GAMEDAY: Game 57 - Utica (30-21-7) at Lehigh Valley (27-23-6) 7:15 p.m. ET

ALLENTOWN, PA -- The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (27-23-6) look to end a five-game winless skid when they host the Utica Comets (30-21-7) in the middle of a three-in-three weekend.

Lehigh Valley Phantoms Roster Notes

Some lineup shuffling after a 4-0 loss last night in addition to Saturday's game against Utica also being the middle game of a three-in-three.

Mike McKenna got the start in net for Lehigh Valley, with Alex Lyon serving as his backup.

Nicolas Aube-Kubel missed Saturday's game after sustaining an upper body injury on the opening shift of Friday night's game in Syracuse. Greg Carey, who missed Friday night's game, returned in place of Aube-Kubel.

David Kase returned to the lineup for his first game back since the first week of December. Pascal Laberge, who has been eased back into game action, sat out in place of Kase.

The veteran scratches Saturday versus Utica were Philip Samuelsson and Jori Lehtera.

Phantoms' Lines (Starters in Bold/Italics)

Connor Bunnaman - Mikhail Vorobyev - Chris Conner Greg Carey - Byron Froese - David Kase Carsen Twarynski -Mike Vecchione - Justin Bailey Tyrell Goulbourne - Steven Swavely - Colin McDonald

T.J. Brennan - Mark Friedman David Schlemko - James de Haas Zach Palmquist - Reece Willcox

Mike McKenna - Alex Lyon

GAME STORY

FIRST PERIOD

The Phantoms got a much-needed early power play followed an even more needed early goal Saturday to get off and running with a 1-0 lead.

After Zack MacEwen was whistled for tripping Mikhail Vorobyev behind the Utica Comets' net, some good puck movement on the resulting man advantage opened up enough of a shooting lane for Greg Carey to one-time a puck from the right point past Marek Mazenec for his 24th of the season. The knee-drop one-timer has become a go-to for Carey, and if it ain't broke? Don't fix it.

Lehigh Valley handled their first penalty kill of effort the night, arguably generating the better of the chances. The momentum from the PK carried into a second Greg Carey tally that extended the lead to 2-0 heading to the middle frame.

Reece Willcox executed a perfect stretch pass to David Kase at the far blue line, hitting the speedy Czech forward in stride and creating a rush into the middle of the zone. Kase cut and pulled up atop the right circle before dropping a pass to Carey heading back toward the middle. The misdirection caught the Comets offguard and Carey wristed a quick shot that just eluded Mazenec under his arm before the bouncing puck just barely crossed the line with 2:36 left before the first intermission.

SECOND PERIOD

Despite getting a pair of power plays in the period, the Phantoms were unable to extend their lead prior to the final frame.

Utica responded with a much better effort in the middle frame, firing 17 shots toward Mike McKenna's net.

Luckily for Lehigh Valley, the Phantoms' goalie stood tall and with the help of his defense in front of him the team managed to maintain their 2-0 lead heading to the third.

THIRD PERIOD

The Comets didn't fade away quietly into the night. Instead, they made the most of an early power play opportunity to draw within a goal with 15:14 left in regulation.

McKenna was able to come up with a tough stop on a re-directed point shot, but the loose puck atop the crease was found first by Comets forward Zack MacEwen for the put back.

The Phantoms' penalty kill, led by goalie McKenna, willed Lehigh Valley to the win tonight.

McKenna thought of trying for the empty net in the final minute, but opted to clear the puck up the wall for a speedy Justin Bailey to retrieve and skate into the empty net to seal the deal.

GAME SUMMARY

1st Period

3:29: UTI - (PP) MacEwen, minor (tripping) 4:09: LV - PPG Carey (24) - Brennan, Conner 13:40: LV - (PP) Froese, minor (hooking) 17:24: LV - Carey (25) - Kase, Willcox

2nd Period

6:21: UTI - (PP) McEneny, minor (holding) 13:06: UTI - (PP) Woods, minor (boarding) 13:06: UTI - Woods, major (fighting) 13:06: LV - Willcox, major (fighting)

3rd Period

4:19: LV - (PP) Bunnaman, minor (holding) 4:46: UTI - PPG MacEwen (19) - McEneny, Boucher 9:57: LV - (PP) Brennan, minor (holding) 19:27: LV - ENG Bailey (15) - McKenna 19:35: UTI - (PP) Graham, minor (interference)

BOXSCORE

Utica Comets  0 - 0 - 1 = 1 Lehigh Valley  2 - 0 - 1 = 3

Shots

Utica Comets  5 - 17 - 17 = 39 Lehigh Valley  8 - 11 - 7 = 26

Goalies

UTI: Marek Mazanec (23 saves - 25 shots) LV: Mike McKenna (38 saves - 39 shots)

Power Play

UTI: 1-for-3 LV: 1-for-4

Penalty Kill

UTI: 3-for-4 LV: 2-for-3

Attendance: 8,480