Game 5 Preview: Lehigh Valley at Hershey

Editor's Note: I'll have full coverage of tonight's Phantoms game against the Hershey Bears, live from the Giant Center in Hershey, Pa.

• The puck drops at 5:00 p.m. ET, but make sure you're following along on Twitter -> @TonyAndrock for live in-game updates
• Stay tuned here after the game for a full recap of the action. Don't forget to subscribe to Inside AHL Hockey's YouTube channel for post-game player interviews.

HERSHEY - The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (2-1-1) finish off a three-game weekend at the Giant Center against rival Hershey (0-2-0), who is looking for their first win of the season.

The Phantoms handled the Bears in the home opener on October 7th, but this Bears team will be entering this evening's game hungry for a win and facing a Phantoms team playing their third game in less than 72 hours.

BY THE NUMBERS

LV: 4 games played, 2-1-0-1 = 5 points 4th Place Atlantic Division Streak: 1-0-0-0 Last Ten Games: 2-1-0-1

HER: 2 games played, 0-2-0-0 = 0 points 8th Place Atlantic Division Streak: 0-2-0-0 Last Ten Games: 0-2-0-0

Special Teams

Power Play

LV: 1-for-19 = 5.3% (26th) HER: 2-for-10 = 20.0% (13th)

Penalty Kill

LV: 14-for-19 = 73.7% (T-22nd) HER: 9-for-10 = 90.0% (T-8th)

LEADING SCORERS

LV: Danick Martel (4GP, 4G-1A), Mike Vecchione (4GP, 1G-3A), Reece Willcox (4GP, 1G-2A) and T.J. Brennan (4GP, 0G-3A)

HER: Chandler Stephenson (2GP, 2G-0A), Travis Boyd (2GP, 0G-2A), Colby Williams (2GP, 0G-2A) and John Albert (2GP, 1G-0A)

STARTING GOALTENDERS

LV: Alex Lyon (2-1-1, 2.46 GAA, .919 SV%, 0 SO) HER: Parker Milner (0-2-0, 5.08 GAA, .844 SV%, 0 SO)

SEASON SERIES

This is the second of 12 meetings between the Phantoms and Bears this season. Lehigh Valley won the season series last year, going 7-4-1 against Hershey. They also opened their season with a 7-2 win over the Bears at PPL Center back on October 7th.

Season Series Schedule

Saturday, October 7th: Hershey - 2 at Lehigh Valley - 7Sunday, October 15th: Lehigh Valley at Hershey - 5:00 p.m. ET Saturday, November 11th: Lehigh Valley at Hershey - 7:00 p.m. ET Friday, December 1st: Hershey at Lehigh Valley - 7:05 p.m. ET Friday, December 8th: Hershey at Lehigh Valley - 7:05 p.m. ET Saturday, December 9th: Lehigh Valley at Hershey - 7:00 p.m. ET Saturday, January 13th: Hershey at Lehigh Valley - 7:05 p.m. ET Sunday, January 14th: Lehigh Valley at Hershey - 5:00 p.m. ET Saturday, January 20th: Lehigh Valley at Hershey - 7:00 p.m. ET Friday, February 9th: Hershey at Lehigh Valley - 7:05 p.m. ET Friday, March 2nd: Hershey at Lehigh Valley - 7:05 p.m. ET Sunday, March 4th: Lehigh Valley at Hershey 5:00 p.m. ET

LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS

Roster Notes

Alex Lyon is expected to get the start in net tonight for the Phantoms, with Dustin Tokarski expected to serve as Lyon's backup.

Forwards Cole Bardreau (upper body) and Colin McDonald (lower body) are not expected to be in tonight's opening lineup. Both are nearing returns to the lineup, and might not be too far off from returning to game action.

Lines/Pairings will be updated after the pre-game warmup skate.

Expected Lines:

Greg Carey - Phil Varone - Matt Read Oskar Lindblom - Corban Knight (A) - Chris Conner (A) Danick Martel - Mike Vecchione - Nicolas Aube-Kubel Tyrell Goulbourne - Mikhail Vorobyev - Radel Fazleev

T.J. Brennan (A)- Reece Willcox Will O'Neill - Mark Alt Sam Morin - Mark Friedman

Alex Lyon - Dustin Tokarski

Scratches: Anthony Stolarz (knee surgery - out indefinitely), Phil Myers (lower body), Cole Bardreau (upper body), Steven Swavely (healthy), Colin McDonald (lower body) and Max Lamarche (healthy)