Game 45 Recap: Phantoms Burned Late By Comets
ALLENTOWN - With 98 seconds separating the Lehigh Valley Phantoms from entering the All-Star break with 2-1 win against Utica, and riding a four-game win streak into nearly a full week off from games.
Instead, a 2-1 lead turned into an overtime loss to the Comets Saturday night in front of the largest PPL Center crowd of the season (8,912 fans).
The Phantoms had the 2-1 lead heading to the third thanks to goals from Mike Vecchione (goals in three straight games) and Oskar Lindblom (shorthanded tally), and were getting a great performance in net from Dustin Tokarski.
Ultimately, the Comets found a way to tie the game up in the final minute of regulation. With their goaltender pulled for the extra attacker, Reid Boucher got a puck to the point for Michael Chaput who dropped one for a Philip Holm point blast that eluded Tokarski and sent the two teams to overtime tied at 2-2.
Just 1:11 into the three-on-three session, Patrick Wiercioch connected on a 2-on-1 play with Wacey Hamilton who tallied his second of the night (and the season!) to give Utica a big win heading into the All-Star break.
Looking Ahead: The American Hockey League (AHL) is on its All-Star break after games Saturday night end. The Phantoms won't be back in action until Friday at home against Charlotte. Inside AHL Hockey will have coverage of the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic live from Utica, New York!
Phantoms Lines (Starters in Bold/Italics)
Greg Carey - Phil Varone - Nicolas Aube-Kubel Alex Krushelnyski - Cole Bardreau - Colin McDonaldRadel Fazleev - Mike Vecchione - Chris Conner Oskar Lindblom - Mikhail Vorobyev - Matt Read
Will O'Neill - Max LamarcheReece Willcox - Mark Friedman Travis Sanheim - Phil Myers
Dustin Tokarski - Alex Lyon
Scratches: Sam Morin (injured), Steven Swavely (healthy), Corban Knight (injured), Danick Martel (injured), Chris McCarthy (healthy) and T.J. Brennan (veteran/healthy)
Lineup Notes
Head coach Scott Gordon elected to go back to Dustin Tokarski in net Saturday after he pulled him 6:26 into Friday night's start when he allowed two goals on four shots. Alex Lyon served as the backup.
Only one lineup change for Lehigh Valley from Friday, as T.J. Brennan sat out as the team's veteran scratch. Will O'Neill returned to the lineup, and slotted in Brennan's spot on a pairing with Max Lamarche.
POST-GAME REACTION
Stay tuned, and check back later for video interviews with captain Colin McDonald and rookie forward Mike Vecchione.
POST-GAME RECAP
After a mainly uneventful first period, the Phantoms took the 1-0 lead on a rebound goal from Mike Vecchione - his third straight game with a goal, extending his points streak to four games. The goal came after relentless pressure by the trio of Vecchione, Radel Fazleev and Chris Conner with just under six minutes left before the first intermission.
Conner did the dirty work down low, where he loves to set up shop and set up his teammates. Tonight, he fed it back to the point to Will O'Neill and although Utica's goaltender Thatcher Demko came up with a tough stop Vecchione swooped in and potted the rebound for his 11th goal on the season with 5:46 left in the opening frame.
Utica responded with a strong middle frame, and they tied the game up at 1-1 just three minutes in.
Will O'Neill made a great defensive play to break up a Comets' 2-on-1 chance, but Wacey Hamilton got the loose puck in the corner and worked it to the net before tapping in his own rebound to earn his first goal of the season.
The Phantoms were shorthanded twice in the period, and Utica appeared poised to take the lead if not for some strong stops from Dustin Tokarski - a bit of a redemption for the Phantoms' goalie after allowing two goals on four shots in just under six and a half minutes the night prior.
Instead, the Phantoms broke up a Utica entrance to the zone and Travis Sanheim sent Oskar Lindblom up ice the other way on a shorthanded counter attack. Lindblom nearly lost control of the puck as he crossed the Phantoms' offensive zone blue line but he turned into a spin move and eventual wrap around goal to put Lehigh Valley ahead 2-1 with 3:24 left before the second intermission.
The Comets didn't quit and in fact forced overtime with a game-tying extra attacker goal in the final minute of regulation before completing the comeback 1:11 into overtime.
GAME SUMMARY
1st Period
14:14: LV - Vecchione (11) - Fazleev, O'Neill
2nd Period
3:00: UTI - Hamilton (1) - D'Aoust 3:43: LV - (PP) Bardreau, minor (slashing) 7:12: UTI - (PP) LaBate, minor (hooking) 15:35: LV - (PP) Willcox, minor (tripping) 16:36: LV - SHG Lindblom (13) - Fazleev, Sanheim
3rd Period
19:02: UTI - Holm (9) - Chaput, Boucher
Overtime
1:11: UTI - Hamilton (2) - Wiercioch
BOXSCORE
Lehigh Valley 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 = 2 Utica Comets 0 - 1 - 1 - 1 = 3
Shots
Lehigh Valley 8 - 11 - 8 - 0 = 27 Utica Comets 7 - 15 - 10 - 1 = 33
Goalies
LV - Dustin Tokarski (30 saves - 33 shots) UTI - Thatcher Demko (25 saves - 27 shots)
Power Play
LV: 0-for-1 UTI: 0-for-2
Penalty Kill
LV: 2-for-2 UTI: 1-for-1
Attendance: 8,912
