Phantoms Post-Game EXTRA! Game 14: Charlotte - 2 at Lehigh Valley - 3 (OT)
ALLENTOWN, PA - The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (8-4-2) rebounded nicely from Saturday's 7-4 loss Wednesday, playing a tighter defensive game in front of Carter Hart in route to a 3-2 overtime win at the PPL Center.
Three Things
1. Hart Holding Things Together
It was evident early tonight that the Phantoms would need a big night from Carter Hart in net to have a chance to win tonight's game.
He was up to the task in the first period, stopping 15 of the 16 shots he faced. The only goal allowed came on a turnover in the defensive zone that left Checkers' forward Andrew Poturalski all alone in front for an easy tap in.
"It was nice to get in a rhythm a little bit," Hart said after the game about playing in a low-scoring game for a change. "I felt pretty good, fell asleep on the second one there to tie the game - it's a good thing we won - but I felt good. I got into a rhythm early."
Hart was able to keep it at a 1-0 deficit for the Phantoms early in the second period with his team hemmed in their own defensive zone early and often similar to the first frame. He allowed the game-tying goal with 5:18 left in regulation as Hart himself alluded to above, but overall he was strong - stopping 36 of the 38 shots he faced to pick up his fourth win on the season to improve his personal record on the year to 4-2-2.
"I think the timely and the big saves that he made - I thought there were a few instances where he created more work for us and himself with some rebounds that probably should have been controlled," head coach Scott Gordon said after the game, adding, "But other than that, I think he's getting more comfortable and more confident with his game. It's a big jump, and there's such high expectations for him but the reality is he's no different than any other 20-year-old that's going to take their bumps and learn the pro game and what's involved to be successful."
2. Second Period Power Play
The Phantoms turned things around in the middle frame after seemingly being outplayed in the opening first half of regulation, trailing 1-0 and being outshot 21-8.
Enter the power play, which was rather ineffective on its first two attempts of the contest.
Greg Carey's fake shot at the center point opened things up a bit down low, which allowed Phil Varone to park atop the crease and wait for the puck to get from Carey over to the left to T.J. Brennan. The chemistry of the power play unit - and particularly among the three veterans on the first unit - was on full display. Everyone knew their assignments, and everyone executed.
Tie game.
The second power play tally moments later in the period was a bit of a broken play, but the puck movement was there. Mike Vecchione's shot appeared to hit the post and go into the corner where Mikhail Vorobyev picked up the loose puck along the half-wall and flung it into the open net on the short side with Checkers' goalie Alex Nedeljkovic still recovering from his positioning on Vecchione's shot attempt.
3. Bardreau Joins The 200 Phantoms' Games Club
Cole Bardreau is the latest player to reach the 200 AHL games with Lehigh Valley Phantoms plateau, joining Taylor Leier (200th AHL game with Phantoms last Friday vs. Springfield) and Chris Conner (200th Phantoms' game on Sunday Oct 28 in Hershey).
POST-GAME REACTION
Head coach Scott Gordon
On tonight's bounce-back win:
It was a much better job. I said to the guys after the second period that the chances we gave off the rush were because of our turnovers at the top of the circle which was progress from the other night because we didn't get into the offensive zone. The bottom line is we had to be better in that area. Finally we got some momentum going, drew some power plays [in the 2nd period]. You draw power plays, usually you're putting the team on their heels and then they're forced to take those penalties. It's been awhile since we've done that. We haven't had a lot of power plays lately and for us to get some tonight - for the right reasons - was an important part of it.
On the power play turning the tides in the 2nd:
For sure. I think we had two posts and two pucks that went underneath Nedeljkovic - one hit his pad and then the post, and the other underneath him that looked like it was going in. We had some really good looks in the 3rd period where we fanned on shots - wide open nets - probably forcing a little too much when in reality just put it on net and you should be good.
