GAMEDAY: Game 2 - Springfield (0-0-1) at Lehigh Valley (1-0-0) 7:05 PM ET
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ALLENTOWN - The Lehigh Valley Phantoms had another week of practice to prepare for a pair of games this weekend, beginning tonight with a home matchup against Atlantic Division foe Springfield Thunderbirds. The two teams will rematch Saturday night in Springfield to complete the home-and-home series.
Lehigh Valley Phantoms Roster Notes
Goaltender Alex Lyon was assigned to Lehigh Valley following his return to good health after an injury in the preseason. That move gives the Phantoms three goalies entering the week, with Anthony Stolarz back with the team as well as rookie Carter Hart who backstopped the team to a win in their season opener last Saturday against Bridgeport.
Defenseman Philip Samuelsson practiced with the team all week on a third pairing with Zach Palmquist, and is expected to make his Phantoms' debut Saturday vs. Springfield. Samuelsson caught up with Inside AHL Hockey Tuesday to talk about his new opportunity in the Flyers organization.
Reece Willcox remains out with an undisclosed injury, as he wasn't practicing with the team on both Tuesday and Wednesday.
Taylor Leier is back with the Phantoms after being waived by Philadelphia prior to the beginning of the season, and is expected to make his season debut Saturday. Here's our story on Leier, who had a tough beginning to his 2018-19 season in Philadelphia. (Subscribers)
Lehigh Valley Lines (Starters in Bold/Italics)
Greg Carey - Phil Varone - Nicolas Aube-Kubel Carsen Twarynski - Mike Vecchione - Chris Conner (A) Taylor Leier - German Rubtsov - Colin McDonald (C) Connor Bunnaman - Cole Bardreau - Tyrell Goulbourne
T.J. Brennan (A) - Mark Friedman James de Haas - Phil MyersZach Palmquist - Philip Samuelsson
Carter Hart - Anthony Stolarz
Phantoms Scratches: Alex Lyon, David Drake (healthy), Radel Fazleev (healthy), David Kase & Reece Willcox (undisclosed injury)
Springfield Thunderbirds Lines (Starters in Bold/Italics)
Dryden Hunt - Harry Zolnierczyk - Paul Thompson Blaine Byron - Jonathan Ang - Anthony Greco Joel Lowry - Henrik Borgstrom - Jayce Hawryluk Patrick Bajkov - Jake Horton - Sebastian Repo
Ian McCoshen - Matt Mangene Ludwig Bystrom - Thomas Schemitsch Riley Stillman - Julian Melchiori
Samuel Montembeault - Chris Driedger
POST-GAME REACTION
Stay tuned after tonight's game for Phantoms Post-Game Extra!
GAME STORY
FIRST PERIOD
The Phantoms got the start they wanted, getting an early power play 1:31 into the contest, but were unable to take advantage of their first man advantage of the night. Greg Carey had a one-timer from the right-wing circle for a quality chance, but Thunderbirds goalie Samuel Montembeault was equal to the task.
After Mike Vecchione took a slashing minor in the offensive zone, it was the Thunderbirds capitalizing on special teams en route to scoring the game's opening goal. The puck cycled from the center point to the right-wing half-wall, where Patrick Bajkov corralled a puck and from the face-off dot sniped one over the left shoulder of Carter Hart. Hart was sliding from his right to left to get into position, and was there, but the shot was well-placed and beat him to the spot.
Vecchione's tough first period continued, as he took a high-sticking minor in the offensive zone later in the period with the Phantoms on a power play. After he exited the box, he took a pass in the defensive zone and tried to flip a puck across but it was intercepted and nearly converted for a goal against.
Back to that Vecchione penalty, Hart was fantastic on the ensuing penalty kill - stopping three or four shots in succession during one sequence to keep the Phantoms in the game.
The trio of Taylor Leier, German Rubtsov and Colin McDonald had several strong shifts in the first period, and nearly tied the game in the final seconds but in a twist of fate the Thunderbirds added to their lead on a transition play with just five seconds left before the first intermission to take a 2-0 lead into the second period.
SECOND PERIOD
Things didn't get any better for the Phantoms in the beginning of the middle frame. James de Haas was forced into hauling down a Thunderbirds forward after he had slipped behind the defense, and Springfield cashed in on the power play - a recurring theme tonight.
Nine seconds after Anthony Greco's power play goal opened up the game to a 3-0 Phantoms' deficit, tempers flared at the team benches - resulting in an extra minor assessed to Lehigh Valley. Again, the Thunderbirds made the most of their chances on the ensuing power play.
That spelled the end of the night for Carter Hart, who was pulled in favor of Anthony Stolarz with 12;41 left in the period after surrendering four goals on 16 shots. Tough to blame the power play goals against on Hart, but the goal allowed in the final seconds of the first period - a sharp angle shot with time expiring in the period - was definitely one he needed to have.
It went from bad to ugly as the period continued to drag along.
Stolarz was often faced with odd-man rushes on what seemingly had to feel like every Thunderbirds entrance into the zone. Another power play goal against, and a brutal turnover in the D-zone by Phil Myers late in the period turned this game into a rout as the Phantoms headed to the second intermission down by a six spot on the scoreboard.
GAME SUMMARY
1st Period
1:31: SPR - (PP) Melchiori, minor (cross-checking) 6:20: LV - (PP) Vecchione, minor (slashing) 7:05: SPR - PPG Bajkov (1) - Mangene, Thompson 13:55: SPR - (PP) Horton, minor (hooking) 15:26: LV - (PP) Vecchione, minor (high-sticking) 19:56: SPR - Thompson (2) - Zolnierczyk, Mangene
2nd Period
3:46: LV - (PP) de Haas, minor (tripping) 5:21: SPR - PPG Greco (1) - Borgstrom, Byron 5:30: SPR - Hunt, minor (roughing) 5:30: LV - Aube-Kubel, minor (roughing) 5:30: LV - (PP) Aube-Kubel, minor (charging) 7:19: SPR - PPG Bystrom (1) - Borgstrom, Byron 8:56: SPR - (PP) McCoshen, minor (interference) 12:59: LV - (PP) Friedman, minor (slashing) 13:44: SPR - PPG Bystrom (2) - Greco 16:35: SPR - Borgstrom (1) - Lowry
3rd Period
5:37: LV - (PP) Friedman, minor (high-sticking) 7:17: SPR - PPG Melchiori (1) - Lowry, Horton 8:26: SPR - (PP) Hunt, minor (high-sticking)
BOXSCORE
Springfield 2 - 4 - 1 = 7 Lehigh Valley 0 - 0 - 0 = 0
Shots
Springfield 10 - 10 - 12 = 32 Lehigh Valley 13 - 14 - 8 = 35
Goalies
LV - Carter Hart (12 saves - 16 shots in 27:19) and Anthony Stolarz (13 saves - 16 shots in 32:41) SPR - Samuel Montembeault (35 saves - 35 shots)
Power Play
LV: 0-for-4 SPR: 5-for-7
Penalty Kill
LV: 2-for-7 SPR: 4-for-4
