Game 8 Preview: Springfield at Lehigh Valley 10/25/17
Editor's Note: *I'll have full coverage of tonight's Phantoms game against the Springfield Thunderbirds live from the PPL Center in downtown Allentown, Pa.
- The puck drops at 705 p.m. ET, but make sure you're following along on Twitter -> @TonyAndrock for live in-game updates
- Stay tuned in at Phantoms Central 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.
ALLENTOWN - The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (5-1-1) aim to make it five wins in a row tonight when they begin their 3-game slate this week with a Wednesday night affair with the Springfield Thunderbirds (1-6-0).
Springfield has gotten out a slow start out of the gates so far this year, and will have some catching up to do in the Atlantic Division standings - putting themselves behind the eight-ball in a very hotly contested division in the opening month of the season.
For the Phantoms, two injured defensemen leave the lineup and two forwards appear ready to make their regular season debuts. All that and more in tonight's game preview.
BY THE NUMBERS
LV: 7 games played, 5-1-0-1 = 11 points 2nd Place Atlantic Division Streak: 4-0-0-0 Last Ten Games: 4-0-0-0
SPR: 7 games played, 1-6-0-0 = 2 points 8th Place Atlantic Division Streak: 1-0-0-0 Last Ten Games: 1-6-0-0
Special Teams
Power Play
LV: 1-for-33 = 3.0% (28th) SPR: 6-for-40 = 15.0% (17th)
Penalty Kill
LV: 23-for-31 = 74.2% (30th) SPR: 31-for-35 = 88.6% (T-5th)
LEADING SCORERS
LV: Danick Martel (7GP, 7G-3A), Mike Vecchione (7GP, 1G-6A), Phil Varone (7GP, 2G-4A) and Nicolas Aube-Kubel (7GP, 3G-2A)
SPR: Curtis Valk (7GP, 2G-5A), Juho Lammikko (7GP, 1G-5A), Alexandre Grenier (7GP, 1G-4A) and Ed Wittchow (7GP, 1G-4A)
STARTING GOALTENDERS
LV: Alex Lyon (4-1-1, 2.61 GAA, .916 SV%, 0 SO) SPR: Samuel Montembeault (0-4-0, 3.26 GAA, .875 SV%, 0 SO)
SEASON SERIES
This is the first of six scheduled meetings between the Phantoms and Thunderbirds this season. Lehigh Valley won the season series last year, going 5-1 against Springfield in 2016-17.
Season Series Schedule
Wednesday, October 25th: Springfield at Lehigh Valley - 7:05 p.m. ET Friday, October 27th: Lehigh Valley at Springfield - 7:05 p.m. ET Friday, November 24th: Lehigh Valley at Springfield - 7:05 p.m. ET Friday, January 12th: Springfield at Lehigh Valley - 7:05 p.m. ET Friday, February 16th - Lehigh Valley at Springfield - 7:05 p.m. ET Sunday, March 18th: Springfield at Lehigh Valley - 3:05 p.m. ET
LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS
Roster Notes
Alex Lyon is expected back in net for the Phantoms tonight. Lyon and Dustin Tokarski each earned a start last weekend, and both picked up wins. With games Friday and Saturday coming up this weekend, each goalie will likely see some game action this weekend.
Cole Bardreau and Colin McDonald are available for tonight's game, as both were officially reassigned to Lehigh Valley earlier this week. Both appear ready to make their regular season debuts tonight, and are likely a coaches' decision. Some line shuffling will definitely be needed.
Defenseman T.J. Brennan was said to be "banged up", according to head coach Scott Gordon, following his game misconduct for cross-checking Saturday night on October 14th at home against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. It has now been revealed by Philadelphia Flyers general manager Ron Hextall that Brennan will miss at least the next 2-3 weeks.
Hextall also added that defenseman Phil Myers is day-to-day after leaving in the first period of last Friday night's game against Bridgeport. Myers was limited in practice leading up to tonight's game, so it wouldn't be a surprise if he sits out this mid-week game. The Phantoms have a back-to-back game nights with travel coming up as Lehigh Valley heads to Springfield Friday before returning home to host the Hartford WolfPack on Saturday night.
Lines
Greg Carey - Phil Varone - Cole Bardreau Danick Martel - Mike Vecchione - Nicolas Aube-Kubel Oskar Lindblom - Corban Knight (A) - Chris Conner (A) Tyrell Goulbourne - Mikhail Vorobyev - Colin McDonald (C)
Will O'Neill - Mark Alt Mark Friedman - Reece Willcox Sam Morin - Max Lamarche
Alex Lyon - Dustin Tokarski
Projected Scratches: Anthony Stolarz (knee surgery - out indefinitely), Phil Myers (day-to-day), Steven Swavely (healthy), Radel Fazleev (healthy) and T.J. Brennan (out 2-3 weeks as of 10/23)
