GAME STORY: W-B/Scranton - 2 at Lehigh Valley - 6 (5/9/21)

ALLENTOWN, Pa.  - The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (17-7-4) put in a strong effort Sunday against rival Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, blowing out their in-state rival 6-2 behind a first period natural hat trick from Brennan Saulnier.

Zayde Wisdom (three assists) and Chris Mueller (two goals, 800th career AHL game) also had big games for the Phantoms, while Zane McIntyre kind of quietly went about his business stopping 29 of 31 in the win.

### Lehigh Valley Phantoms Roster Notes

Zane McIntyre got the start in net for Lehigh Valley Sunday afternoon, with Eamon McAdam serving as the team's backup.

Felix Sandstrom remains on the Flyers taxi squad, but one would assume after the NHL club's season ends that Sandstrom will return to Lehigh Valley for the Phantoms' final three games next week - Wednesday in Binghamton, Saturday and Sunday at home against W-B/Scranton and Binghamton, respectively.

Only one lineup change for the Phantoms Sunday, and that was defenseman Wyatte Wylie returning from a week and a half stint on the Flyers' taxi squad - appearing in his first game action since April 28.

Lines/Pairings:

Ryan Fitzgerald - Cal O'Reilly - Tyson Foerster Isaac Ratcliffe - Chris Mueller - Linus Sandin Garrett Wilson - Connor Bunnaman - Max Willman Brennan Saulnier - Tanner MacMaster - Zayde Wisdom

Tyler Wotherspoon - Linus Hogberg Egor Zamula - Wyatte Wylie Derrick Pouliot - Chris Bigras

Zane McIntyre - Eamon McAdam

Phantoms scratches: Mason Millman, Maksim Sushko, Logan Day, Ralph Cuddemi, Pascal Laberge and David Kase

GAME RECAP

1st Period

It was the first period of a lifetime for Phantoms' forward Brennan Saulnier, at least in the opening 9:55.

The Halifax, Nova Scotia native spent last season in the ECHL with the Rapid City Rush and is in his first season in the AHL this year with the Phantoms. The fourth liner has been in and out of the lineup this season as an energy guy who plays with a physical edge, appearing in his 13th game of the season, and turned in an all-time performance in the opening half of the period.

Sunday against the Penguins, Saulnier opened up the game with a a natural hat trick - his first multi-point game in his young AHL career.

Saulnier's opening tally 2:03 into the contest - as well as his second goal of the period at the 5:28 mark - came off the result of good forecheck work by his Phantoms' teammates.

First, Linus Hogberg took a puck from his right point position down behind and around the net before Zayde Wisdom won a puck and fed it to Saulnier in the left-wing circle for a quick shot past Penguins' goalie Tommy Nappier.

Three and a half minutes later, Wisdom won a puck battle behind the net and the puck cycled around to Wyatte Wylie at the right point. Wylie's hard shot was re-directed past Nappier by Saulnier for his second of the game and third of the season.

Lehigh Valley dominated the opening half of the period, jumping out to an 11-4 edge in shots and a 3-0 advantage on the scoreboard when Saulnier completed the natural hat trick at 9:55 - getting the puck from Derrick Pouliot at the right point on what Saulnier told SEN during the 1st intermission was a set play in the offensive zone.

Saulnier fired a shot from point and it appeared to bounce off a Penguins' defender in front on its way into the net. Saulnier was credited with his fourth of the season, completing the natural hat trick.

The Penguins found some life later in the period, getting on the board on Felix Robert's sixth of the season from Jonathan Gruden and Cam Lee with 3:35 left before the first intermission to cut the Phantoms' lead to 3-1 heading to the middle frame.

2nd Period

The Phantoms' fourth line continued their strong play from the first on their opening shift of the middle frame. Isaac Ratcliffe hopped over the boards for Saulnier and got in on the forecheck behind the Penguins' net - forcing a turnover where Wisdom picked up the loose puck in the offensive zone and after a pretty back and forth with Tanner MacMaster it was MacMaster giving the Phantoms a 4-1 lead with all four goals coming from the fourth line.

Lehigh Valley continued to pressure the Penguins, and after Max Willman forced a Penguins' penalty the Phantoms cashed in on the ensuing power play to take a commanding 5-1 lead in the opening 24:38 of play.

Derrick Pouliot blasted a shot from the point, and Chris Mueller - appearing in his 800th career AHL game - was at the side of the net to stuff home the rebound.

Things started to get chippy as the period wore on. Tempers flared between Isaac Ratcliffe and P-O Joseph after the Penguins' defender dumped him away from the play in the Phantoms' offensive zone. Ratcliffe retaliated with a cross-check into the back of Joseph, leaving the referees no choice but to even up the penalties midway through the period.

Later in the period, Penguins' forward Jordy Bellerive attempted to push Phantoms' goalie Zane McIntyre into his own net after trying for a rebound in the crease that was covered under McIntyre's right pad. McIntyre took exception, swatting at Bellerive and drawing a gathering with 3:27 left before the intermission.

3rd Period

The two teams traded power play goals in a third period that the Penguins heavily out shot Lehigh Valley (11-2), but the big story coming out of the final frame was a questionable open ice hit from Bellerive on Ratcliffe that forced the Phantoms' forward out of the game.

Mueller actually scored seconds after the hit, and Ratcliffe was credited with an assist, but the Flyers prospect didn't return and obviously there's concern given his missed time due to previous injuries throughout his early pro career.

Saulnier said post-game that the Phantoms warned Bellerive after the hit about his antics, and Saulnier later took matters in his own hands after Bellerive dropped Wisdom with a big hit down low in the corner.

"He got what he deserved," Saulnier, the Nova Scotia native, said after the game.

GAME SUMMARY

1st Period

2:03: LV - Saulnier (2) - Wisdom, Hogberg 5:28: LV - Saulnier (3) - Wylie, MacMaster 9:55: LV - Saulnier (4) - Pouliot 10:28: LV - (PP) Foerster, minor (high-sticking) 16:25: WBS - Robert (6) - Gruden, Lee

2nd Period

1:43: LV - MacMaster (2) - Wisdom, Saulnier 3:21: WBS - (PP) Drozg, minor (tripping) 4:38: LV - PPG Mueller (4) - Fitzgerald, Pouliot 9:56: WBS - Joseph, minor (tripping) 9:56: LV - Ratcliffe, minor (cross-checking) 14:14: WBS - (PP) O'Connor, minor (tripping) 16:33: WBS - (PP) Bellerive, minor (slashing)

3rd Period

1:27: WBS - (PP) O'Connor, minor (tripping) 3:26: LV - PPG Mueller (5) - Wisdom, Ratcliffe 7:05: LV - (PP) Sandin, minor (high-sticking) 7:42: WBS - PPG Currie (10) - O'Connor, Angello 13:11: LV - (PP) Sandin, minor (delay of game - closing hand on puck) 15:12: WBS - (PP) Lee, minor (tripping) 16:41: LV - (PP) Wisdom, minor (holding) 19:10: LV - Saulnier, major (fighting) 19:10: WBS - Bellerive, major (fighting)

BOXSCORE

W-B/Scranton  1 - 0 - 1 = 2 Lehigh Valley   3 - 2 - 1 = 6

Shots

W-B/Scranton  8 - 12 - 11 = 31 Lehigh Valley   14 - 10 - 2 = 26

Goalies

WBS: Tommy Nappier (20 saves -  26 shots) LV: Zane McIntyre (29 saves - 31 shots)

Power Play

WBS: 1-for-4 LV: 2-for-5

Penalty Kill

WBS: 3-for-5 LV: 3-for-4