GAME STORY: Lehigh Valley - 1 at Charlotte - 4 (1/22/22)

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (11-13-8) put together a strong performance in the opening 40 minutes of play, but were unable to sustain the pressure in the third period and wound up on the losing end of a 4-1 decision at the hands of the Charlotte Checkers (19-4-2)

Linus Sandin made it five goals in his last six games in the lone tally from the Phantoms, who got 16 saves from Felix Sandstrom in the loss.

Max McCormick (three assists) had a game-high three points, while Kole Lind added the game-winning goal and an assist for the Checkers to pace their offensive attack.

Lehigh Valley Phantoms Roster Notes

Head coach Ian Laperriere returned from COVID protocol Saturday and was back behind the bench for Lehigh Valley.

Felix Sandstrom got the start in net Saturday in Charlotte, with Pat Nagle serving as the team's backup.

Defenseman Egor Zamula and forwards German Rubtsov and Garrett Wilson returned to the Phantoms' lineup, with Philadelphia calling up forwards Jackson Cates and Wade Allison.

Mason Millman and Ryan MacKinnon were healthy scratches on defense.

Scratches: Samuel Ersson (injured), Garrett Metcalf, Mason Millman, Brennan Saulnier, Ryan MacKinnon and Tyson Foerster (injured)

Lines/Pairings:

Maksim Sushko - Cal O'Reilly - Charlie Gerard Garrett Wilson - Connor Bunnaman - Linus Sandin Isaac Ratcliffe - Matthew Strome - Hayden Hodgson Alex Kile - German Rubtsov - Nick Lappin

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

Felix Sandstrom - Pat Nagle

Charlotte Checkers Roster Notes

Billy Christopoulos got the start in net Saturday for Charlotte. Angus Redmond served as the team's backup goaltender.

Scratches: Karch Bachman, Max Gildon, Grigori Denisenko, John Ludvig, Craig Martin, Gustav Olofsson, Ryan Lohin, Luke Henman

Lines/Pairings:

Carsen Twarynski - Alex True - Zac Dalpe Max McCormick - Kole Lind - Scott Wilson Henry Bowlby - Cole Schwindt - Logan Hutsko Max Zimmer - Spencer Asuchak - Serron Noel

Cale Fleury - Connor Carrick Brandon Fortunato - Nolan Kneen Bobby Russel - Blake Siebenaler

Billy Christopoulos - Angus Redmond

GAME RECAP

1st Period

There wasn't much going on for either team in the opening half of the period.

Charlotte's first shot of the hockey game was a good one - a breakaway during 4-on-4 play just after seven minutes had been played in the opening frame.

Phantoms' goaltender Felix Sandstrom came up big on the stop, as Max McCormick attempted to go five-hole on his breakaway try. In fact, despite the lack of shot quantity, the Checkers got some good attempts toward Sandstrom in the first period - notably a Kole Lind mini break-in that Sandstrom was able to make a pad stop on to keep the game scoreless.

Lehigh Valley's best chance came late in the period while on their first full power play of the night. Isaac Ratcliffe gained the zone on the left wing with speed and dropped one for Hayden Hodgson, who left one into the slot for an open Charlie Gerard.

Gerard got off a hard snap shot with Hodgson at the net front trying to screen the goalie, but Checkers goalie Billy Christopoulos was equal to the task to keep the 0-0 score going into the middle frame.

2nd Period

The Phantoms started to gain momentum in the middle frame, racking up 10 of the first 11 shots in the period before eventually breaking through on a goal from Linus Sandin with 6:52 left before the second intermission.

From the left point, Cooper Zech sent one toward the net that was blocked down partially by Connor Bunnaman before Sandin, who was in position at the right-circle, got to the loose puck and flung it into an open side of the net for his fifth of the season. All five of Sandin's goals have come in his last six games.

Charlotte seemed to stymie the Phantoms' momentum on a power play in the final five minutes of regulation, though Lehigh Valley was able to kill off the holding minor assessed to Garrett Wilson.

A strong period for Lehigh Valley, though perhaps leaving Charlotte in a one-goal game and not fully "getting rewarded" for their efforts in the middle frame.

3rd Period

The Phantoms got an early power play with a chance to extend their lead to 2-0. Instead, Charlotte scored off-the-rush shorthanded nine seconds into the ensuing man advantage.

Max McCormick and Connor Carrick teamed up on a 2-on-1 in quick transition, with Carrick rifling one over Sandstrom's shoulder to tie the game at 1-1 with 16:36 left in regulation.

The shorthanded goal flipped the script, as the Checkers tallied a total of three goals in a span of 4:58 to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead.

McCormick sent a puck out from behind the Phantoms' net that bounced off of Linus Hogberg and went into the crease where Sandstrom thought he had it covered up for a whistle. However, that whistle never came and Kole Lind poked the puck through Sandstrom and into the net with 12:45 left in the third.

Just over a minute later, Zac Dalpe sort-of whiffed on a backhander coming down the left wing and it knuckled up and over Sandstrom's left shoulder on a bit of a changeup that caught the Phantoms' netminder off-guard to extend the Checkers' lead to 3-1.

Lehigh Valley had their chances to get back into the game, thinking they scored to make it a one-goal game with 6:16 left to play on a stuff-in play at the net similar to Lind's goal earlier in the period. However this time a quick whistle and referee in position waving no goal prevented the Phantoms from getting any closer to a comeback.

Alex True added an empty net marker with 1:29 left to play to complete the 4-1 final score.

GAME SUMMARY

1st Period

6:34: CHA - (PP) True, minor (slashing) 6:58: LV - (PP) Sandin, minor (holding) 13:20: LV - (PP) Sushko, minor (interference) 15:49: CHA - (PP) Bowlby, minor (holding)

2nd Period

13:08: LV - Sandin (5) - Bunnaman, Zech 14:55: LV - (PP) Wilson, minor (holding)

3rd Period

3:15: CHA - (PP) Bowlby, minor (hooking) 3:24: CHA - SHG Carrick (5) - McCormick 7:15: CHA - Lind (11) - McCormick, Kneen 8:22: CHA - Dalpe (13) - Wilson, Hutsko 18:31: CHA - ENG True (8) - McCormick, Lind

BOXSCORE

Lehigh Valley   0 - 1 - 0 = 1 Charlotte  0 - 0 - 4 = 4

Shots

Lehigh Valley   7 - 10 - 12 = 29 Charlotte  8 - 4 - 8 = 20

Goalies

LV: Felix Sandstrom (16 saves - 19 shots) CHA: Billy Christopoulos (28 saves - 29 shots)

Power Play

LV: 0-for-3 CHA: 0-for-3

Penalty Kill

LV: 3-for-3 CHA: 3-for-3