Game 43 Recap: Phantoms Push Past Providence
ALLENTOWN - It wasn't a perfect performance by any means, but anytime the Lehigh Valley Phantoms faltered Wednesday night against the Providence Bruins Alex Lyon was there to make the necessary save. Lyon led the Phantoms with a 30-save effort in a 3-2 win over the Bruins to start the week on the right foot.
Alex Krushelnyski and Greg Carey scored first period goals to get the Phantoms off and running to a 2-0 lead, and Lyon carried a shutout bid into the final two minutes before a pair of extra attacker goals by Providence closed a 3-0 deficit into a one-goal game in the waning moments.
Looking Ahead: The Phantoms mini-homestand before the All-Star break continues Friday night against Atlantic Division rival Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Saturday, Lehigh Valley hosts Utica before T.J. Brennan and Oskar Lindblom head to Utica for the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic on Sunday and Monday night.
Phantoms Lines (Starters in Bold/Italics)
Greg Carey - Phil Varone - Cole Bardreau Chris Conner - Mike Vecchione - Nicolas Aube-Kubel Oskar Lindblom - Steven Swavely - Colin McDonaldRadel Fazleev - Chris McCarthy - Alex Krushelnyski
T.J. Brennan - Max LamarcheWill O'Neill - Mark Friedman Travis Sanheim - Phil Myers
Alex Lyon - Dustin Tokarski
Scratches:Sam Morin (injured), Corban Knight (injured), Mikhail Vorobyev (injured), Danick Martel (injured), Matt Read (healthy/veteran) and Reece Willcox (injured)
Lineup Notes
Alex Lyon got the start in net Wednesday night, coming off an impressive 41-save performance at the 2018 AHL Outdoor Classic in the team's last game. Dustin Tokarski again served as Lyon's backup.
Sam Morin and Reece Willcox both left Saturday's game at HersheyPark Stadium with injuries, and are out of the lineup.
Since the Phantoms dressed an 11 forward / 7 defensemen lineup their last time out, Sanheim and Max Lamarche entered the lineup on the blueline.
Chris McCarthy made his first appearance with Lehigh Valley this season, and was the 12th forward.
POST-GAME REACTION
POST-GAME RECAP
The Providence Bruins had the early edge in play, but some big time saves from Alex Lyon early on gave Lehigh Valley some momentum.
Just under six minutes in, the Phantoms took the 1-0 lead after a spinning Colin McDonald shot from the right wing was rebounded in by Alex Krushelnyski.
It marked back-to-back games with goals for Krushelnyski, and although the lone assist on the play went to McDonald the goal likely wouldn't have counted if not for some great awareness by Radel Fazleev to get out of Zane McIntyre's crease split-second before the rebound attempt came from Krushelnyski in the slot.
Lehigh Valley killed off the game's first penalty, and not long after extended their lead to 2-0 on a bit of a controversial goal depending on who you ask.
A quick one-touch passing display from Nicolas Aube-Kubel to Max Lamarche to Greg Carey resulted in a goal when the puck went off the inside of the latter's right skate. Though Carey appeared to angle his skate to re-direct the puck past McIntyre, the play was reviewed and the goal stood as called.
Providence had more extended pressure than Lehigh Valley in the middle frame, but to no avail as both goaltenders held the fort in the period. The PBruins outshot Lehigh Valley 13-7, but couldn't solve Lyon through 40 minutes.
The Phantoms extended their lead to 3-0 midway through the third period on an insurance marker from Mike Vecchione from the bottom of the right-wing circle. Chris Conner got a puck down low from Max Lamarche and fed Vecchione in front, whose quick shot eluded McIntyre with 11:52 to play.
Providence pulled their goalie, and ended Lyon's shutout bid with 1:58 left on Kenny Agostino's 11th of the season. In fact, the Bruins would make things interesting with 28.6 left to play as Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson scored an extra attacker goal to make it a one-goal game.
The Phantoms held on for the 3-2 win, closing out the final seconds.
GAME SUMMARY
1st Period
5:59: LV - Krushelnyski (3) - McDonald 8:09: LV - (PP) Myers, minor (tripping) 11:50: Carey (18) - Lamarche, Aube-Kubel
2nd Period
No scoring/penalties
3rd Period
9:08: LV - Vecchione (9) - Conner, Lamarche 18:52: PRO - Agostino (11) - Cznarik, Cehlarik 19:31: PRO - Forsbacka-Karlsson (13) - Szwarz, Agostino
BOXSCORE
Lehigh Valley 2 - 0 - 1 = 3 Providence 0 - 0 - 2 = 2
Shots
Lehigh Valley 7 - 7 - 9 = 23 Providence 6 - 13 - 13 = 32
Goalies
LV - Alex Lyon (30 saves - 32 shots) PRO - Zane McIntyre (20 saves - 23 shots)
Power Play
LV: 0-for-0 PRO: 0-for-1
Penalty Kill
LV: 1-for-1 PRO: 0-for-0
Attendance: 6,283
