Phantoms Steal Game One In Providence (LV leads 1-0)
PROVIDENCE - If we learned nothing else after Game 1 of the Atlantic Division Semifinals series between the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Providence Bruins Friday night, it's that we are reminded that in postseason play near-misses, big time saves, harmless-looking shots from the outside etc. are magnified and can change the outcome of a game. And that this series between the Phantoms and Bruins is going to be one heck of a battle.
The Phantoms came out a little sluggish and unable to get in on the forecheck, which allowed the Bruins to get to their game first - racking up 13 of the game's first 15 shots. It wasn't until after their hard work paid off late in the first period and they took the 1-0 lead that the Phantoms got a response - albeit off a bit of a fluke.
Danick Martel flung a harmless shot from the blue line that eluded Bruins goaltender Zane McIntyre to tie the game at 1-1 just 16 seconds after Providence made it 1-0.
Instead, the Phantoms were opportunistic in Game 1 - tallying a pair of power play goals 41 seconds apart in a penalty filled game to flip the script and turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead.
Alex Lyon, who was a bit critical of his own play despite stopping 39 of the 41 shots he faced, was the difference in the third period - stopping everything the Bruins threw his way in a 15-2 shots edge in the final frame.
Phantoms' Lines (Starters in Bold/Italics)
Greg Carey - Phil Varone - Alex Krushelnyski Danick Martel - Mike Vecchione - Nicolas Aube-Kubel Carsen Twarynski - Corban Knight - Chris Conner Tyrell Goulbourne - Cole Bardreau - Colin McDonald
T.J. Brennan - Mark Friedman Reece Willcox - Max Lamarche James de Haas - Phil Myers
Alex Lyon - Dustin Tokarski
Scratches: John Muse, Anthony Stolarz, Sam Morin, Will O'Neill, Steven Swavely, Mikhail Vorobyev, Radel Fazleev, Pascal Laberge, David Drake and Isaac Ratcliffe
Bruins' Lines (Starters in Bold/Italics)
Ryan Fitzgerald - Jordan Szwarz - Austin CzarnikKenny Agostino - Jacob-Forsbacka Karlsson - Peter Cehlarik Anton Blidh - Colby Cave - Zachary Senyshyn Adam Payerl - Colton Hargrove - Chris Porter
Tommy Cross - Connor CliftonChris Breen - Jakub Zboril Jeremy Lauzon - Paul Postma
Zane McIntyre - Jordan Binnington
POST-GAME REACTION
GAME RECAP
It was a bit of a feeling out sequence in the opening minutes of the first period, much like you'd expect to begin a playoff series.
Providence started to take control, and Colton Hargrove forced James de Haas into an early 1st period holding penalty that the PBruins didn't capitalize on.
Despite the scoreless tie late into the first period, Providence was racking up the shots and had - at one point - a 12-2 edge in shots. The game remained scoreless through the first 16 minutes due in large part to the play of Alex Lyon in net.
Greg Carey got a point blank chance on Zane McIntyre that the Bruins' goalie kicked the left pad out on. It was the Phantoms' best chance of the period. Shortly after the save, Carey was whistled for hooking and the Providence got a second chance on the man advantage.
The Bruins cashed in on their second power play of the period, with Ryan Fitzgerald getting a puck from Austin Czarnik and beating Lyon to the five-hole with 2:22 left before the first intermission.
Then, a fortuitous bounce the Phantoms' way on the next shift seemingly turned things around for the orange and black.
Danick Martel corralled a puck on the blue line at the left point off of a face-off win, and flung a seemingly harmless shot toward the net that eluded McIntyre and tied the game up at 1-1. The goal came just 16 seconds after Providence had taken the 1-0 lead.
It was back to Providence dominating puck possession and offensive zone time to start the second period. Cole Bardreau took a slashing minor on the opening shift, putting the Phantoms on the PK 23 seconds into the period.
Lehigh Valley was able to kill it off, but a bad neutral zone turnover by Chris Conner with the Phantoms changing lines and pairings created a 2-on-0 for Providence that they would convert on to take the lead back at 2-1.
Czarnik and Fitzgerald came in on Lyon, and it was the former with a spin-o-rama pass across to the latter for Fitzgerald's second tally of the night at the 3:35 mark of the period.
Then a parade to the penalty box ensued in the middle frame. And they started to even out after the Bruins were given four of the first five power plays of the contest.
In fact, a pair of penalties on Providence 48 seconds apart gave Lehigh Valley a chance to get momentum. And did they ever.
Corban Knight got a puck to the left point for Greg Carey on the ensuing two-man advantage, and Carey blasted one off the post and in past McIntyre to tie the game at 2-2 with 5:28 left before the second intermission.
The Phantoms cashed in on the second minor penalty too just 41 seconds later. Danick Martel got a puck in the slot from Phil Myers and ripped a shot past McIntyre to give the Phantoms their first lead of the night at 3-2 with 4:47 left in the middle frame.
From there the Phantoms' clung to the one-goal lead and rode Lyon to the finish line - getting out shot 15-2 in the final 20 minutes of play in a bend but don't break style of play that was just enough to steal Game 1.
GAME SUMMARY
1st Period
6:31: LV - (PP) de Haas, minor (holding) 10:23: PRO - (PP) Agostino, minor (high-sticking) 16:13: LV - (PP) Carey, minor (hooking) 17:38: PRO - PPG Fitzgerald (1) - Czarnik, Cross 17:54: LV - Martel (1) - unassisted
2nd Period
0:23: LV - (PP) Bardreau, minor (slashing) 3:35: PRO - Fitzgerald (2) - Czarnik, Szwarz 7:27: LV - (PP) Knight, minor (tripping) 13:03: PRO - (PP) Payerl, minor (kneeing) 13:51: PRO - (PP) Clifton, minor (cross-checking) 14:32: LV - PPG Carey (1) - Knight, Brennan 15:13: LV - PPG Martel (2) - Myers, Brennan 19:07: LV - (PP) Aube-Kubel, minor (roughing)
3rd Period
8:02: PRO - (PP) Fitzgerald, minor (holding) 8:13: LV - (PP) Knight, minor (tripping) 15:41: LV - (PP) Brennan, minor (interference)
BOXSCORE
Lehigh Valley 1 - 2 - 0 = 3 Providence 1 - 1 - 0 = 2
Shots
Lehigh Valley 10 - 12 - 2 = 24 Providence 13 - 13 - 15 = 41
Goalies
LV - Alex Lyon (39 saves - 41 shots) PRO - Zane McIntyre (21 saves - 24 shots)
Power Play
LV: 2-for-5 PRO: 1-for-7
Penalty Kill
LV: 6-for-7 PRO: 3-for-5
Attendance: 4,418
