Phantoms Post-Game EXTRA! 2019-20 Season: Lehigh Valley - 3 at Bridgeport - 2

BRIDGEPORT, CT -- The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (4-1-4) made it eight straight games with a point in the standings Saturday night, and this time it wasn't quite their typical come-from-behind and force overtime style that had been a trend in recent weeks.

Against Atlantic Division opponent Bridgeport (1-7-3), the Phantoms used a strong first period to set the tone and got help from goaltender J-F Berube - among others - in the final 40 minutes to pull out a 3-2 regulation win.

Kyle Criscuolo (penalty shot, 1st period), Morgan Frost (tipped shot, 2nd) and Nicolas Aube-Kubel (tipped shot, 3rd) tallied goals in the win while Berube stopped 26 of 28 to pick up his second win on the season.

Saturday night's Game Story  http://insideahlhockey.com/article/game-story-2019-20-season-lehigh-valley-3-1-4-at-bridgeport-1-6-3-11219

Three Things

1. Better Start

In recent games, the Phantoms sluggish starts had put them behind the eight-ball and forcing them to chase the game in an attempt to play catch up. That wasn't the case Saturday night in Bridgeport.

Lehigh Valley only tallied the one goal in the first frame - Kyle Criscuolo's successful penalty shot attempt with 4:30 left before the intermission - but they downright controlled most of the period, spending significant time on the attack in the offensive zone racking up 13 shots in the opening 20 minutes.

They fell into a little bit of a lull in the middle frame, but were able to overcome a one-goal deficit and tallied consecutive goals to take the 3-2 win.

2. Berube's Been Bad?

I've seen a lot of fans on social media critical of J-F Berube's play in the early going, and while the early-season statline isn't spectacular - a 2.73 goals-against average and .900 save percentage in five appearance - Berube has been more than reliable and especially so in his last two starts including Saturday's game.

While he only faced six shots in the first frame, Berube was the real difference maker in the final 40 minutes when the Phantoms were outshot a combined 22-9.

After allowing two goals in the middle frame -- a grade-A chance in the slot by Matt Lorito after an awful defensive zone turnover and a Simon Holmstrom power play goal -- Berube stopped all 11 shots he faced in the third period including robbing Parker Wotherspoon with a right pad save on a play where everyone in attendance at Webster Bank Arena was convinced he had scored and tied the game with less about five minutes to play in regulation.

If not for a seven-round shootout loss to Springfield and on OT loss to Hershey in which Travis Boyd scored with under two seconds remaining Berube might be looking at a 4-1 record right now.

3. Morgan Frost Scoring/Creating Offense At Will

While Frost admitted he was a little snakebitten to begin the season while pushing for his first goal, he's a player just oozing with confidence offensively right now. His second period re-direct of a Mark Friedman shot marked his third goal on the season and extended his personal points scoring streak to six games (three goals, five assists).

His confidence on the ice is matched off ice too, as at least one of his teammates - won't mention any names yet - was trying to make him laugh during his post-game video interview with InsideAHLHockey.com.

Post-Game Reaction

Assistant coach Kerry Huffman

On the start in 1st period

And it's almost like we came out so strong we took our foot off the gas a little bit in the 2nd, started to do some things that were uncharacteristic from the 1st period. The game kind of changed a little bit but credit to them - they worked really hard. They battled hard to stay in the game for sure. We'll take the win.

On the key being playing with speed

I think when we have a commitment to shoot pucks and put pucks on net, we're a good team. When we start to hold onto it a little bit and stay to the outside and play the perimeter we don't generate as much. When we're at our best, it's when we are willing to think shot first and good things come from that.

Video Interview With Morgan Frost Below!