Power Play Pushes Phantoms Past Springfield
ALLENTOWN - Entering Wednesday night's game against Springfield, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms were an abysmal 1-for-33 on the power play - good for a 3.0% success rate and 28th best in the 30-team AHL.
While they have been getting some chances on their multitude of man advantages so far this season, the goals simply weren't coming. Tonight, perhaps, the power play guys saw the light at the end of the tunnel of the long unsuccessful stretch they've had.
Not one, but two power play goals - including Greg Carey's overtime game-winner - helped the Phantoms extend their winning streak to five games heading into a pair of games this weekend.
Mike Vecchione put the Phantoms in front with a first period power play goal, Colin McDonald added his first of the season in his first game since returning from injury and Alex Lyon stopped 25 of 27 in another solid goaltending performance by him to help lead Lehigh Valley to two points to start the week.
Looking Ahead: The Phantoms rematch these same Springfield Thunderbirds Friday night in Springfield, MA before returning home to host Hartford Saturday night at PPL Center.
Phantoms' Lines (Starters in Bold/Italics)
Greg Carey - Phil Varone - Cole Bardreau Danick Martel - Mike Vecchione - Nicolas Aube-Kubel Oskar Lindblom - Corban Knight (A) - Chris Conner (A)Tyrell Goulbourne - Mikhail Vorobyev - Colin McDonald (C)
Will O'Neill - Mark Alt Mark Friedman - Reece Willcox Sam Morin - Max Lamarche
Alex Lyon - Dustin Tokarski
Scratches: Anthony Stolarz (knee surgery - out indefinitely), Phil Myers (day-to-day), Steven Swavely (healthy), Radel Fazleev (healthy) and T.J. Brennan (out 2-3 weeks as of 10/23)
RECAP
The home starts were an issue last season, but four home tilts into 2017-18 and it appears that last year's dreadful home starts are a thing of the past.
In first periods this season, the Phantoms have out-shot their opponents by a 108 to 64 margin. The trend continued tonight.
Lehigh Valley was again strong out of the gate - jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first period with a 15-5 edge in shots on goal.
The important stat is the two goals, but the way the Phantoms were - for the most part - controlling play and having their way with Springfield is a recipe for success. The Phantoms' speed was an issue for the Thunderbirds, resulting in a pair of stick infractions and back to back power plays for Lehigh Valley to open the game.
Lehigh Valley's power play has struggled mightily, entering Wednesday night's game 1-for-33 on the man advantage, but tonight they connected on a brief two-man advantage to take a 1-0 lead at the 10:57 mark.
Phil Varone got a puck at the center point on the five-on-three, and completed a tic-tac-toe series of passes from Varone to Chris Conner at the right-wing circle and across to Mike Vecchione for a quick shot past Samuel Montembeault for Vechhione's second of the season - continuing his point-per-game pace this season through eight games.
The Phantoms extended their lead to 2-0 off a high-pressure forecheck forced a turnover with just under three and a half minutes left before the first intermission.
Mikhail Vorobyev picked up an errant clear out of the Phantoms' offensive zone and on a 2-on-1 with Colin McDonald floated a perfect pass across for the captain to blast one past Montembeault for McDonald's first goal on the season in his regular season debut tonight after a foot injury in the NHL's preseason kept him out of action until he was officially assigned to the Phantoms earlier this week.
For as decided an edge the Phantoms had in the first, things went the complete opposite in the middle frame.
Springfield responded after mustering up just five shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes, generating a more consistent attack and drawing even on a pair of second period goals to head to the third period deadlocked at 2-2.
First, the Phantoms negated a power play of their own with a slashing minor - leading to the Thunderbirds first goal of the period. On the ensuing face-off after Vecchione's slashing minor, Curtis Valk got to a loose puck in the corner first and spotted Dryden Hunt just atop the inside of the left-wing circle. Valk's pass to Hunt was on the money, and Hunt made no mistake - burying a quick shot past Alex Lyon 5:48 into the middle frame.
Less than four minutes later, the Thunderbirds tied it up. Maxim Mamin got a pass over to Thomas Schemitsch for the latter's first goal of the season to even up the game at 2-2 near the midway mark of regulation.
Lehigh Valley was simply not executing in the middle frame, but thanks to the lead they built up in the opening period they still found themselves entering the third period in a very winnable game.
Neither team could find the back of the net in the third period, and it wasn't until a five-minute cross-checking major was handed to Springfield's Matt McKenzie that Lehigh Valley would triumph on a game-winning power play goal in overtime.
POST-GAME REACTION
Head coach Scott Gordon
Q: On power play finally clicking:
A: That's the way it's been. We have had our opportunities on the power play. Haven't scored. For awhile (tonight) it looked like it was going to be like that. Nine power plays, I don't know how many shots we put up on the power play, but it was good to see them get rewarded for it.
Q: On even strength play carrying team during special teams struggles:
A: Again, with our team I think there have been so many different people playing on the power play for us that it's taken a little bit of time even from a support standpoint. Our breakouts have been good to the blue line and for the most part on the entry but from five feet inside the blue line we haven't done a very good job. Tonight, it was much better. ANd then just the puck recoveries and getting it set back up top and how to change the point of attack. Those are all things that have taken some time, but tonight we had some really good puck movement and allowed us to have some extended time in the offensive zone.
ROSTER NOTES
Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Alex Lyon is expected back in net for the Phantoms tonight. Lyon and Dustin Tokarski each earned a start last weekend, and both picked up wins. With games Friday and Saturday coming up this weekend, each goalie will likely see some game action this weekend.
Cole Bardreau and Colin McDonald are available for tonight's game, as both were officially reassigned to Lehigh Valley earlier this week. Both appear ready to make their regular season debuts tonight, and are likely a coaches' decision. Some line shuffling will definitely be needed.
Defenseman T.J. Brennan was said to be "banged up", according to head coach Scott Gordon, following his game misconduct for cross-checking Saturday night on October 14th at home against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. It has now been revealed by Philadelphia Flyers general manager Ron Hextall that Brennan will miss at least the next 2-3 weeks.
Hextall also added that defenseman Phil Myers is day-to-day after leaving in the first period of last Friday night's game against Bridgeport. Myers was limited in practice leading up to tonight's game, so it wouldn't be a surprise if he sits out this mid-week game. The Phantoms have a back-to-back game nights with travel coming up as Lehigh Valley heads to Springfield Friday before returning home to host the Hartford WolfPack on Saturday night.
GAME SUMMARY
1st Period
0:45: SPR - (PP) Greco, minor (slashing) 9:10: SPR - (PP) Horvat, minor (slashing) 10:48: SPR - (PP) Brodeur, minor (tripping) 10:57: LV - PPG Vecchione (2) - Conner, Varone 12:30: LV - (PP) Carey, minor (hooking) 16:33: LV - McDonald (1) - Vorobyev 17:32: SPR - (PP) Horvat, minor (delay of game)
2nd Period
0:58: LV - (PP) Bardreau, minor (slashing) 3:39: LV - Morin, major (fighting) 3:39: SPR - Farnham, major (fighting) 5:10: SPR - (PP) Balisy, minor (hooking) 5:39: LV - (PP) Vecchione, minor (slashing) 5:48: SPR - Hunt (5) - Valk 9:49: SPR - Schemitsch (1) - Mamin, Lammikko 10:47: LV - (PP) Morin, minor (interference) 17:08: SPR - (PP) Balisy, minor (interference)
3rd Period
1:14: SPR - (PP) Scarlett, minor (slashing) 9:16: LV - (PP) Aube-Kubel, minor (slashing) 10:24: SPR - (PP) Wittchow, minor (hooking) 15:02: LV - (PP) Knight, minor (hooking)
Overtime
2:11: SPR - (PP) MacKenzie, major (cross-checking) 2:11: SPR - MacKenzie, game misconduct 4:02: LV - PPG Carey (4) - O'Neill, Lindblom
BOXSCORE
Lehigh Valley 2 - 0 - 0 - 1 = 3 Springfield 0 - 2 - 0 - 0 = 2
Shots
Lehigh Valley 15 - 8 - 12 - 4 = 39 Springfield 5 - 14 - 7 - 1 = 27
Goalies
LV - Alex Lyon (25 saves - 27 shots) SPR - Samuel Montembeault (36 saves - 39 shots)
Power Play
LV: 2-for-9 SPR: 0-for-6
Penalty Kill
LV: 6-for-6 SPR: 7-for-9
Attendance: 6,121
