GAMEDAY: Game 58 - Bridgeport (34-18-7) at Lehigh Valley (28-23-6) 3:15 p.m. ET

ALLENTOWN, PA -- The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (28-23-6) look to make it two straight wins to end their three-in-three weekend Sunday afternoon against Atlantic Division foe Bridgeport (34-18-7) at 3:15 p.m. ET.

Lehigh Valley Phantoms Roster Notes

Alex Lyon was back in net Sunday for the Phantoms. Mike McKenna performed admirably in a 38-save win Saturday night against Utica.

Pascal Laberge and Philip Samuelsson returned to the Phantoms' lineup, while Colin McDonald and Zach Palmquist were scratched to make room.

Phantoms' Lines (Starters in Bold/Italics)

Connor Bunnaman - Mikhail Vorobyev - Chris ConnerGreg Carey - Byron Froese - David Kase Carsen Twarynski - Mike Vecchione - Justin Bailey Tyrell Goulbourne - Steven Swavely - Pascal Laberge

David Schlemko - Mark FriedmanJames de Haas - T.J. Brennan Philip Samuelsson - Reece Willcox

Alex Lyon - Mike McKenna

Scratches: Zach Palmquist (healthy), Cole Bardreau (injured), Colin McDonald (veteran), Nicolas Aube-Kubel (injured), German Rubtsov (injured - out for season) and Jori Lehtera (veteran)

GAME STORY

FIRST PERIOD

The Phantoms got off to pretty good start considering it was their third game on the weekend, but despite an early edge in play and a 7-2 edge in shots on goal in the opening half of the period they were unable to get one past Jeremy Smith to take an early lead.

Lehigh Valley had some chances on a power play late in the period and thought they took a 1-0 lead before replay showed David Kase clearly swat a loose puck into the net with his arm with 1:36 left, but alas the Phantoms and Sound Tigers headed to the first intermission scoreless.

SECOND PERIOD

A parade to the penalty box to start the middle frame saw the teams exchange power plays in the opening half of the period, but neither team was able to cash in on their power play chances as the game remained scoreless as it reached the midway point of regulation.

It was Bridgeport opening the scoring Sunday afternoon, taking the 1-0 lead with 9:33 left in the middle frame after a neutral zone pickup by Sound Tigers' defenseman Chris Casto led to a rush up ice and eventual drop back to Steve Bernier for his 20th of the season.

Running on fumes at the tail end of a three-in-three, it's certainly gut check time for the Phantoms in what is turning into an almost must-win game for Lehigh Valley - entering today five points out of the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division.

THIRD PERIOD

While Lehigh Valley needed a strong response to start the third, it was Bridgeport extending their lead to 2-0 just 2:02 into the final frame when Tanner Fritz got a puck ahead to Matt Lorito, who had a step on the Phantoms' defense on his way to firing a shot from the left-wing circle that trickled through Phantoms' goalie Alex Lyon on its way into the net.

The Phantoms had a golden opportunity to get back into the game, getting a full two minutes of five-on-three power play time with 11:39 left in regulation, but they were unable to capitalize.

Mike Vecchione was able to make it a one-goal game in the final minute, but it was too little too late for the Phantoms in a 3-1 loss to Bridgeport.

GAME SUMMARY

1st Period

16:05: BST - (PP) Bourque, minor (slashing)

2nd Period

0:26: BST - (PP) Ho-Sang, minor (hooking) 2:13: LV - (PP) Froese, minor (tripping) 6:43: BST - (PP) Burroughs, minor (interference) 10:27: BST - Bernier (20) - Casto 11:38: LV - (PP) Schlemko, minor (hooking) 15:13: LV - Vorobyev, minor (roughing) 15:13: BST - Bellows, minor (roughing) 15:13: BST - (PP) Bellows, minor (interference)

3rd Period

2:02: BST - Lorito (3) - Fritz, Holmstrom 4:02: LV - (PP) Carey, minor (holding) 8:21: BST - (PP) Fritz, minor (interference) 8:21: BST - (PP) delay of game, face-off violation (served by Ho-Sang) 13:23: LV - (PP) Friedman, minor (high-sticking) 15:25: LV - (PP) Bailey, minor (delay of game) 18:21: BST - (PP) Helgeson, minor (cross-checking) 19:02: LV - PPG Vecchione (13) - Froese, Carey 19:59: BST - ENG Lorito (4) - Fritz, Bourque

BOXSCORE

Bridgeport  0 - 1 - 2 = 3 Lehigh Valley  0 - 0 - 1 = 1

Shots

Bridgeport  7 - 6 - 7 = 20 Lehigh Valley  11 - 5 - 9 = 25

Goalies

BST: Jeremy Smith (24 saves - 25 shots) LV: Alex Lyon (17 saves - 19 shots)

Power Play

BST: 0-for-5 LV: 1-for-7

Penalty Kill

BST: 6-for-6 LV: 4-for-4

Attendance: 8,033