Weekly Wrap-Up - Atlantic Division (Week 24)

Editor's Note: The first clinching scenario in the Atlantic Division begins this weekend, and it's quite simple for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Win and they're in.

Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Magic Number - 2)

Record Last Week: 2-0-1

Needing just a handful of wins to become the first Atlantic Division team to clinch a playoff spot, the Phantoms ran into a feisty little-to-play-for Wolf Pack Friday night in Hartford, falling 4-3 in a three-round shootout. Cole Bardreau got the visitors on the board early with the lone goal in the first period. Hartford briefly tied the game early in the second, but Mark Friedman handed the lead back to the Phantoms; however, Hartford scored a pair of goals to take the lead into the second intermission. In the third, Nicolas Aube-Kubel scored 55 seconds into the period, tying the game for the third time. In the shootout, Lehigh Valley was unable to connect while Hartford got a puck past John Muse for the victory. Muse stopped 31 of 34 shots in the loss. The Phantoms were unable to connect on three power play chances. They were 3-for-3 on the PK.

Lehigh Valley’s 3-0 shutout of the Providence Bruins Saturday night in Allentown served to get the Phantoms closer to a playoff berth and make the rest of the race a bit murkier at the same time. After a scoreless first period, Radel Fazleev notched the first of a pair of shorthanded goals for the Phantoms in the second period; Phil Varone’s came just under seven minutes later. In the third, Steven Swavely provided another insurance goal for Lehigh Valley. Dustin Tokarski stopped all 33 shots he faced for his fourth shutout of the season. The Phantoms were 0-for-3 on the PP, but went 5-for-5 on the PK with the pair of shorthanded goals.

On Sunday, the Phantoms made it back-to-back shutout victories with a 3-0 blanking of Springfield. After a scoreless first, Danick Martel notched his 22nd goal of the season. Then, in the third, Chris Conner recorded a powerplay goal and Greg Carey provided an extra insurance goal late in the period. John Muse, who had an assist on Conner’s tally, made 23 saves en route to his first shutout of the season. Lehigh Valley was 1-for-5 on the PP.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Magic Number - 15)

Record Last Week: 2-2-0

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton traveled to Charlotte for a pair of crucial Atlantic Division contests, the first of which ended in a 5-2 victory for the Penguins Tuesday. After the Checkers jumped out to a 1-0 lead, the Penguins stormed back with four unanswered goals, two in the first and two in the second, to build an insurmountable lead. Zach Trotman tied the game and Tom Kostopoulos put the Penguins on top heading into the first intermission. After the break, Joseph Cramarossa added an even-strength goal just 20 seconds before Teddy Blueger tacked on a powerplay goal. Blueger tacked on an empty net goal at the end of the game as well. Anthony Peters went the distance between the pipes with a 29-save performance. Both teams went 1-for-2 on the PP.

In the rematch Wednesday night, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was unable to make it two in a row as the Checkers emerged with a 3-1 victory. The Penguins managed just 18 shots in the game and went 0-for-3 on the PP. Additionally, they allowed the Checkers five chances on the man-advantage, but the PK killed off four of those attempts. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s lone goal came from Tom Sestito in the third, but Charlotte had already built a two-goal lead and tacked on a third to deny the Penguins back-to-back victories in Charlotte. Peters stopped 27 of 30 shots in the loss.

The Penguins were handed a second straight loss by the Hartford Wolf Pack Saturday night in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Hartford tallied a pair of goals in the first period en route to a 4-1 victory over the Penguins. Daniel Sprong notched the lone goal of the game for the Penguins early in the third, but Hartford responded with the game’s final two goals. Peters went the distance between the pipes with 27 saves on 31 shots. The Penguins were a frigid 0-for-5 on the PP, but they were 2-for-2 on the PK.

Despite a slow start Sunday, the Penguins were able to halt the losing streak with a 6-4 come-from-behind victory over the visiting Hershey Bears. Thomas DiPauli notched a pair of goals including the game-winner for the Penguins who were down 3-1 after the first period. Joseph Cramarossa provided Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s lone goal of the first, but Tom Sestito and DiPauli both notched second period goals to tie the game after two. In the third, Christian Thomas and DiPauli both recorded tallies before the Bears made it a one-goal game just past the midway point of the third. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Teddy Blueger scored the final goal of the goal of the game. Anthony Peters started the game, but was lifted less than five minutes into the contest after allowing two goals on just three shots. Etienne Marcoux went the rest of the way between the pipes with 17 saves on 19 shots. The Penguins were 0-for-5 on the PP and 1-for-1 on the PK.

Providence Bruins (Magic Number - 14)

Record Last Week: 2-1-0

Providence continued to keep pace with the Atlantic Division leaders with a 5-3 victory over the visiting Rochester Americans Friday night. Austin Czarnik notched a hattrick, capping the come-from-behind victory for the Bruins. Czarnik’s first goal handed the Bruins their first lead in the second period. After Rochester tied it up early in the third, Czarnik connected on the power play and then tacked on an empty net goal with 53 seconds remaining. Providence’s other two goals came from Adam Payerl in the first and Connor Clifton in the second. Zane McIntyre made 28 saves on 31 shots to earn the victory. Providence was 2-for-5 on the PP and 3-for-3 on the PK.

When things aren’t going your way, it can turn into a long night. Such was the case for the Bruins Saturday night in Allentown where the Phantoms notched a pair of shorthanded goals en route to a 3-0 shutout victory over Providence. Jordan Binnington made 31 saves on 34 shots, but the Bruins were unable to get any of their 33 shots past Dustin Tokarski. Additionally, the Bruins were shutout on all five of their power play attempts. They did go 3-for-3 on the PK.

The Bruins responded Sunday at home with a 4-1 victory over the visiting Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Providence’s Connor Clifton wasted little time putting the home team on the scoreboard with a tally just 40 second into the contest. Austin Czarnik added a powerplay goal and then assisted on Jordan Szwarz’s tally, giving the Bruins a 3-0 lead at the first intermission. In the second, Bridgeport got on the board 16 seconds after the faceoff, but a Jakub Zboril tally late in the period rounded out the scoring. McIntyre was stellar in net, stopping 44 of the 45 shots he faced. The Bruins connected on just one of their three powerplay chances, but they were 5-for-5 on the PK. The road to the playoffs is not getting easier for the Bruins as the remaining five games on their March schedule are against the Phantoms and Penguins.

Charlotte Checkers (Magic Number 18)

Record Last Week: 2-2-0

With a pair of back-to-back games against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton starting Tuesday, the Charlotte Checkers had a chance to put some cushion between themselves and Bridgeport for the final playoff spot, but the Penguins had other ideas, emerging with a 5-2 victory Tuesday. Valentin Zykov put the home team on the board first, but four unanswered goals by the Penguins before Andrew Poturalski’s power play goal late in the second effectively put the game out of reach. Alex Nedeljkovic made 23 saves on 27 shots. Charlotte went 1-for-2 on the PP and the PK.

After Tuesday night’s disappointing loss, the Checkers responded with a 3-1 victory Wednesday night in the rematch as the Charlotte defense tightened up, allowing only 18 shots by the Penguins. Julien Gauthier opened the scoring with an unassisted goal early in the second. Later in the period, Greg McKegg added a power play goal, his first of two goals on the evening. In the third, the Penguins got on the board, but McKegg’s second of the night proved to be the only insurance Charlotte would need. Nedeljkovic nearly earned the shutout with 17 saves on just 18 shots. Charlotte went 1-for-5 on the PP, but the PK shut down all three of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s attempts.

On Saturday, the Checkers added to their cushion over 5th place Bridgeport with a 4-2 victory over the visiting Binghamton Devils. Roland McKeown and Valentin Zykov combined to give Charlotte a 2-1 lead at the first intermission. In the second, Warren Foegele continued his amazing rookie season with his 26th goal early in the period. Lucas Wallmark added the lone goal of the third. Nedeljkovic allowed just two power play goals on 33 shots to earn the victory between the pipes. Charlotte went 0-for-4 on the PP and 3-for-5 on the PK.

In Sunday’s rematch, however, the Binghamton Devils exacted a bit of revenge as they defeated the Checkers 4-1. McKegg continued his impressive week with a powerplay goal in the first to cut Binghamton’s lead to a goal, but this one was all Binghamton as the Devils tacked on a first period, powerplay goal and an empty netter in the third to cruise to victory. Jeremy Smith suffered the loss in net after allowing three goals on 33 shots. Charlotte was a miserable 1-for-8 on the PP and just 2-for-5 on the PK.

Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Magic Number - 28)

Record Last Week: 1-2-0

In the lone game on Thursday, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers hosted the Rochester Americans, coming from a four-goal deficit to emerge with a 6-4 victory. Rochester scored three of their four goals in the first period. After another goal just 73 seconds into the second period, Bridgeport finally came to life with Ryan Bourque’s power play goal. Travis St. Denis then took over the game. His first goal came before the end of the second period. He added a power play goal early in the third and completed the hattrick just past the midway point of the third, tying the game. Less than five minutes later, St. Denis assisted on Steve Bernier’s game winner, following that up with an assist on Bourque’s empty net goal to end the game. Gudlevskis started the night in net, but after allowing four goals on 17 shots, Brent Thompson lifted him in favor of Eamon McAdam, who stopped all 19 shots he faced the rest of the way. Bridgeport was 2-for-6 on the PP and 6-for-7 on the PK.

But the thrill of victory was short lived as the Sound Tigers traveled to Hershey and were dealt a 3-2 set-back by the Bears. Casey Bailey put Bridgeport on the board first with a power play goal in the second period. Less than a minute after Hershey tied the game, Josh Ho-Sang gave the lead back to the Sound Tigers, but the third period was all Hershey as the Bears notched a pair of goals. Gudlevskis made 23 saves on 26 shots. Bridgeport struggled on the PP, going 1-for-5, but they were 3-for-3 on the PK.

Bridgeport’s playoff chances got a bit slimmer Sunday as they were dealt a 4-1 loss by the Bruins in Providence. John Stevens recorded a goal 16 seconds into the second period, but the Sound Tigers were unable to overcome Providence’s three-goal first period. Providence peppered Gudlevskis with 43 shots, with four making their way into the net. Bridgeport was blanked on all five of their powerplay chances, but they were 2-for-3 on the penalty kill.

Hartford Wolf Pack (Magic Number - 32)

Record Last Week: 3-0-0

The Wolf Pack got off to a hot start to Week 24 with a 4-3 shootout victory over the division-leading Lehigh Valley Phantoms in Hartford Friday night. The Phantoms notched the lone goal of the first period, but Filip Chytil tied it up for the first time early in the second. Things didn’t stay that way for long as Lehigh Valley regained the lead, but 35 seconds later, Cristoval Nieves tied it up again. Dan DeSalvo then notched his third of the season to give Hartford their first lead of the game, but the Phantoms tied things up again just 55 seconds into the third. DeSalvo’s lone goal in the three-round shootout lifted the Pack to their first of two stunning victories to start the week. Marek Mazanec made 28 saves on 31 shots. Both teams were 0-for-3 on the PP.

Hartford then traveled to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Saturday where they dumped the Penguins 4-1 in a St. Patrick’s Day stunner. Cole Schneider and DeSalvo recorded goals within 34 seconds of each other to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. After a scoreless second, the Penguins made a game of it with a goal early in the third. But another quick pair of goals from Steven Fogarty and Vinni Lettieri just past the midway point of the period put the game out of reach. Chris Nell nearly had a shutout; he made 30 saves on 31 shots. Just about the only thing that did not go Hartford’s was was their 0-for-2 performance on the PP; they went 5-for-5 on the PK.

The Wolf Pack completed the sweep of the week with a 6-4 victory over the visiting Rochester Americans in Hartford Sunday.  Rochester’s C.J. Smith scored two of his three goals in the first five minutes of the contest, but Chris Bigras cut the lead to one with a tally in the first period. In the second, Rochester recorded another goal, but goals from Vinni Lettieri and Hubert Labrie tied the game before Brenden Kotyk recorded his first AHL goal with just 44 seconds left before the second intermission, giving Hartford their first lead of the game. Despite Smith completing the hattrick and tying the game, Hartford was victorious thanks to the game winner from Dan Catenacci and an empty net, insurance marker from Lettieri. Mazanec earned the victory between the pipes for Hartford, allowing four goals on 26 shots. The Pack went 0-for-2 on the PP, but they were 1-for-1 on the PK.

Hershey Bears (Magic Number - 35)

Record Last Week: 2-1-0

With little chance to make the Calder Cup Playoffs, Bears relished in the role of spoiler as they handed the Bridgeport Sound Tigers a 3-2 loss Friday night in Hershey. Hampus Gustafsson scored his first AHL goal late in the second period to tie the game at 1-1, but the visitors regained the lead less than a minute later. In the third, Liam O’Brien tallied his 15th goal of the season, tying the game with newly returned Madison Bowey assisting. Anthony Peluso then notched the eventual game-winner with his fourth goal of the season. Pheonix Copley was stellar in net, making 26 saves on 28 shots, effectively building a wall in the waning minutes of the game. Hershey was 0-for-3 on the PP and 4-for-5 on the PK.

Saturday night, the Bears made it 2-for-2 with a 4-2 victory over the visiting Springfield Thunderbirds. Springfield got on the board near the end of the first period, but Nathan Walker’s wrap-around goal just 52 seconds into the second briefly tied the game, as Springfield regained the lead just minutes later. But Hershey responded with a shorthanded goal from the speedy Dustin Gazley, and a second Walker tally handed the Bears their first lead of the game less than a minute later. The game’s final tally came from Wayne Simpson just past the midway point of the third. Vitek Vanecek stopped 22 of 24 shots in a standout performance not really indicated by the statline; he also stopped Alexandre Grenier’s penalty shot attempt. Hershey was 0-for-2 on the PP and 4-for-4 on the PK. The game marked the final one for referee David Banfield who began his officiating career in Hershey several seasons ago.

The Bears were unable to sweep the week though, as they fell 6-4 in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton despite holding a 2-0 lead early in the first. Liam O’Brien and Joe Whitney combined to force Anthony Peters into an early exit just 4:57 into the contest. Despite a goal for the Penguins, Hershey still held a two-goal lead at the first intermission thanks to Jonas Siegenthaler’s first of the contest. The Penguins notched four-unanswered goals before Hershey got on the board midway through the third period with Siegenthaler’s second. Copley made 26 saves on 32 shots in the loss for the Bears. Hershey was unsuccessful on their lone powerplay attempt, but the Bears were 5-for-5 on the PK.

Springfield Thunderbirds (Magic Number - 36)

Record Last Week: 0-2-1

Springfield got off to a bumpy start Friday night at home where the visiting Syracuse Crunch jumped out to an early lead before earning a 3-2 victory over the Thunderbirds in OT. Syracuse scored a shorthanded goal in the first and a power play goal in the second, but Springfield came to life in the third. Curtis Valk notched his 17th goal of the season early in the period, and Francois Beauchemin tacked on a powerplay goal to tie the game, but Harri Sateri was unable to stop Olivier Archambault’s OT game-winner. Sateri finished with 32 saves on the evening. Springfield was 1-for-5 on the PP and 6-for-7 on the PK.

After the extended game and travel, Springfield ran into Vitek Vanecek, who turned in a standout performance in net for the Bears Saturday night in Hershey. Springfield managed to get two pucks past Vanecek, one from Anthony Greco late in the first and the second from Dryden Hunt early in the second, but the Bears got four past Samuel Montembeault for the 4-2 victory. Montembeault made 25 saves on 29 shots. The Thunderbird were 0-for-4 on the PP and 2-for-2 on the PK in referee David Banfield’s final AHL game.

On Sunday, things continued to take a turn for the worst for the Thunderbirds as they were shutout by the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, 3-0 in Allentown. Sateri suffered the loss between the pipes for Springfield, allowing three goals on 21 shots. The Thunderbirds were 0-for-4 on the PP and 4-for-5 on the PK.

Atlantic Division Standings as of March 18, 2018

Lehigh Valley: 66 GP, 42-16-3-5, 92 points, .697 pct W-B/Scranton: 62 GP, 37-19-4-2, 80 points, .645 pct Providence: 64 GP, 38-21-3-2, 81 points, .633 pct Charlotte: 66 GP, 37-26-0-3, 77 points, .583 pct Bridgeport: 64 GP, 31-23-5-3, 70 points, .547 pct Hartford: 66 GP, 29-29-5-3, 66 points, .500 pct Hershey: 66 GP, 27-30-4-5, 63 points, .477 pct Springfield: 65 GP, 28-31-5-1, 62 points, .477 pct

Upcoming Atlantic Division Schedule:

Tuesday, March 20

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Toronto - 7:00 PM

Friday, March 23

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Utica - 7:00 PM Bridgeport at Syracuse - 7:00 PM Lehigh Valley at Providence - 7:05 PM Charlotte at Laval - 7:30 PM

Saturday, March 24

Charlotte at Laval - 3:00 PM Hershey at Hartford - 3:00 PM Springfield at Rochester - 7:05 PM Lehigh Valley at Providence - 7:05 PM Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Binghamton - 7:05 PM

Sunday, March 25

Bridgeport at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - 3:05 PM Springfield at Toronto - 4:30 PM Hartford at Hershey - 5:00 PM

Wednesday, March 28

Hershey at Bridgeport - 7:00 PM Springfield at Hartford - 7:00 PM Providence at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - 7:05 PM

Friday, March 30

Hershey at Utica - 7:00 PM Providence at Lehigh Valley - 7:05 PM Charlotte at Rochester - 7:05 PM Bridgeport at Springfield - 7:05 PM Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Hartford - 7:15 PM

Saturday, March 31

Charlotte at Syracuse 7:00 PM Bridgeport at Hartford - 7:00 PM Laval at Hershey - 7:00 PM Belleville at Lehigh Valley - 7:05 PM Providence at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - 7:05 PM Utica at Springfield - 7:05 PM