Phantoms Weekly – Phantoms Prepare for Weekend Road Trip

February 28, 2017

This Week

Friday, March 3 (7:05 p.m.) – Lehigh Valley Phantoms @ Springfield Thunderbirds

Saturday, March 4 (3:00 p.m.) – Lehigh Valley Phantoms @ Hartford Wolf Pack

Sunday, March 5 (3:05 p.m.) – Lehigh Valley Phantoms @ Providence Bruins

Upcoming

After enjoying six of their last nine games inside the friendly confines of PPL Center, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (34-17-3, 71 pts., 3rd Atlantic Division) kick off a four-game road swing this weekend with a three-game Northeast road trip.

The Phantoms return to the frozen surface this Friday, March 3 when they visit the MassMutual Center in Springfield for a rematch with the Thunderbirds. Springfield (22-24-9, 53 pts., 6th Atlantic Division) won two of three games last weekend and enters the week having claimed five of its last six outings overall. After a 5-3 victory over the Phantoms last Friday, the Thunderbirds made it five straight triumphs with a 2-0 shutout of the Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday before falling in a 3-0 decision at the Providence Bruins on Sunday.

Friday’s contest will mark the fifth of six total meetings during the 2016-2017 regular season between Lehigh Valley and Springfield with the Phantoms having taken three of the first four collisions. Lehigh Valley has outscored Springfield 17-14 to date and is 1-1 in games played at MassMutual Center this season. The regular season series between the Phantoms and Thunderbirds will then conclude on Saturday, April 8 back at PPL Center.

Lehigh Valley’s road swing then continues on Saturday, March 4 when the Phantoms invade the XL Center in Hartford for an afternoon showdown with the Wolf Pack. Hartford (20-30-5, 45 pts., 7th Atlantic Division) earned just one win in three tries last weekend and enters the week having fallen in five of its last seven games overall. After a 6-1 loss to the Hershey Bears last Friday and a 2-0 defeat in Springfield on Saturday, the Wolf Pack closed their week on a high note with a 3-1 home win over the Binghamton Senators.

Saturday’s game will be the eighth and final regular season meeting between Lehigh Valley and Hartford with the Phantoms having posted a 3-3-1 mark against their Atlantic Division foes this year. The Phantoms have outscored the Wolf Pack 23-18 through the first seven meetings and are 2-1 in four previous games played at XL Center this year.

The Phantoms then cap this week’s action on Sunday, March 5 when Lehigh Valley hits the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence for a 3:05 p.m. tilt with the Bruins. Providence (33-14-9, 75 pts., 2nd Atlantic Division) won all three of its games last weekend and enters the week in the midst of a four-game winning streak. What’s more, the Bruins enter the week having claimed six of their last seven games overall. After sweeping a home-and-home series with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (2-1 win on Friday, 4-3 win on Saturday), Providence capped its productive weekend with a 3-0 shutout of Springfield.

Sunday’s contest will mark the fifth of six total meetings during the 2016-17 regular season between the Phantoms and Bruins with Lehigh Valley having claimed three of the first four head-to-head collisions.

  • Phantoms By The Numbers
  • Defenseman T.J. Brennan (right) enters the week leading all active Phantoms and tied for first among AHL blueliners in total scoring with 45 points (17 goals, 28 assists). What’s more, he currently leads all AHL defenders in goals (17), power play markers (9) and shots on goal (169).
  • Forward Greg Carey enters the week tied for first among all AHL skaters with 25 goals this season. He’s found the back of the net in three of his last four games and is just one goal shy of the 26 conversions he notched in 64 games with the Springfield Falcons last year. Carey also currently leads all AHLers with 17 power play goals this year.
  • Forward Corban Knight enters the week in the midst of a season-high six-game scoring streak having compiled seven points (goal, 6 assists) during his recent surge. The 26-year-old forward has recorded seven goals, 21 assists and 28 total points across 50 games this season.
  • The Phantoms’ power play has notched multiple man-advantage markers in each of their last four games. Lehigh Valley’s power play is an impressive 8-for-20 (40.0 percent) during its recent run and ranks fifth overall in the AHL at 23.0 percent for the season.
  • The Phantoms have won the third-most home games (18) in the Eastern Conference. Lehigh Valley is an impressive 18-7-2 at PPL Center this season.
  • With 197 goals this season, the Phantoms lead all 30 AHL clubs in goals scored this year. What’s more, Lehigh Valley continues to lead the AHL averaging 3.65 goals per game.

Last Week

Friday, February 24: Lehigh Valley Phantoms 3 – Springfield Thunderbirds 5

Greg Carey (24th), Chris Conner (11th) and Radel Fazleev (5th) all scored in front of goaltender Anthony Stolarz (30 saves) but the Springfield Thunderbirds were able to use a four-goal second period en route to a 5-3 victory inside MassMutual Center. Paul Thompson and Dryden Hunt paced Springfield’s offense with two goals and an assist each while netminder Reto Berra notched the win with 22 saves on 25 Lehigh Valley shots.

The Phantoms’ special teams put forth another strong showing as Lehigh Valley converted a pair of power play markers in five opportunities while the team’s penalty kill successfully thwarted each of the Thunderbirds’ four man-advantage chances.

Saturday, February 25: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 4 – Lehigh Valley Phantoms 3 (OT)

Greg Carey notched a goal and an assist and Andy Miele added a pair of helpers as the Phantoms earned a critical standings point through a 4-3 overtime decisions against the rival Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in front of 8,869 fans inside PPL Center. In addition to Carey’s league-leading 25th tally of the year, Danick Martel (14th) and Corban Knight (7th) also scored for the Phantoms.

Lehigh Valley’s special teams was on fire again as the power play went 2-for-3 while its penalty kill stymied each of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s two man-advantage opportunities. Saturday’s standing room-only sellout marked the fifth straight capacity crowd enjoyed at PPL Center and the 13th such crowd produced by Phantoms fans this season.

Broadcast Coverage

Service Electric’s TV2 Sports will be broadcasting live all of the Phantoms’ 11 remaining regular season home games. If you can’t make it out to the rink, be sure to catch all the exciting action live in HD quality with Steve Degler, Todd Fedoruk, Doug Heater and Kristi Fulkerson! Pre-game coverage begins with “Phantoms Front and Center” 30 minutes before puck drop. And don’t miss “Phantoms – Breaking the Ice” every Monday from 7:00 – 7:30 p.m. throughout the season live at Chickie’s & Pete’s at PPL Center!

Be sure to also catch each and every Phantoms game this season live on 1470-AM WSAN, 790-AM WAEB or via the iHeartRadio app! Join Voice of the Phantoms, Bob Rotruck, for all of the heart-pumping action of Lehigh Valley Phantoms hockey whether the team is at home or on the road. “Countdown to Faceoff” begins 45 minutes prior to puck drop.

Ticket Information

Tickets for each of the Phantoms’ 11 remaining regular season home games are available now online at pplcenter.com, by calling 610-347-TIXX [8499] or in-person at the PPL Center Box Office [7th & Hamilton].