Weekly Wrap-Up - Atlantic Division (Week 26)

Editor's Note: A weekly look around the AHL's Atlantic Division, complete with the latest news/notes and more!

Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Clinched Playoff Berth - 6 games remaining)

Record Last Week: 2-0-0

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are leaving nothing to chance with a 2-0 victory over the previously second place Providence Bruins in Allentown Friday night. Greg Carey got what would become the game winner early in the second period with Will O’Neill and Phil Varone assisting. Late in the third T.J. Brennan notched an insurance goal, which was his 13th of the season. Dustin Tokarski went the distance between the pipes with a 22-save performance for his fifth shutout of the season. Both Lehigh Valley and Providence went 0-for-3 on the man advantage.

The Phantoms kept things rolling with a 4-2 victory over the visiting Belleville Senators Saturday night in Allentown. In the first period, Greg Carey recorded his 30th goal of the season with David Drake earning his first assist. In the second, Colin McDonald scored on the powerplay and Mike Vecchione just beat the buzzer to give the Phantoms a three-goal lead. In the third, Belleville tried to battle back with a pair of goals, but Cole Bardreau put things on ice with an empty net goal late in the game. Dustin Tokarski made 27 saves on 29 shots for the Phantoms. Lehigh Valley was 1-for-3 on the powerplay, but they shut down both of Belleville’s attempts.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Magic Number - 3 with 7 games remaining)

Record Last Week: 2-0-0

After falling to the #3 spot last week, the Penguins left little to doubt in their 5-2 victory over the visiting Providence Bruins Wednesday night in Wilkes-Barre. Providence got on the board late in the first courtesy of a powerplay tally, but in the second, Daniel Sprong scored a pair of goals and Joseph Cramarossa added another for the Penguins. The second period ended with the Penguins holding a one-goal lead after the visitors lit the lamp for the second time in the game. In the third, Teddy Blueger added an insurance marker and Jarred Tinordi tacked on an empty net goal. Tristan Jarry got the victory in net with a 27-save performance. The Penguins went 0-for-2 on the PP and 5-for-6 on the PK.

The Penguins moved back into second place with a 4-3 overtime victory over the Hartford Wolf Pack who are still clinging to slim playoff aspirations. Christian Thomas scored a pair of goals, the first of the game and then early in the third to tie the game 3-3. He also assisted on Zach Trotman’s late second period tally that put an end to Hartford’s three goal spurt to start the middle period. In overtime, rookie Daniel Sprong tallied his 27th goal of the season to lift the Penguins to victory on Hartford’s ice. Michael Leighton got the victory between the pipes with 30 saves on 33 shots. The Penguins were 0-for-3 on the powerplay and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.

Things took a turn for the worse though on Saturday as the Penguins fell 3-1 at home to the Providence Bruins. After the Bruins scored a pair of goals in the first period, Jean-Sebastien Dea made it a one-goal game with his 16th of the season, but the Penguins couldn’t get anymore pucks past Jordan Binnington. Meanwhile Tristan Jarry allowed three goals in 27 shots in the loss between the pipes for the Penguins. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s powerplay woes continue as they were 0-for-5 on the man advantage. They were 4-for-6 on the penalty kill.

Providence Bruins (Magic Number - 4 with 7 games remaining)

Record Last Week: 1-2-0

Providence’s hopes of securing the second playoff berth in the Atlantic Division took a wrong turn Wednesday as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins emerged with a 5-2 victory on their home ice at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza. Providence opened the scoring with a powerplay goal late in the first period. In the second, the Penguins rattled off three straight goals before Anton Blidh stopped the bleeding with his tenth of the season. But in the third, it was all Wilkes-Barre/Scranton as the Penguins tallied twice before the final horn sounded. Zane McIntyre suffered the loss in net, allowing four goals on 31 shots. Providence was 1-for-6 on the PP and 2-for-2 on the PK.

With another chance to get closer to securing a playoff spot, the Providence Bruins traveled to Allentown Friday night, but were shutout by the Phantoms, 2-0. Jordan Binnington allowed two goals on 34 shots in the loss between the pipes. The Bruins and Phantoms both went 0-for-3 on the powerplay.

The Bruins capped off the week on a high note with a 3-1 victory over the Penguins in Wilkes-Barre. Adam Payerl and Trent Frederic both recorded first period goals for Providence, but the Penguins cut the lead in half just before the first intermission. After a scoreless second, Jordan Szwarz notched his 20th goal of the season while on the man advantage. Jordan Binnington nearly recorded a shutout, stopping 34 of 35 shots in a complete game. The Bruins were 2-for-6 on the powerplay and 5-for-5 on the PK.

Charlotte Checkers (Magic Number 6 with 6 games remaining)

Record Last Week: 1-0-1

The Checkers, the final team in the Atlantic with control over their own destiny, got a bit closer to the playoffs Friday night, picking up one point in a 4-3 overtime loss in Rochester. Trevor Carrick gave the Checkers the lead with the lone goal of the first period, but Rochester tied the game early in the second. Later in the period, Julien Gauthier put Charlotte back in front, but Rochester needed just 35 seconds into the third to knot the game again. Greg McKegg tallied his 11th goal of the season just before the midway point, but Rochester tied it once again and then got the game-winner just 12 seconds into overtime. Alex Nedeljkovic allowed four goals on 29 shots in the loss. Charlotte was 1-for-2 on the powerplay and 2-for-3 on the penalty kill.

Charlotte then traveled to Syracuse where they scored a 4-1 victory over the playoff-bound Crunch. Trevor Carrick scored early in the first period with Andrew Poturalski and Greg McKegg assisting. In the second, McKegg scored with Poturalski and Aleksi Saarela assisting. In the third, the trio combined yet again for McKegg’s second of the game. But Syracuse finally got on the board 6:23 into the third. Saarela tacked on an empty net goal in the waning minutes of the game. Jeremy Smith nearly pitched a shutout, making 27 saves on 28 shots. The Checkers were 0-for-4 on the PP and 4-for-5 on the PK.

Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Magic Number - 21 with 7 games remaining)

Record Last Week: 2-1-0

Bridgeport continued to put the pressure on Charlotte with a 6-4 victory over the previously eliminated Hershey Bears Wednesday night. Bridgeport jumped out to an early lead with a goal from John Stevens just 29 seconds into the contest. Ryan Hitchcock added another goal less than four minutes later, but Joe Whitney finally got Hershey on the board before the end of the period with a powerplay goal. In the second, it was all Bridgeport though as Andre Benoit, Stevens, and Steve Bernier all scored for the Sound Tigers. Despite a trio of Hershey goals in the final period, Josh Ho-Sang’s tally provided all the insurance the Sound Tigers needed. Kristers Gudlevskis made 36 saves on 40 shots in a complete game for Bridgeport. The Sound Tigers were 0-for-1 on the powerplay and 5-for-6 on the penalty kill.

With Providence and Charlotte stumbling down the stretch, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers were unable to take advantage in Springfield where they fell 5-0 to the Thunderbirds. Kristers Gudlevskis allowed five goals on 30 shots in the loss between the pipes for the Sound Tigers. Bridgeport struggled on the man advantage, going 0-for-7. They were 5-for-6 on the penalty kill.

Bridgeport got things back on track Saturday night in Hartford with a 5-1 victory over the Pack. Kyle Schempp opened the scoring for Bridgeport with a tally less than three minutes into the game, but the Pack tied things up on the powerplay just past the midway point of the period. Mitchell Vande Sompel then recorded a powerplay tally for the Sound Tigers late in the first. In the second, Connor Jones scored just 34 seconds into the period. Not to be outdone, Ben Holmstrom tallied a shorthanded goal 28 seconds into the third and Steve Bernier added a powerplay goal a few minutes later. Eamon McAdam made 32 saves on 33 shots in net. Bridgeport was 2-for-4 on the powerplay and 3-for-4 on the PK.

Hartford Wolf Pack (Eliminated - 5 games remaining)

Record Last Week: 1-1-1

On Wednesday night, the Wolf Pack kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a 4-3 shootout victory over the visiting Springfield Thunderbirds who were looking to play spoiler after having been eliminated last week. Vinni Lettieri opened the scoring with his 21st of the season early in the first, but Springfield tied the game before intermission. In the third, Hartford regained the lead with Brandon Crawley’s tally just 51 seconds after puck drop and Adam Tambellini tacked on his 15th of the season, but Springfield rallied for a pair of goals to tie the game and eventually force a shootout where Scott Kosmachuk scored the lone goal of the three-round shootout. Alexandar Georgiev made 33 saves on 36 shots. The Pack went 0-for-2 on the PP, but they were 3-for-3 on the PK.

The Wolf Pack kept their slim playoff hopes alive Friday night at home where they fell 4-3 in overtime to the visiting Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Penguins got on the board with the lone goal of the first period, but in the second, Gabriel Fontaine scored on the powerplay to tie the game. That goal was followed by Dawson Leedahl’s second of the season and Scott Kosmachuk’s 15th. But Hartford would not score again as the Penguins scored late in the second and early in the third to tie the game before scoring the game winner in overtime. Alexandar Georgiev was impressive with 43 saves on 47 shots in the loss. Hartford was 1-for-4 on the powerplay and 3-for-3 on the PK.

The Pack then hosted Bridgeport in a battle of teams on the outside looking in Saturday and were dealt a devastating 5-1 loss by the Sound Tigers. Cristoval Nieves tied the game midway through the first on the powerplay, but that would be Hartford’s lone goal of the evening. Marek Mazanec allowed five goals on 18 shots and was lifted by Keith McCambridge in favor of Georgiev who stopped all seven shots he faced the remainder of the game. The Wolf Pack went 1-for-4 on the man advantage and 2-for-4 on the PK.

Hershey Bears (Eliminated - 5 games remaining)

Record Last Week: 1-2-0

After last week’s loss to Hartford eliminated Hershey, the Bears looked little like a team willing to play spoiler and more like a team not interested in finishing out the season for the first two periods of Wednesday night’s game in Bridgeport where the Sound Tigers emerged with a 6-4 victory. After a pair of goals by the home team within the first 4:19, the Bears finally got on the board when Joe Whitney tallied a powerplay goal. But in the second, the Bears slumbered, allowing three Bridgeport tallies. With Vitek Vanecek lifted in favor of Adam Carlson, the Bears got a pair of goals from Anthony Peluso and another from Hampus Gustafsson, but it wouldn’t be enough as Bridgeport got one past Carlson, who made eight saves on nine shots in the third. Vanecek made 14 saves on 19 shorts before he was lifted. Hershey’s power play was 1-for-6 and the PK was 1-for-1.

On Friday night, the Bears suffered another setback with a 3-1 loss in Utica to the Comets. Chris Bourque tallied the lone goal for Hershey early in the second, tying the game at 1-1, but Utica regained the lead before the second intermission. Adam Carlson stopped 20 of 22 shots in the loss for the Bears. Hershey was 0-for-3 on the powerplay and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.

Hershey welcomed Laval to Giant Center for the first time Saturday in a battle of eliminated teams and emerged with a 6-3 victory over the Rocket. Mathias Bau and Garrett Mitchell both recorded first period goals, but both of those were answered by Laval. In the second, Dustin Gazley put Hershey back on top and then assisted on Wayne Simpson’s tally that would become the game-winner as Laval scored again late in the period. In the third, Bau recorded his second goal of the game on the powerplay while Hampus Gustafsson recorded his third of the season several minutes later. Kris Bindulis recorded his first assist of the season on Gustafsson’s second goal. Pheonix Copley returned from recall and got the start for the Bears, stopping 20 of 23 shots he faced. The Bears were 1-for-2 on the powerplay and 2-for-3 on the PK.

Springfield Thunderbirds (Eliminated - 6 games remaining)

Record Last Week: 1-1-1

The Thunderbirds traveled to Hartford Wednesday night and came up just short with a 4-3 shootout loss to the Wolf Pack. After Hartford tallied first, Chase Balisy tied the game just past the midway point of the period. In the third, Hartford scored a pair of goals, but Dryden Hunt and Joel Lowry, who scored his first goal of the season, forced bonus hockey. In the shootout, none of Springfield’s three shooters managed a goal while Hartford’s Scott Kosmachuk got a puck past Harri Sateri who recorded 29 saves on 32 shots. The Thunderbirds were 0-for-3 on the PP and 2-for-2 on the PK.

The Thunderbirds returned home on Friday night and easily handled the visiting Bridgeport Sound Tigers with a 5-0 shutout victory. Anthony Greco tallied a pair of goals for Springfield in the victory. Bobby Farnham opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal in the first period. In the second, Francois Beauchemin gave the Thunderbirds a 2-0 lead before Greco’s pair of goals. Alexandre Grenier tacked on a powerplay goal to round out the scoring. Harri Sateri earned his third shutout of the season with a 39-save performance. The Thunderbirds were 1-for-6 on the powerplay and 7-for-7 on the penalty kill.

On Saturday night, the Springfield Thunderbirds fell 6-5 to the visiting Utica Comets. Alexandre Grenier scored on the powerplay in the first period to put Springfield on top for the first time in the game, but a pair of Utica goals had the home team playing from behind heading into the first intermission. In the second period, Springfield’s Dryden Hunt, Joel Lowry, and Thomas Schemitsch all scored to put the Thunderbirds ahead once again, but Utica responded with a pair of goals, tying the game at 4-4 after two. In the third, the Thunderbirds once again took the lead courtesy of Curtis Valk’s powerplay tally, but Utica tied the game late in the period and got the game winner with just 40 seconds left on the clock. Samuel Montembeault suffered the loss in net, allowing six goals on 34 shots. The Thunderbirds were 2-for-7 on the PP and 4-for-6 on the PK.

Atlantic Division Standings as of April 2, 2018

Lehigh Valley: 70 GP, 44-17-4-5, 97 points, .693 pct 6 97-109 W-B/Scranton: 69 GP, 40-21-6-2, 88 points, .638 pct 7 88-102 Providence: 69 GP, 41-23-3-2, 87 points, .630 pct 7 87-101 Charlotte: 70 GP, 40-26-1-3, 84 points, .600 pct 6 84-96 Bridgeport: 69 GP, 34-27-5-3, 76 points, .551 pct7 76-90 Hartford: 71 GP, 31-31-6-3, 71 points, .500 pct5 71-81 Hershey: 71 GP, 29-33-4-5, 67 points, .472 pct5 67-77 Springfield: 70 GP, 29-34-5-2, 65 points, .464 pct 6 65-77

Remaining Atlantic Division Regular Season Schedule

Tuesday, April 3

Providence at Bridgeport - 10:30 AM Lehigh Valley at Charlotte - 7:00 PM Hershey at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - 7:05 PM

Wednesday, April 4

Lehigh Valley at Charlotte - 7:00 PM Springfield at Belleville - 7:00 PM

Friday, April 6

Hartford at Providence - 7:05 PM Bridgeport at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - 7:05 PM Springfield at Laval - 7:30 PM

Saturday, April 7

Hershey at Charlotte - 6:00 PM Lehigh Valley at Hartford - 7:00 PM Providence at Bridgeport - 7:00PM Binghamton at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - 7:05 PM

Sunday, April 8

Hershey at Charlotte - 1:00 PM Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Bridgeport - 3:00 PM Lehigh Valley at Providence - 3:05 PM Springfield at Hartford - 5:00 PM

Friday, April 13

Charlotte at Providence - 7:05 PM Bridgeport at Lehigh Valley - 7:05 PM Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Springfield - 7:05 PM Binghamton at Hartford - 7:15 PM

Saturday, April 14

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

Sunday, April 15

Springfield at Providence - 3:05 PM Charlotte at Bridgeport - 5:00 PM Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Hershey - 5:00 PM