GAME STORY: Bridgeport - 1 at Lehigh Valley - 2 (OT) 1/1/22

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (9-11-6) extended their points streak to seven games (6-0-1) following a 2-1 overtime victory on home ice to kick off the 2022 calendar year.

Garrett Wilson gave the Phantoms a 1-0 lead in the middle frame before Michael Dal Colle forced overtime with a game-tying goal in the third period.

In the extra session, Lehigh Valley got the 2nd standings point for the second straight night - getting an unassisted goal from Adam Clendening to give the Phantoms the win.

A big congratulations to Phantoms' goaltender Garrett Metcalf, who made his AHL debut Saturday and stepped up big time to the tune of 25 saves on 26 shots to pick up the win in his first game.

Lehigh Valley Phantoms Lineup Notes

Garrett Metcalf got the start in net for Lehigh Valley Saturday night, marking his AHL debut. Pat Nagle served as the team's backup goaltender after appearing in Friday night's game in Utica.

Matthew Strome returned to the lineup after missing Friday night's game, as Lehigh Valley reverted back to a traditional 11-forward, seven defensemen lineup.

Phantoms Scratches: Samuel Ersson, Mason Millman, Wade Allison, Ryan MacKinnon and Tyson Foerster

Lines/Pairings:

Maksim Sushko - Cal O'Reilly (C) - Charlie Gerard Garrett Wilson - Connor Bunnaman - Hayden Hodgson Isaac Ratcliffe - Matthew Strome - Linus Sandin Brennan Saulnier - German Rubtsov - Nick Lappin

Linus Hogberg - Adam Clendening Egor Zamula - Wyatte Wylie Cooper Zech - Logan Day

Garrett Metcalf - Pat Nagle

Bridgeport Islanders Lineup Notes

Jakub Skarek got the start in net for Bridgeport Saturday evening in Allentown. Ken Appleby served as Skarek's backup goaltender.

Islanders Scratches: Cory Schneider, Mitch Vande Sompel, Andy Andreoff, Cole Coskey, Will Cullen, Blade Jenkins, Parker Wotherspoon, Liam Coughlin and Thomas Hickey

Lines/Pairings:

Michael Dal Colle - Otto Koivula - Cole Bardreau (A)

Richard Panik - Kyle MacLean - Paul Thompson

Grant Hutton - Seth Helgeson (C) Samuel Bolduc - Paul LaDue Connor McCarthy - Mike Cornell

Jakub Skarek - Ken Appleby

GAME RECAP

1st Period

Lehigh Valley controlled the opening eight minutes of the period in terms of puck possession and establishing their forecheck, as they opened up a 4-1 edge in shots on goal early in the contest.

The Phantoms had a few solid chances early off of good puck movement in the offensive zone, including a backdoor play for Wyatte Wylie that just missed the mark and a Charlie Gerard redirect in front that Islanders goaltender Jakub Skarek was able to steer into the corner.

Former Phantoms forward Cole Bardreau was in the lineup for Bridgeport Saturday evening, and certainly making his presence felt early with that feisty play hockey fans in the Lehigh Valley became accustomed to in his time with the team.

In fact, the AHL Islanders saw a bit of a boost to their lineup with the return of a few players who were in the league's COVID protocol earlier this week. The top line of Michael Dal Colle, Otto Koivula and Bardreau were all appearing in their first games since before the holiday break.

Things appeared to open up a little bit more as the period wore on, with both teams getting some extended offensive zone time.

Lehigh Valley goaltender Garrett Metcalf made his AHL debut Saturday, and was in position to stop all seven shots he faced in the first frame. At the other end, Skarek stopped nine to keep the game scoreless heading to the middle frame.

2nd Period

Bridgeport started to get the better of play in the middle frame, putting the first seven shots on net of the period - not including two hit posts in the opening six and a half minutes of play.

Credit to Metcalf for making the necessary stops to keep the game scoreless in the opening half of regulation.

It wasn't until there was about eight and a half minutes left in the period before the Phantoms got their first credited shot on goal. They had a few chances in the waning moments of the period, but were unable to break the scoreless tie until a bit of a flukey play on a 2-on-1 rush with 2:44 left before the second intermission.

Logan Day sprung Garrett Wilson and Hayden Hodgson on a 2-on-1 chance, and from the left wing Wilson fanned on his shot attempt but got a lucky bounce off the Islanders' defender's skate in front of him - causing the puck to skip through the legs of Skarek and give the Phantoms a big late-period goal to break the scoreless tie.

3rd Period

The goaltender's duel continued well into the third period, with Skarek and Metcalf continuing to keep their respective teams in a one-goal game.

The Islanders were eventually able to break through and get one past Metcalf on their 23rd shot of the night with 8:04 left in regulation on a quick play at the net from Otto Koivula to Michael Dal Colle to even the game at 1-1.

Lehigh Valley had their chances earlier in the period to extend their lead - most notably on an early period power play - but were unable to do so.

They also had some chances after Bridgeport's game-tying goal, including a Matthew Strome chance from the slot that Skarek came up big on to keep the game knotted at one apiece into the final four minutes of play. Alas, 60 minutes wasn't enough to find a winner.

Overtime

For the second straight night, it was the trio of Cal O'Reilly, Hayden Hodgson and Adam Clendening pushing the Phantoms to an overtime win. While O'Reilly and Hodgson teamed up for the OT winner Friday night in Utica, on Saturday it was Clendening's turn to play the role of hero.

Islanders forward Richard Panik fell down after a collision with his teammate behind the Phantoms' net, and Clendening scooped up the loose puck and headed up ice - electing to shoot for the far side on the ensuing 3-on-1 rush to lift Lehigh Valley to another big win to help their climb up the Atlantic Division standings.

GAME SUMMARY

1st Period

19:04: LV - (PP) Ratcliffe, minor (hooking)

2nd Period

6:39: LV - (PP) Clendening, minor (delay of game) 17:16: LV - Wilson (8) - Day

3rd Period

2:23: BRI - (PP) Helgeson, minor (holding) 11:56: BRI - Dal Colle (5) - Koivula, Durandeau

Overtime

0:43: LV - Clendening (4) - unassisted

BOXSCORE

Bridgeport   0 - 0 - 1 - 0 = 1 Lehigh Valley   0 - 1 - 0 - 1 = 2

Shots

Bridgeport   7 - 10 - 8 - 1 = 26 Lehigh Valley   9 - 5 - 11 - 1 = 26

Goalies

BRI: Jakub Skarek (24 saves - 26 shots) LV: Garrett Metcalf (25 saves - 26 shots)

Power Play

BRI: 0-for-2 LV: 0-for-1

Penalty Kill

BRI: 1-for-1 LV: 2-for-2