Phantoms Post-Game EXTRA! -> Game 1: Bridgeport - 3 at Lehigh Valley - 6
ALLENTOWN - The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (1-0-0) took care of business on opening night at the PPL Center, giving the sellout crowd of 8,707 plenty to cheer about in a 6-3 win over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
Gameday Live Blog with full recap --> http://insideahlhockey.com/article/gameday-game-1-bridgeport-0-0-0-at-lehigh-valley-0-0-0-705-pm-et
Greg Carey and Nicolas Aube-Kubel led the attack tonight with two goals and an assist each as the top line was clicking from their first shift. Phil Varone added a goal and an assist on the top line as well, while the Phantoms also got a 1st career pro goal from German Rubtsov in the win.
Carter Hart was sharp in his pro debut, especially early on when the game was on the line in a scoreless tie. He ended up with 31 saves on 34 shots.
New this season is Phantoms Post-Game EXTRA. Below are five takeaways and post-game reaction from Aube-Kubel, Carey and Hart.
Five Takeaways
1. The top line of Greg Carey - Phil Varone - Nicolas Aube-Kubel
These guys were flying out there tonight - especially on the power play and in the middle frame when Aube-Kubel netted a pair of goals. This trio is familiar with each other as they played some games as a unit last season (Carey and Varone were almost exclusively 1LW and 1C together last season).
Carey is the sniper. Varone has excellent poise and vision with the puck on his stick. Aube-Kubel is usually the first forward in on the fore-check, winning puck battles and creating extended offensive opportunity for his linemates.
Expect to see these three involved on the Phantoms' attack with regularity this season. Simple as that.
2. Carter Hart = as good as advertised
No real surprise here, but Carter Hart looked very solid in his pro debut with Lehigh Valley tonight. He stopped 31 of the 34 shots he faced, with his first goal-against on the season being nothing more than a bad bounce off of Kieffer Bellows' skate on a shot from Chris Bourque from the right-wing circle late in the 2nd period with the Phantoms on the penalty kill.
Positioning, rebound control and all the little things? Hart was just fine.
Sure, he allowed two late power play goals on a 5-on-3 (and subsequent 5-on-4), but there were two crucial times where Hart needed to stand tall - and he did.
The first came in the opening five minutes of the game. Bridgeport had the edge in play and was on the attack - firing the first three shots of the game Hart's way. The rookie goalie kept the game 0-0 until Greg Carey tallied a goal to get things started 5:52 into the first period.
The other crucial moment where Hart changed the game was on a big time breakaway stop in the opening minute of the second period. He stoned Kieffer Bellows, and although the Phantoms were stuck in their D-zone Nicolas Aube-Kubel would soon steal a puck and skate it to the right-wing circle for his first of two goals to make it a 2-0 Phantoms' lead. A goal there by Bellows would have made it a 1-1 game and a very different game at that. Instead, the Phantoms went on to cruise in the middle frame.
3. The Power Play?
You're going to look at the final stat-line from the season opener (Phantoms went 0-for-4 officially on the night) and begin to wonder why this is a positive takeaway. Because it certainly is.
The first Phantoms' goal of the night - Carey's rebound goal at 5:52 of the first period - came just 12 seconds after the team's first power play of the season ended. Their third goal of the night - Aube-Kubel's finish on a beautiful pass from Varone - was another goal scored on the same shift as a man advantage ending. That Aube-Kubel goal came six seconds after a Phantoms' power play expired.
The top power play unit featured four forwards with David Kase working on the point with T.J. Brennan.
4. Rookies Rise To The Occasion
Early on in the season, there's a lot of thinking going on out on the ice. First-year players are looking to make an early impression while also learning some new systems and adjusting to the pro-game. Tonight, the Phantoms' rookies didn't stick out like a sore thumb. Instead, a pair of rookie forwards - David Kase and German Rubtsov - combined on a nice give-and-go play in the third period that resulted in Rubtsov's first career pro goal.
A replay of the goal can be found here.
Hart, mentioned above, stood out in a good way as well.
There will be times where when there are some 'rookie mistakes' and goofed up plays by these new-to-the-system first year guys, but that night wasn't tonight.
5. One Down, 75 To Go
I think Greg Carey said it best in his post-game interview tonight.
"It's a nice start to the year, but it;s only Game 1 of the next 76 or so."
There were a lot of things to like - head coach Scott Gordon was pleased with the overall performance of the team tonight - but Carey puts it into perspective perfectly.
It's just the first game in a 76-game long grueling AHL schedule. Always take the two points and move on, but there's definitely still work to be done.
