Phantoms Post-Game EXTRA! -> Game 2: Springfield - 7 at Lehigh Valley - 0
ALLENTOWN - Simply put, it was one of those nights where absolutely nothing went right for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Especially on special teams.
The Springfield Thunderbirds used the special teams to their advantage Saturday night, scoring five power play goals on seven attempts to break open the game and turn it into a 7-0 rout.
Gameday Live Blog with full recap --> http://insideahlhockey.com/article/gameday-game-2-springfield-0-0-1-at-lehigh-valley-1-0-0-705-pm-et
Five Takeaways
1. The Thunderbirds Power Play
The 5-for-7 stat line speaks for itself. This game was won on special teams, and there won't be many games you'll find yourself coming out on the winning end of when you allow FIVE power play goals against - a Lehigh Valley record for power play goals allowed in a game.
2. The Phantoms' Penalty Kill
The Phantoms' passive box on the penalty kill was exploited big time tonight. They simply weren't aggressive enough. Play
Head coach Scott Gordon didn't let his goalies off the hook either, though.
"I mean, we gotta get some saves on those too. We're shorthanded. We're going to give up some shots. It wasn't good all around. We didn't get the saves, we didn't get the blocks, the clears and we took some really horrific penalties. If you're penalty kill is not going to be good, you cannot be going to the box and taking penalties for slashing, and after the whistle cross-checks to the head."
3. Carter Hart Pulled In His 2nd Career Pro Start?
While it's tough to put much of the blame on Hart, who was pulled 7:19 into the second period after surrendering his fourth goal on 16 shots, the goal he allowed at the tail end of the first period was possibly the game-changer tonight. With the final seconds ticking off, Paul Thompson skated down low on the right wing and from a sharp angle got a puck in behind Hart. That turned a 1-0 game into a 2-0 deficit heading into the second period, and we all know how that turned out.
"It's four-nothing at that point," Gordon said, explaining his decision to pull Hart after the fourth goal. "I didn't want to put him in a situation where he's... you know. You have to think of everyone in that situation. At that point it's four. If we're going to have any chance, it's gotta happen soon."
The real reasoning for pulling Hart in favor of Anthony Stolarz, who didn't fare much better than Hart with the amount of power plays, odd-man rushes against and defensive zone turnovers from his teammates, was simply to try to turn the tides. It didn't work tonight.
Interesting to note that our interview request with Carter Hart was denied post-game. Whether it was a team decision, the players in the locker room's decision or GM Ron Hextall's decision (he was in the building tonight) the rookie goalie who was pulled for the first time as a pro wasn't made available to the media after the game.
We aren't as brutal as the Philadelphia media, are we?
4. Lone Bright Spot?
If there was a bright spot for the Phantoms tonight in a blowout loss, the third line of Taylor Leier, German Rubtsov and Colin McDonald was probably the most effective for the home team.
Leier and McDonald were out-muscling the opposition for loose pucks and creating extended offensive zone chances. Unfortunately for them, they were unable to find the back of the net and turn the tides in this one before things got out of hand.
5. Gritty Sighting A Kiss Of Death?
During the first intermission tonight, I was curious as to why the building was playing Celine Dion's famous "My Heart Will Go On" with clips from the movie Titanic playing on the jumbotron. As I continued to write up some first period notes, and the song continued playing, I took a break to see Melvin - the Phantoms' mascot - driving an ATV with Philadelphia Flyers' mascot Gritty sprawled out across the front of it.
Can we officially pin the loss on Gritty, whose appearance at the Wells Fargo Center prior to the start of the Flyers' home opener ended with a blowout loss for the NHL affiliate?
