GAMEDAY: Game 49 - Hartford (19-24-6) at Lehigh Valley (25-17-5) 7:15 p.m. ET
ALLENTOWN, PA -- The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (25-18-5) continue their 3-in-3 weekend with a Saturday night home matchup against the Hartford WolfPack (19-24-6) at 7:15 p.m. ET in the first of two games in as many days against their Atlantic Division counterpart.
Lehigh Valley Phantoms Roster Notes
Okay, there's a lot to divulge here.
Last night, Inside AHL Hockey got word of Phil Myers' call up to Philadelphia.
What delayed the official announcement Saturday turned out to be an impending trade between the Flyers and Montreal Canadiens - which was Dale Weise and Christian Folin for Byron Froese and David Schlemko. Neither Froese or Schlemko made it to town in time to be in the lineup for tonight's game.
Goalie Branden Komm, who backed up Mike McKenna in Utica Friday night, was reassigned to Reading (ECHL) - leaving tonight's starter Alex Lyon and McKenna as the AHL club's two goalies entering tonight's game.
Phantoms' Lines (Starters in Bold/Italics)
Greg Carey - Connor Bunnaman - Chris Conner Justin Bailey - Mike Vecchione - Carsen Twarynski Tyrell Goulbourne - Jori Lehtera - Colin McDonaldMike Huntebrinker - Steven Swavely - Josh MacDonald
Phil Samuelsson - Mark FriedmanZach Palmquist - Reece Willcox T.J. Brennan - James de Haas
Alex Lyon - Mike McKenna
GAME STORY
FIRST PERIOD
Not the best first period the Phantoms have played this season, out shot 13-5 and out scored 1-0, but to be in a one-goal game through 20 minutes when things just don't seem to be going your way isn't too terrible of a thing. Right?
Lehigh Valley actually nearly scored on the opening shift. After a neutral zone turnover, the puck got to Tyrell Goulbourne on the left wing and the forward turned on the jets entering the offensive zone - trying to pick the far corner on goalie Brandon Halverson, but clanging one off the post 12 seconds into the game.
The Phantoms also got the game's first power play 2:41 into the contest, but weren't able to convert. Instead, Hartford gained some momentum and made the most of their first man advantage chance of the night moments later with Connor Bunnaman in the box for holding.
Credit Connor Brickley with a great screen in front of Alex Lyon, preventing the goalie from reading the play and getting to his left to cover a quick shot from the right-wing circle by Peter Holland. Holland's 18th of the season 8:13 into the contest was assisted by Chris Bigras and Lias Andersson.
From there, the Phantoms couldn't seem to get much consistent offensive pressure going - instead taking another minor in the second half of the period.
Still, a one-goal hockey game entering the middle frame.
SECOND PERIOD
Lehigh Valley got better as the period wore on after being hemmed in their own zone for most of the opening four minutes - out shot 4-0 to start the period and as wide a margin as 17-5 at one point.
The Phantoms started to generate on the attack more consistently, with Mike Vecchione nearly tying the game with 11:27 left before the second intermission. Later in the period on a power play, a Greg Carey blast from the center point nearly trickled in past Halverson but credit the WolfPack goaltender for making all the necessary saves to keep his shutout intact heading to the third period.
Still, just a one-goal hockey game heading to the third period. In the middle game of a 3-in-3 weekend with a mish-mash lineup of sorts, a one-goal game entering the final frame is all you can ask for -- a chance to win.
THIRD PERIOD
An early third period turnover at the defensive blue line paved the way for Hartford to extend their lead to 2-0. Tim Gettinger picked up the loose puck in the neutral zone, got it to the right wing to Steven Fogarty and Ryan Gropp cut to the net - getting the centering feed from Fogarty and beating Lyon with a quick shot from the slot 3:52 into the third frame.
The Phantoms didn't pack it in down 2-0 in the third. They nearly got on the board on the shift after Gropp's goal, and it wasn't long before they broke Halverson's shutout bid - albeit on a bit of a broken play.
Jori Lehtera picked up a turnover just inside the offensive zone blue line and fired a shot that appeared to re-direct off a Hartford defender in front on its way past the WolfPack goaltender. Lehtera's first AHL goal since April 11, 2009 and his first goal since his lone Flyers' tally back on October 27th made it a one-goal game again.
Ultimately, after pulling Lyon for the extra attacker in the final 90 seconds, the Phantoms were unable to find that OT-forcing goal and dropped a 2-1 regulation decision to the WolfPack - setting up Sunday's rematch at 3:15 p.m. ET.
GAME SUMMARY
1st Period
2:41: HFD - (PP) O'Donnell, minor (tripping) 6:44: LV - (PP) Bunnaman, minor (holding) 8:13: HFD - PPG Holland (18) - Bigras, Andersson 13:05: LV - (PP) Goulbourne, minor (tripping)
2nd Period
18:14: HFD - (PP) Meskanen, minor (tripping)
3rd Period
3:52: HFD - Gropp (5) - Fogarty, Gettinger 5:11: LV - Lehtera (1) - unassisted
BOXSCORE
Hartford 1 - 0 - 1 = 2 Lehigh Valley 0 - 0 - 1 = 1
Shots
Hartford 13 - 8 - 12 = 33 Lehigh Valley 5 - 11 - 10 = 26
Goalies
HFD: Brandon Halverson (25 saves - 26 shots) LV: Alex Lyon (31 saves - 33 shots)
Power Play
HFD: 1-for-1 LV: 0-for-2
Penalty Kill
HFD: 2-for-2 LV: 0-for-1
Attendance:
