Inside Phantoms Hockey 10/19/21

Editor's Note: A new weekly feature giving Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Philadelphia Flyers fans a broad scope of the AHL team's happenings. Looking back at last week's games, looking ahead to this week's schedule, all the latest news/notes and more.

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ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (0-2-0) suffered a pair of nearly identical 2-1 regulation losses last weekend to begin their 2021-22 regular season schedule.

The theme of the weekend was improved offensive output in terms of scoring chances created and shots on net with traffic in front, but ultimately the Phantoms were unable to convert on enough of those chances to score goals and win hockey games.

Last Week

Saturday, October 16: Lehigh Valley 1 - at W-B/Scranton - 2

In the Phantoms' season opener, on the road against rival Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the orange and black severely out-chanced their opponent but came up short due in large part to the stellar play in net by Penguins' goaltender Filip Lindberg. Making his pro debut with the Pens that night, Lindberg stopped all but one of the 31 shots he faced to earn the win. He was simply the best player on the ice that night.

Tyson Foerster scored the Phantoms' lone goal of the contest, on a feed from Cam York at the tail end of a power play in the middle frame. Linus Sandin added a secondary assist on the play. Felix Sandstrom (21 saves - 23 shots) was strong in net, but took the loss.

"We just have to start capitalizing on our chances. I think we played pretty well [Saturday night], we just need to start scoring," Foerster told InsideAHLHockey.com after the game.

Game Story -> https://insideahlhockey.com/article/game-story-lehigh-valley-1-at-w-bscranton-2-101621 Post-Game EXTRA! -> https://insideahlhockey.com/article/phantoms-post-game-extra-101621

Sunday, October 17: Lehigh Valley - 1 at Hershey - 2

In a quick turnaround, the Phantoms were in Hershey for a Sunday afternoon matchup with their other in-state rival Hershey Bears. In similar fashion, Lehigh Valley found themselves with several opportunities to score - including eight power plays and a 6-on-3 for the final 80 seconds of regulation - but were unable to convert.

Samuel Ersson made his Phantoms' regular season debut and played well, stopping 21 of 23, but again the offensive support wasn't there in a 2-1 decision that went the other way.

Gerry Mayhew scored his first goal as a member of the Phantoms Sunday. The 2020 AHL MVP tallied 39 goals in 49 games the last time the league played a full season, and he knows what it takes to score goals.

"It's tough. We've had a bunch of chances," Phantoms' forward Gerry Mayhew said after the loss Sunday. "We played really well in the last half of the first period and continued to get pucks deep but it was just one of those kind of nights where the puck isn't falling [in]," he added, giving credit to Bears' goaltender Zach Fucale for making some timely saves.

"If we continue to shoot the puck a little more, we'll be alright."

Perhaps the biggest story coming out of Sunday's game was the fact that head coach Ian Laperriere opted to limit Morgan Frost's ice time in the third period, so much so that he wasn't seen most of the final frame - including the final 1:20 with the team trailing by a goal and on a 5-on-3 power play that became a 6-on-3 with Ersson pulled for the extra attacker.

"I want more out of him," Laperriere told InsideAHLHockey.com after the game, explaining Frost wasn't injured and there was a reason why he wasn't seeing the ice in most of the third period. "He's one of my leaders, one of the guys I'm relying on to create offense. But he has to play better defense to create that offense."

Game Story -> https://insideahlhockey.com/article/game-story-lehigh-valley-1-at-hershey-2-101721 Post-Game EXTRA! -> https://insideahlhockey.com/article/phantoms-post-game-extra-101721

News & Notes

A congratulations is in order to forward Max Willman, who was called up prior to last weekend's games - making his NHL debut Friday night with the Philadelphia Flyers in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Vancouver Canucks. Willman has had quite the journey to get to the NHL, and the 26-year-old remains up with the NHL club entering the week. (EDIT: Willman was re-assigned to Lehigh Valley Tuesday afternoon.)

Willman's Path to the NHL is one of perseverance -> https://insideahlhockey.com/article/willmans-path-to-the-nhl-one-of-perseverance

Head coach Ian Laperriere provided some injury updates to InsideAHLHockey.com after Sunday's game in Hershey.

Maksim Sushko, who didn't appear in either game for Lehigh Valley this past weekend is on the team's injured list.

"He's been banged up a little bit, but he's been skating and he should be back soon," the Phantoms' bench boss said of Sushko.

Linus Sandin left Sunday's game in the third period after a shot from Logan Day at the right point caught him under the visor. Laperriere was not pleased with the cross-check into Sandin's back on the play, which sent him lunging out head-first and into the point shot.

"It's dangerous. He can't defend himself, he can't protect himself," Laperriere said, adding, "The league has to do something about that. I know they talked about taking care of the cross-checks. That's one example: he could have lost his eye. Thank god he's okay."

Mason Millman didn't finish Sunday's game either, though we didn't ask for a comment from Laperriere on his status moving forward. It appeared to be a lower body injury.

The Phantoms announced their captains for the 2021-22 season officially on Monday afternoon, although InsideAHLHockey had already reported on opening night that Cal O'Reilly was still wearing the captain's C on his jersey Saturday in Wilkes-Barre. Wearing the alternate captain A's this season are forwards Connor Bunnaman and Garrett Wilson.

Forward Hayden Hodgson, who entered Phantoms training camp on a tryout, has stuck around and made the team. Laperriere told InsideAHLHockey.com on Sunday that Hodgson has been signed to two-way (AHL/ECHL) contract for the 2021-22 season.

The Flyers announced on Tuesday that defenseman Egor Zamula has been activated off the injured non-roster designation, and assigned to Lehigh Valley (AHL). Later in the afternoon, forward Max Willman was also reassigned to the Phantoms.

Recent Transactions

October 21: D Ryan MacKinnon recalled from loan to Reading (ECHL) October 21: D Nick Seeler returned on loan from Philadelphia (NHL) October 19: LW Max Willman loaned from Philadelphia (NHL) October 19: D Egor Zamula loaned from Philadelphia (NHL) October 19: D Ryan MacKinnon loaned to Reading (ECHL) October 19: LW Ryan Strome reassigned by Philadelphia to Reading (ECHL)

The Week Ahead

The Phantoms had a scheduled off day Monday, and resume practice Tuesday with a week of practice leading into their home opener on Saturday and a rematch against the Penguins at PPL Center on Sunday afternoon.

Saturday, October 22: Hartford at Lehigh Valley - 7:15 p.m. ETSunday, October 23: W-B/Scranton at Lehigh Valley - 3:15 p.m. ET

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