January 28, 2022
TONIGHT: It’s a Phantoms Gameday presented by MassMutual as the Lehigh Valley Phantoms play Game 4 of a five-game road swing with their first visit this season to Springfield, Mass. The Springfield Thunderbirds (19-13-5) are the AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues and are holding onto the fourth-place spot in the Atlantic Division.. Lehigh Valley (12-13-8) has points in 12 of the last 14 at 9-2-3 and rates in 6th place in the Atlantic Division. Springfield took a 2-1 overtime decision at PPL Center in November in the only previous meeting of the season between the two teams. The Phantoms are 2-1-0 so far on their road swing which ends Saturday night at Hartford.
LAST TIME: Wyatte Wylie racked up a career-high three assists as the Phantoms picked up a weekend split at the Charlotte Checkers with a 5-2 win on Sunday afternoon. Hayden Hodgson (7, 8) capped the victory with a pair of goals including an empty-netter at the end. Pat Nagle (6-0-3) had 24 saves including a big breakaway denial on Kole Lind when the Phantoms were preserving a one-goal lead. Connor Bunnaman (6th) and Matt Strome (1st) also scored for the Phantoms.
TRANSACTIONS: Isaac Ratcliffe has been recalled to the Flyers in advance of his NHL debut on Saturday afternoon. Forward Linus Sandin has returned to the Phantoms after making his NHL debut on Tuesday. Forward Jackson Cates and goalie Felix Sandstrom have also returned to the Phantoms from the Flyers’ Taxi Squad.
OLYMPICS HONOR: Pat Nagle has been chosen to play for the United States National Team at the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics in China. The 34-year-old veteran goalie will depart the Phantoms on Sunday and will be away with the American team for three weeks. Congratulations, Pat!!
SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS: The AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues is in third place in the Atlantic Division at 19-12-5 but the T-Birds only have three wins in their last 10 games. Veterans Matthew Peca (13-16-29) and Sam Anas (11-16-27) pace the offense with former Hershey Bears forward and Australia native Nathan Walker (10-15-25) rating highly as well on one of the highest scoring teams in the league. Springfield bested the Phantoms 2-1 in overtime on November 13 in the only meeting of the season between the two teams.
NOTEABLES:
– Linus Sandin made his NHL debut on January 25 for the Philadelphia Flyers at the New York Islanders. Sandin has scored 5 goals in his last 7 games with the Phantoms. He beccame the 34th Lehigh Valley Phantom to make his NHL debut with the Flyers on a recall and the third this season joining Max Willman and Felix Sandstrom.
– Wyatte Wylie’s three-assist game on Sunday was his new career-best for points in a game and is tied for the most points in a game by any Phantoms player this year.
– Lehigh Valley has gone 9-2-3 in its last 14 games after a beginning that saw just three wins in the first 19 games at 3-11-5.
– Cal O’Reilly has 12 points (3-9-12) in his last 8 games including four multi-point games in that stretch.
– Defenseman Adam Clendening has 10 points (2-8-10) in his last nine games including three multi-point games in the last six.
UP NEXT: The Phantoms head down I-81 to Hartford for a Saturday night road-trip finale at 7:05 p.m. The Phantoms are back at home on Sunday at 5:05 p.m. against the Hershey Bears.
Upcoming Schedule:
Fri, Jan 28 at Springfield Thunderbirds (7:05)
Sat, Jan 29 at Hartford Wolf Pack (7:00)
Sun, Jan 30 vs. Hershey Bears (5:05) (PPL Center)
Wed, Feb 2 at Bridgeport Islanders (10:30 a.m.)
Fri, Feb 4 vs. Providence Bruins (7:05) (PPL Center)
Sat, Feb 5 at Hartford Wolf Pack (5:00)
Upcoming Home Games:
Sunday, January 30 vs. Hershey Bears (5:05) – meLVin Kids’ Activity Book Day (First 1,000 fans 14 and under)
Friday, February 4 vs. Providence Bruins (7:05) – Season Ticket Appreciation Night
Tuesday, February 8 vs. Belleville Senators (7:05) – (Makeup Date from Dec. 15 postponement)
Friday, February 11 vs. Hershey Bears (7:05) – GO FOR GOLD Weekend
Saturday, Feburary 12 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins – GO FOR GOLD Weekend, Saturday Night Hockey Live
Sunday, February 13 vs. Hershey Bears (2:05) – GO FOR GOLD Weekend
Broadcast coverage of all Phantoms games, home and away, is available on the Phantoms 365 app and on 1470-WSAN. Fans can watch on AHLTV.com and can listen on their Smart Speakers at: “Play Phantoms Radio 24/7.” Join Voice of the Phantoms, Bob Rotruck, for all the action!
