Phantoms Post-Game EXTRA! (3/4/22)

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The Lehigh Valley Phantoms had been creeping back into the playoff picture, but Friday night's 5-2 loss to Charlotte - their fourth straight setback - has them in last place in the Atlantic Division entering Saturday's rematch against the Checkers. They're currently six points behind sixth place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, who currently holds the final playoff spot in the division.

Friday night's game story -> https://insideahlhockey.com/article/game-story-charlotte-5-at-lehigh-valley-2-3422

Three Things

1. Laperriere: Phantoms Need More Desperation

In Wednesday night's loss to Providence, you could argue - despite the Phantoms falling behind 2-0 in the first period - that Lehigh Valley was the better team in the opening 40 minutes and possibly deserved a better fate. That was not the case Friday against Charlotte.

"Yeah, a different story for sure - especially in the second period." Phantoms' head coach Ian Laperriere told InsideAHLHockey.com after the game. "I didn't mind the start. We took the lead, they got two goals and we deviate from what we were doing for whatever reason. And the second period was a bad period."

On Friday, the Phantoms opened the scoring 2:08 into the contest. But, that drive or competitive edge just wasn't present for Lehigh Valley in a noticeable way as the game progressed through the first period and into the middle frame.

"Yeah, I mean, when we score in the first three minutes we have to learn how to play with the lead," Phantoms' forward Matt Strome told InsideAHLHockey.com after the game. "They got two quick ones and then we kind of just folded from there. First period? Good effort. From there, we kind of just lost it. You have to play a full 60 minutes to win a game in this league, and we just didn't."

By then, Charlotte had turned that 1-0 deficit around into a 4-1 lead - in full control to fend off a Phantoms' push in the third.

"We play like we play in the second period, we don't deserve to win," Laperriere said post-game Friday. "So we need to, again, learn and be better tomorrow, it's going to come pretty fast."

The Phantoms rematch these same Charlotte Checkers Saturday night.

2. Strome's Strong Season

Last season, Matt Strome didn't have a spot on the Phantoms' roster. With Lehigh Valley's ECHL affiliate Reading having opted out of last season, the Phantoms sent Strome to ECHL Greenville where he spent the 2020-21 season.

"He's just a likable kid," Laperriere said of Strome. "And he works. He's a smart hockey player. His speed, it's no secret his speed was what was kind of holding him back a little bit. He worked at it this summer. And he came into camp, and he had a good camp in Philly."

Enter 2021-22 and it's been a completely different story for Strome who, after spending parts of three different seasons in the AHL - accumulating seven points (four goals, three assists) in 28 games - has taken a big step forward in his development. He began the season as one of the odd men out, loaned to Reading (ECHL) on October 19 before returning November 8 and sticking in the lineup.

"I think I'm just getting confident," Strome said. "I've been the lineup more consistently now and you know, it's just clicking. In practice, [I'm] always working on scoring every shot I can and I think that's starting to translate to my game."

His two-goal game Friday made it goals in back-to-back games, and Strome now has 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 38 games this season.

3. Ratcliffe's Return

The Isaac Ratcliffe, Matt Strome and Connor Bunnaman trio was easily the team's best unit Friday night. And that goes beyond Strome scoring the only Phantoms' goals on the evening.

In his first game back since an extended 10-game stint in the NHL with the Flyers, Ratcliffe was very noticeable - and in a good way - Friday night.

"I felt I had a lot of confidence tonight," Ratcliffe said after the game. "I mean, I thought I was moving the puck pretty well. But I think I can still bring some that physicality back with me to use my body a little bit more."

Ratcliffe set up Strome's opening goal after Bunnaman won a puck battle and kept a cycle going. From behind the net, Ratcliffe threaded the needle to Strome out in front for a quick shot that put Lehigh Valley ahead 1-0 early.

He also nearly scored himself late in the middle frame after taking a stretch pass and making two defenders miss on his way to the net. He collected his own rebound and sent it to the center point for Cam York, who elected to fire one on net with Strome and Bunnaman crashing the crease. Strome was able to get a piece of it for his second goal - the only offense the Phantoms provided on the night.

"I didn't mind that line at all," Laperriere said of the Ratcliffe-Strome-Bunnaman trio. "They're big bodies. They took it to them, they're tough to play against and that's what I expect from them. And a lot of guys could learn from that. We need more of that."