Phantoms Post-Game EXTRA! (11/07/21)

CHARLOTTE, NC - The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (2-6-2) got back into the win column in Charlotte, bouncing back after a 7-3 loss Saturday night with a quick turnaround for a 1 p.m. rematch against the Checkers Sunday afternoon.

The Phantoms broke a 1-1 tie in the middle frame with goals from defensemen Cam York and Egor Zamula, before extending the lead early in the third period on a 4-on-3 power play snipe from Max Willman. Charlotte pushed back to make it a one-goal game, but Garrett Wilson sealed the deal with an empty net tally in the final two minutes to halt the Checkers' comeback bid.

Sunday's Game Story -> https://insideahlhockey.com/article/game-story-lehigh-valley-5-at-charlotte-3-11721

Three Things

1. The Response

Coming off their first win of the season Wednesday night, the Phantoms headed to Charlotte for two games hoping to build off of that.

Saturday's game just wasn't good enough. The effort just wasn't there in a 7-3 loss to the Checkers.

"I'm just gonna happy guys were mad [about] the way we played [Saturday]," Laperriere told Inside AHL Hockey after Sunday's game.

The Phantoms put together a much better effort Sunday, jumping out to a 4-1 lead before holding on to secure the 5-3 win.

"It was a gutsy effort and that's what we needed. That's a good team on the other side," Laperriere said. "To come here on a back to back and win that second game the way we did it like blocking shots and making the right decisions at the right times that was the game plan and guys respected that."

Things got interesting in the third period when Charlotte tallied two goals and made it a one-goal game with 15-plus minutes left in regulation.

"They did have a good push there at the end. They scored two goals, and the way we are you know as a team right now - a little bit more fragile - but we didn't break. We bent a little bit, but we didn't break which was great."

Linus Hogberg came up with a big block with 3:31 left to play, stepping in front of an empty side of the net and blocking a Charlotte shot that would have tied the game. Moments later, Garrett Wilson tacked on an empty net goal to halt the Checkers' comeback attempt.

"Yeah, we had to come out hard and play a way stronger, physical game," Wilson told Inside AHL Hockey post-game Sunday. "And for the most part, everyone showed up and we played a full 60 and got the job done. So it's a huge response there after the last night."

2. Injuries Piling Up

It seems like with every passing game, the Phantoms are adding to their ever-growing injury list. And that's not to mention the injuries before the season started to guys like Wade Allison, Ryan Fitzgerald, Tanner Laczynski and Sam Morin.

Defenseman Mason Millman (lower body) and forward Linus Sandin (upper body) are both out longer term after sustaining injuries in Hershey on opening weekend.

Goalie Samuel Ersson was banged up coming out of last Friday's game in Utica. He has yet to return to game action.

Wednesday night vs Syracuse, Wyatte Wylie (upper body) and Maksim Sushko exited the game with injuries. Neither player appeared in either of the two games in Charlotte this weekend, although at least Sushko was on the trip with the team - perhaps a sign he's closer to returning.

Saturday in Charlotte, Tyson Foerster (upper body) slid into the half-wall while battling for a loose puck on a second period power play and came up hurting - appearing to have injured his shoulder/arm. He didn't play Sunday, which forced the Phantoms into dressing an 11-forward, seven defensemen lineup.

Laperriere didn't have an update on Foerster when asked, but with the Phantoms calling up Matthew Strome from ECHL Reading Monday afternoon all signs point to Foerster missing some time with the upper body injury he suffered this weekend.

3. Max Willman Video Interview

Max Willman was kind of enough to talk post-game after his third period power play goal turned out to be the game-winner.

Video interview below.