GAME STORY: W-B/Scranton - 5 at Lehigh Valley - 2 (1/15/22)

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (10-12-7) gave it all they had in Saturday's rematch against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, but the Penguins proved to be too much for the Phantoms to contain in a 5-2 defeat that ended their nine-game unbeaten streak.

Connor Bunnaman and Wade Allison tallied power play goals in the third period, but it was too little too late after three Penguins' goals in a span of 97 seconds in the middle frame turned a 1-0 game into a 4-0 blowout in the blink of an eye. Felix Sandstrom was arguably the best player on the ice for the Phantoms Saturday, stopping 30 of 34 and keeping his team in the game when they were largely out-shot and out-chanced in the opening 40 minutes.

Valtteri Puustinen, Sam Poulin, Felix Robert, Nathan Legare and Taylor Fedun tallied goals for the Penguins in the win while goaltender Tommy Nappier stopped 20 of 22.

Lehigh Valley Phantoms Roster Notes

Five remain on the AHL's COVID list as assistant coaches Riley Armstrong and Jason Smith, goaltender Pat Nagle, defenseman Logan Day and forward Hayden Hodgson are in enhanced protocols at the direction of team medical staff and the AHL.

Former Flyers forward Danny Briere helped head coach Ian Laperriere behind the bench again Saturday night as an assistant with both of the team's assistant coaches in COVID protocol.

Felix Sandstrom, recently reassigned from the Flyers taxi squad, got the start in net for Lehigh Valley Saturday at home. Garrett Metcalf served as the Phantoms' backup after stopping 39 of 42 Friday night in Wilkes-Barre.

Garrett Wilson left Friday night's game in the first period and did not return. Fortunately for the Phantoms, the Flyers loaned forward Max Willman to Lehigh Valley in advance of Saturday's game to give their AHL club 12 healthy forwards for the final two games they have on the weekend.

Nick Lappin drew back in to the Phantoms' lineup up front Saturday, with Brennan Saulnier sitting out to make room on the fourth line.

Phantoms Scratches: Samuel Ersson (injured), Pat Nagle (COVID list), Logan Day (COVID list), Brennan Saulnier, Ryan MacKinnon, Hayden Hodgson (COVID list), Garrett Wilson (injured) and Tyson Foerster (injured)

Lines/Pairings

Maksim Sushko - Cal O'Reilly - Charlie Gerard Max Willman - Connor Bunnaman - Wade Allison Isaac Ratcliffe - Matthew Strome - Linus Sandin Alex Kile - German Rubtsov - Nick Lappin

Linus Hogberg - Adam Clendening Egor Zamula - Wyatte Wylie Mason Millman - Cooper Zech

Felix Sandstrom - Garrett Metcalf

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Roster Notes

Tommy Nappier got the start in net for the Penguins Saturday in Allentown, with Alex D'Orio backing him up.

The Penguins signed former Phantoms forward Pascal Laberge to a PTO, but Laberge was among the Pens' scratches for the second straight night.

Scratches: Filip Lindberg, Nick Hutchison, Patrick Watling, Niclas Almari, Michael Chaput and Cam Lee

Lines/Pairings

Felix Robert - Sam Houde - Valtteri Puustinen Alex Nylander - Sam Poulin - Jan Drozg Pascal Laberge - Jordy Bellerive - Nathan Legare Jamie Devane - Jonathan Gruden - Kyle Olson

P.O. Joseph - Mitch Reinke Matt Bartkowski - Taylor Fedun Chris Bigras - Will Reilly

Tommy Nappier - Alex D'Orio

GAME RECAP

1st Period

The Phantoms got off to a decent enough start, drawing themselves a power play 1:14 into the game and getting a pair of dangerous scoring chances on the ensuing man advantage.

Wade Allison set up Connor Bunnaman atop the crease for a tap-in, but somehow Penguins' goalie Tommy Nappier was able to slide across and make a desperation save to keep Lehigh Valley off the board. Seconds later, Max Willman flew in from the left wing and let loose a laser of a snap shot but Nappier was again equal to the task.

Unfortunately, that was about it for the Phantoms in terms of offensive chances and pressure in the opening frame.

As soon as the tripping minor to P.O. Joseph expired, the Penguins began to tilt the ice in their favor - controlling play and spending most of the period in the Phantoms' defensive zone.

The Pens eventually were able to get one in past Felix Sandstrom, with Valterri Puustinen recording his team-leading 11th of the season on a feed from Felix Robert. Matt Bartkowski added a secondary assist on the play.

Lehigh Valley had a chance to even the game before the first intermission, on a power play with 1:59 left in the opening period, but were unable to find an equalizer before heading to the locker room.

2nd Period

Similar to the first frame, the Phantoms had the early jump tos tart the period. Also similar to the first frame, the Penguins quickly responded and took control of the play.

This time, however, the Penguins got rewarded for their strong play - to the tune of three goals in 97 seconds to break open a one-goal game into a blowout.

Sam Poulin, Felix Robert and Nathan Legare scored in rapid succession for the Penguins to put the Phantoms on their heels. Head coach Ian Laperriere opted to call his timeout to settle things down with his team reeling and trailing 4-0 with 8:33 left in the middle frame.

Lehigh Valley had a chance late in the period to try to grab some momentum heading into the third, but were unable to convert on 1:33 of 5-on-3 power play time in the final two minutes of the period. A frustrated Phantoms' team headed to the locker room in a four-goal hole.

3rd Period

Heading into the third period with a 4-0 lead, it was only natural for the Penguins to ease off the gas knowing they have a third game in three days coming up tomorrow against Hershey.

While the Phantoms didn't have much left in the tank, their power play came through in the third period - potting a pair of goals in the second half of the period to narrow the gap. Connor Bunnaman got his 2nd of the season finishing off a nice play from Adam Clendening, and Wade Allison tallied his first of the season on a rebound of a Clendening shots several minutes later.

Lehigh Valley pulled the goaltender down 4-2 in the final three minutes, but Penguins' captain Taylor Fedun hit the empty net to complete the 5-3 final score.

GAME SUMMARY

1st Period

1:14: WBS - (PP) Joseph, minor (tripping) 10:22: WBS - Puustinen (11) - Robert, Bartkowski 13:03: LV - (PP) Lappin, minor (hooking) 18:01: WBS - (PP) Drozg, minor (tripping)

2nd Period

2:53: LV - (PP) Strome, minor (tripping) 9:50: WBS - Poulin (5) - Fedun, Bartkowski 10:33: WBS - Robert (8) - Joseph, Reinke 11:27: WBS - Legare (3) - Bellerive, Houde 15:51: LV - (PP) Hogberg, minor (holding) 17:45: WBS - (PP) Poulin, minor (high-sticking) 18:12: WBS - (PP) Olson, minor (slashing)

3rd Period

4:45: LV - (PP) Ratcliffe, minor (hooking) 9:59: WBS - (PP) Bellerive, minor (tripping) 10:57: LV - PPG Bunnaman (2) - Clendening 14:14: WBS - (PP) Gruden, minor (interference) 15:26: LV - PPG Allison (1) - Clendening, O'Reilly 18:44: WBS - ENG Fedun (2) - unassisted

BOXSCORE

W-B/Scranton  1 - 3 - 1 = 5 Lehigh Valley 0 - 0 - 2 = 2

Shots

W-B/Scranton  13 - 14 - 8 = 35 Lehigh Valley 3 - 6 - 13 = 22

Goalies

WBS: Tommy Nappier (20 saves - 22 shots) LV: Felix Sandstrom (30 saves - 34 shots)

Power Play

WBS: 0-for-5 LV: 2-for-7

Penalty Kill

WBS: 5-for-7 LV: 5-for-5