GAME STORY: Binghamton - 2 at Lehigh Valley - 3 (4/24/21)
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (14-4-3) opened up a 3-0 lead on the Binghamton Devils Saturday night, but the visiting Devils didn't go away quietly into the night. Instead, they battled back and made it a one-goal game in the third period - out shooting the Phantoms 39-22 on the evening in what was the Phantoms' third game in four days following 16 days between games due to a COVID-related pause.
It was a big night for Phantoms goaltender Felix Sandstrom, who stopped 37 of those 39 shots in route to protecting Lehigh Valley's 3-2 lead through to the final horn.
Isaac Ratcliffe, Tyson Foerster and Ralph Cuddemi tallied goals in the win for Lehigh Valley, while Cal O'Reilly inches closer to 500 career AHL assists - collecting his 497th on Foerster's 1st period goal. The assist moved O'Reilly into sole possession of 10th all-time for AHL assists.
### Lehigh Valley Phantoms Roster Notes
Felix Sandstrom was returned to the Phantoms prior to Saturday's game, and he got the start in net against Binghamton in the rematch. Zane McIntyre served as Sandstrom's backup.
Linus Hogberg was added to the Flyers' taxi squad in place of Sandstrom, as rules state NHL teams must carry a minimum of four players.
The forwards and defensemen remained the same as Friday night, with Ryan Fitzgerald and David Kase remaining out of the lineup after playing in the Phantoms' return to game action on Wednesday night against Hershey.
Lines/Pairings:
Max Willman - Cal O'Reilly - Tyson Foerster Andy Andreoff - Chris Mueller - Linus Sandin Isaac Ratcliffe - Connor Bunnaman - Pascal Laberge Brennan Saulnier - Tanner MacMaster - Ralph Cuddemi
Tyler Wotherspoon - Wyatte Wylie Egor Zamula - Chris Bigras Cam York - Logan Day
Felix Sandstrom - Zane McIntyre
Phantoms Scratches: Linus Hogberg (added to Flyers taxi squad 4/24), Ryan Fitzgerald, Zayde Wisdom, Maksim Sushko, David Kase and Garrett Wilson
GAME RECAP
1st Period
The Phantoms weren't able to get many shots through to rookie goaltender Mareks Mittens in the first period, but they made the most of the ones that did.
Lehigh Valley took the lead 2:34 into the contest after a great individual effort by Isaac Ratcliffe, to block Kevin Bahl's shot at the right point and turn it into an unassisted breakaway goal to put the Phantoms ahead 1-0. It marked Ratcliffe's first of the season, and first point in his last seven games.
Binghamton seemed to generate momentum from a pair of power plays in the middle part of the period, out-shooting the Phantoms 11-6 in the opening frame, but Felix Sandstrom was sharp - stopping all 11 of those shots to keep his team in the lead.
Nearing the final minute of the period, the Phantoms cashed in after a nice hustle play from Cal O'Reilly to get to a loose puck in the offensive zone. O'Reilly was first to a puck in the right-wing circle, and he threw one to the net where his linemates Max Willman and Tyson Foerster were heading. Foerster was able to stuff one in past the Devils goalie to extend the Phantoms lead to 2-0 heading to the middle frame.
2nd Period
The Phantoms and Devils played the entire middle frame at five-on-five, trading chances - and a pair of goals - as a back and forth game ensued.
Lehigh Valley pulled ahead 3-0 just under seven minutes into the frame, as Ralph Cuddemi netted a rebound tally for his first goal as a member of the Phantoms.
Binghamton broke Sandstrom's shutout bid just past the midway mark of regulation, with Aarne Talvitie recording his first career pro goal on a rebound put back of a Reilly Walsh shot.
3rd Period
The Devils came out with purpose to start the third, ringing one off the crossbar in the opening minute - causing a bit of a delay as the puck actually caught Sandstrom's mask and it needed to be fixed.
Binghamton scored off the ensuing face-off after play resumed, with Graeme Clarke shooting one quickly after Travis St. Denis won the draw 1:13 into the period.
All of a sudden, what was a 3-0 Phantoms' lead 6:57 into the middle frame became a one-goal game.
Continuing to pressure, the Devils got a power play after Andy Andreoff was whistled for boarding. The Phantoms PK, and Sandstrom, were able to kill off the two minutes. The Devils had a 9-2 edge in shots at one point near the midway mark of the period.
Lehigh Valley clinged to the one-goal lead into the final five minutes, with several icing calls in succession keeping them mostly hemmed in their own end for much of the period.
Binghamton out-shot the Phantoms 18-4 in the third period, and it was Sandstrom making saves all the way to the final horn in route to a 37-save effort to preserve the Phantoms' 3-2 win.
GAME SUMMARY
1st Period
2:34: LV - Ratcliffe (1) - unassisted 6:46: BNG - (PP) Schnarr, minor (holding) 9:30: LV - (PP) Foerster, minor (cross-checking) 15:09: LV - (PP) Zamula, minor (tripping) 18:54: LV - Foerster (9) - O'Reilly, Zamula
2nd Period
6:57: LV - Cuddemi (1) - Saulnier, MacMaster 10:24: BNG - Talvitie (1) - Walsh, Zetterlund
3rd Period
1:13: BNG - Clarke (6) - St. Denis 4:53: LV - (PP) Andreoff, minor (boarding)
BOXSCORE
Binghamton 0 - 1 - 1 = 2 Lehigh Valley 2 - 1 - 0 = 3
Shots
Binghamton 11 - 10 - 18 = 39 Lehigh Valley 6 - 12 - 4 = 22
Goalies
BNG: Mareks Mittens (19 saves - 22 shots) LV: Felix Sandstrom (37 saves - 39 shots)
Power Play
BNG: 0-for-3 LV: 0-for-1
Penalty Kill
BNG: 1-for-1 LV: 3-for-3
