone - Cole Bardreau Danick Martel - Mike Vecchione - Nicolas Aube-Kubel Oskar Lindblom - Matt Read - Colin McDonaldRadel Fazleev - Steven Swavely - Alex Krushelnyski
T.J. Brennan - Reece WillcoxWill O'Neill - Mark Alt Sam Morin - Phil Myers
Dustin Tokarski - Alex Lyon
Scratches: Corban Knight (injured), Mikhail Vorobyev (injured), Max Lamarche (healthy), Chris Conner (healthy/veteran) and Mark Friedman (healthy)
Lineup Notes
Dustin Tokarski drew the start in net for Lehigh Valley Saturday night against Hershey. Alex Lyon played Friday night versus Springfield, and will likely be back in net Sunday in Hershey.
Sam Morin returned to game action for the first time since December 12th. Will O'Neill, Friday night's veteran scratch, was also back in the lineup on defense. Max Lamarche and Mark Friedman were scratched to make room on the blue line.
Chris Conner's turn as the team's veteran scratch Saturday night. Alex Krushelnyski slotted into the lineup, and was on the fourth line wing.
POST-GAME REACTION
GAME RECAP
The Phantoms came out with some early energy, and undeniably had more and better offensive chances than the Hershey Bears in the first period - including three power play opportunities. Unfortunately for Lehigh Valley, they were unable to get anything past Vitek Vanacek and headed to the first intermission deadlocked at zero.
Things opened up a bit in the middle frame, and after failing to score on three power plays of their own, the Phantoms surrendered a power play goal against on Hershey's first man advantage of the night.
Lucas Johansen got the puck to Connor Hobbs at the center point, who then quickly shuffled it to the left-wing for Riley Barber whose shot eluded Phantoms' goaltender Dustin Tokarski and slipped through his pads to give the Bears a 1-0 lead.
The Phantoms responded just under four minutes later, as Cole Bardreau - in his 2nd game back since November 5th - fed T.J. Brennan with a smooth no look backhand pass that led the Phantoms' defender to a 2-on-1 rush with Phil Varone. Brennan elected to shoot, and his shot hit off the inside of the left post - bouncing back into the backside of Vanacek and then bouncing off the Bears goaltender and in to tie the game at 1-1 with 9:15 left in the 2nd period.
Not long after Brennan's goal tied the game, a high hit with contact to Danick Martel's head from Bears defender Colby Williams caused a lengthy delay as Martel appeared to be concussed and laying motionless on the ice before being helped off the ice by teammates and athletic trainer.
Williams was assessed a match penalty for the check to the head, as replays showed Williams' flying into Martel and the primary point of contact being Williams' shoulder into the side of Martel's head.
The Phantoms had a power play, but were unable to make Hershey pay for the hit that knocked Martel out of the game. Instead, the two teams headed to the third period tied at 1-1.
It wasn't until Dustin Tokarski robbed Travis Boyd on a rebound attempt, that momentum swung enough into one team's favor to produce a go-ahead goal.
Colin McDonald got a puck to Reece Willcox at the center point, and the defender's shot was tipped past Vanacek by Matt Read in the high-slot with 11:17 left in regulation.
Tokarski continued to make the necesary stops, stopping all 15 shots he faced in the third period to keep Hershey at bay and secure two points in the Atlantic Division standings for Lehigh Valley.
GAME SUMMARY
1st Period
9:01: HER - (PP) Lewington, minor (holding) 15:12: HER - O'Brien, minor (hooking) 18:41: HER - (PP) Bau, minor (tripping)
2nd Period
5:06: LV - (PP) Willcox, minor (interference) 6:47: HER - PPG Barber (12) - Hobbs, Johansen 8:12: LV - (PP) Martel, minor (roughing) 10:45: LV - Brennan (6) - Bardreau 12:14: HER - Williams, major (fighting) 12:14: HER - (PP) Williams, match penalty - check to the head 12:14: LV - Aube-Kubel, minor (instigating) 12:14: LV - Aube-Kubel, major (fighting) 12:14: LV - Aube-Kubel, ten-minute misconduct 18:59: LV - (PP) Morin, minor (tripping)
3rd Period
8:43: LV - Read (5) - Willcox, McDonald 15:06: LV - (PP) Krushelnyski, minor (high-sticking)
BOXSCORE
Lehigh Valley 0 - 1 - 1 = 2 Hershey 0 - 1 - 0 = 1
Shots
Lehigh Valley 7 - 6 - 11 = 24 Hershey 7 - 8 - 15 = 30
Goalies
LV - Dustin Tokarski (29 saves - 30 shots) HER - Vitek Vanacek (22 saves - 24 shots)
Power Play
LV: 0-for-4 HER: 1-for-4
Penalty Kill
LV: 3-for-4 HER: 4-for-4
Attendance: 8,789
