Phantoms Post-Game EXTRA! (10/17/21)

HERSHEY, Pa. - In another game where the Phantoms did a lot of things right, they ultimately fell short by way of a 2-1 decision for the second straight night Sunday in Hershey.

Sunday's game story -> https://insideahlhockey.com/article/game-story-lehigh-valley-1-at-hershey-2-101721

Three Things

1. Morgan Frost

Frost had a great first game back with the Phantoms last Saturday in the preseason, even besides the two goals and assist he put up offensively. And that was due to his play away from the puck. He was engaged, he was active and he was hard on pucks - creating turnovers and as a result turning those turned over pucks into offensive scoring chances.

Here's what head coach Ian Laperriere had to say after that October 9 game:

"He's a high prospect for the Flyers, but he worked. He worked hard," Laperriere said of Frost's game that night.  "And that's all I'm asking him to do. You know, just work hard, be engaged and he was tonight."

Fast forward to this weekend, and it wasn't a good performance from Frost Sunday in Hershey. And last night in Wilkes-Barre he was already trending in the wrong direction in terms of not being engaged, not winning loose puck battles, not keeping his feet moving and not being tough to play against in his own zone.

As a result of that, he wasn't generating much of anything offensively. That's why, in the third period Sunday - even with the team trailing by a goal and on a 5-on-3 power play that became a 6-on-3 with the goalie pulled for the extra attacker - Laperriere continued to keep Frost on the bench.

"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."

When you're not winning face-offs or puck battles and not taking care of things in your own end, you're spending more time in the defensive zone and as a result you're spending less time in the offensive zone. That's what Laperriere's post-game comments were referencing.

The Phantoms' head coach has made it clear in just about all of his media availabilities after games in the preseason and again in the two regular season games that he can live with mistakes being made if the effort is there and the player is playing within the system and structure they've implemented - the same systems the NHL club is playing.

While it may appear harsh or even foolish to bench the team's top offensive player late in a one-goal game, it sends a stark message that the standard has been set and those that don't play to that standard won't see the ice - whether you're a first round pick with elite offensive abilities or a fourth line mucker and grinder.

2. Puck Luck

For the second straight game, the Phantoms out-chanced their opponent but were unable to convert on their high-danger scoring chances in a second straight 2-1 regulation loss.

"It's tough. We've had a bunch of chances," Phantoms' forward Gerry Mayhew said after the loss. "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."

3. Cam York

While Frost hasn't trended in the right direction to begin the season, the same can't be said of defenseman Cam York - another one of the Flyers' 1st round picks with the AHL club. He's played pretty well on the weekend as a whole.

He's still adjusting to the physical play in the pro game, but he's defending well for the most part and making smart plays coming out of his zone - all good signs for his continued development. It's only a matter of time before his offensive game comes out of his shell.

But that's not to say he isn't generating anything offensively. To date, he has the primary assist on both of the team's two goals on the season.

One thing Laperriere mentioned of York in the preseason is that he wants to see York jump up into the play more. On Saturday, he did just that at the tail end of a power play and made a 3-on-2 rush with Linus Sandin and Tyson Foerster turn into a nice pass across to Foerster for his goal that night.

On Sunday, he was aggressive on a forecheck and forced a turnover before feeding Mayhew at the net for Sunday's lone Phantoms' goal.

"It was a good forecheck by everyone out there," Mayhew said of his goal adding," I saw Yorkie come [down into the left-wing circle], great patience, and he just put it right on my stick."