Phantoms Post-Game EXTRA! 2019-20 Season: Hershey - 2 at Lehigh Valley - 3 (OT)

ALLENTOWN, Pennsylvania -- The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (6-2-4) defeated the Hershey Bears (6-5-3) by a score of 3-2 in overtime on Saturday night.

Phantoms defenseman Andy Welinski scored the game winner in overtime after being setup by Morgan Frost.

Tonight's Game Story -> http://insideahlhockey.com/article/game-story-2019-20-season-hershey-at-lehigh-valley-11919

Three Things

1.This Team Sure Likes Overtime

Through Lehigh Valley’s first 12 games of the season, Saturday night was the fifth time they have gone to overtime. Unlike the other contests that saw more than just three periods of action, the Phantoms were able to capitalize on the early frame.

Even though most players will tell you that it is way too early to look at the standings, when the team is looking back at the early part of their season, they will surely be happy they’ve been able to play in this many close games and earn a few extra points along the way.

2. Two Major Turning Points

There were two specific events in this game that completely swung momentum the Phantoms’ way.

The first was nearly midway through the first period, when the Phantoms were getting outshot 8-0 to start the game. While shorthanded, Mikhail Vorobyev intercepted a pass by Bears forward Shane Gersich and broke in alone on goaltender Pheonix Copley. He scored his third of the season on a slick backhanded shot. Lehigh Valley would go on to out shoot Hershey 8-4 in the period from that point on.

The second was when, down 2-1, coach Scott Gordon took a timeout as the Phantoms were getting set to start a 5-on-3 opportunity. With just 44 seconds remaining in the period, Greg Carey was able to bury his fourth of the season. The Phantoms were able to maintain that momentum through intermission and into the third period, which set them up well for overtime.

3. Mark Friedman’s Scary Injury

After being checked into the boards, Mark Friedman’s head appeared to slam against the boards. After getting up from the ground and moving within about five feet from Alex Lyon’s net, Friedman appeared to lose his footing, leaving him to fall to the ice. The defenseman was down for a few minutes before getting helped off the ice.

From the looks of the play — and the fact that coach Gordon didn't offer an update postgame — Friedman could be out an extended period of time. This combined with the organizational trickle-down due to Sam Morin’s season-ending injury, the Phantoms are now pretty thin on the blueline.

Unless Chris Bigras is ready to play in the team’s next game Sunday in Hershey, the team will have to make a call-up from ECHL Reading in time for the game.

Post-Game Reaction

Head coach Scott Gordon

On the 5-on-3 power play being a turning point

No question. Minute left in the period down 2-1 you don't want to lose that opportunity. To me, that was probably going to be our best opportunity to score on the power play. We had some looks in the 3rd on the power play but they are really good on their PK and there's not a lot of time. We weren't able to expose anything, but with the way the 5-on-4 was going I thought it was really important. That's why I called the timeout and made sure everyone was on the same page.

On the message during timeout

We talked about what they were going to do on that kill and how we wanted to exploit that. The way we scored the goal was we got probably 4-5 plays we talk about on our 5-on-3 but I just wanted to make sure that we knew, in particular, what the coverage was going to be and what we should look for. The guys executed really well. That was good to see. We've had some hard luck on the power play and for our power play to come up big was huge for us.

Goalie Alex Lyon

Is it too early to look at the standings?

In my opinion, it’s always too early to look at the standings. I think that with the team we have if we just so up and play hard, on a consistent basis, we’re going to do really well. Usually, that stuff takes care of itself if you’re doing things the right way.

Is it easy to keep your rhythm even though the shots were uncommon

I think every game is different and we did a really good job in the second half of the game. We controlled the pace in the third period. For me personally, I just try to keep an even keel and give the guys a chance to win and they usually do a pretty good job.

How frustrating is it to allow a goal like the second one

Yeah, it’s frustrating but at the same time I guess it gives me confidence just in the regard that I thought that I was playing well and for that to happen is literally one in a million, or even more than that. I mean it was unbelievable. Guess just don’t give too much heat to and move forward.

Forward Greg Carey

On the 5-on-3 power play late in 2nd period

Whenever you get a 5-on-3 I tink that's a really big opportunity to score. We went out with a game plan, and we executed it. It didn't take us long to put it in the back of the net and tie it up.

On the timeout allowing the guys to set things up

Off the draw, it just so happened it was kind of the first play we drew up. Misha had a couple different options, I was wide open and he fed me. It was a great play.

On converting on the power play at a key moment in the game

Anytime you can get one on the power play is big. They kill really hard - probably harder than any team we have played yet. It's definitely a big step for us and hopefully we can start pouring some more in.

On if it's too early to look at the standings

We're real early. Every night's big, every point is big whether it's one or two. Obviously we want two. We're going out there every night trying to win to make sure these games are just as important as the ones down the stretch. I think if you treat every month as a segment, we want to come out positive and I think we are starting pretty well here in November.