January 7, 2015
This Week
Saturday, January 10 (6:00 PM EST, 7:30 PM NST) – Lehigh Valley Phantoms @ St. John’s IceCaps
Sunday, January 11 (2:30 PM EST, 4:00 PM NST) – Lehigh Valley Phantoms @ St. John’s IceCaps
Upcoming
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms wrap up their five-game road trip this weekend as the team heads up to St. John’s for a pair of showdowns with the IceCaps.
Lehigh Valley (16-12-4-1, 37 pts.) is already 2-1 on its current road swing and enters the week in sole possession of third place in the East Division. The Phantoms are presently just two points back of second-place Hershey and seven points behind division-leading Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with one and four games-in-hand respectively on the Bears and Penguins. Lehigh Valley enters the week having won three of its last four games and five of eight tilts overall. What’s more, the Phantoms have garnered at least one standings point in eight of their last 10 outings.
Meanwhile, St. John’s (14-16-5-1, 34 pts.) currently sits in sole possession of fourth place within the Northeast Division. The IceCaps kicked off their busy four-game week with a 1-0 overtime victory against the Manchester Monarchs last night as St. John’s earned just its third win in the last seven games. The IceCaps and Monarchs renew their division rivalry again tonight before the Phantoms invade Mile One Centre in St. John’s this Saturday and Sunday.
This weekend’s clashes will mark the second and third of four total meetings during the 2014-2015 regular season between the Phantoms and IceCaps. Lehigh Valley was handed a 2-1 overtime setback at PPL Center back on November 22nd in the only prior showdown with St. John’s. The two Eastern Conference foes will conclude their regular season series back in Lehigh Valley on January 24th.
Phantoms By The Numbers
- Lehigh Valley is 10-2-2-1 at PPL Center this season and has outscored its opposition 42-32 on home ice. The Phantoms are tied for the fewest regulation losses (two) at home and currently boast the league’s third-highest attendance average (7,973).
The Phantoms are 10-2-4-1 in one-goal games this season. Lehigh Valley has already enjoyed 12 overtime/shootout decisions (second in AHL) and is 7-5 in games decided in overtime/shootout.- Lehigh Valley is 14-1-1 when scoring three or more goals this season. Meanwhile, the Phantoms are 15-5-3-1 when limiting their opposition to three goals or fewer.
- The Phantoms are 9-4-2-1 when scoring first this season and are 12-1-0-1 when leading after two periods of play.
- Defenseman Brandon Manning continues to lead all Phantoms in total scoring with 23 points. The recently named All-Star blueliner is also currently pacing all Lehigh Valley skaters in assists (17), power play points (11), penalty minutes (80) and shots on goal (95).
- Forward Jason Akeson has been on a tear lately for the Phantoms. The 24-year-old forward has produced 13 points (eight goals, five assists) and four multi-point outings over his last 12 games. With 66 career goals scored with the Phantoms, Akeson enters the week just one conversion shy of tying Boyd Kane for 10th place on the Phantoms’ all-time list.
Last Week
Wednesday, December 31: Lehigh Valley Phantoms 2 – Binghamton Senators 6
Jason Akeson notched his seventh goal of the season while Blair Jones converted his fourth tally of the year as the Phantoms closed 2014 with a 6-2 setback at the Binghamton Senators. Derek Grant recorded a goal and two assists while Carter Camper chipped in three helpers for Binghamton.
In his first appearance with Lehigh Valley since being called up by the Philadelphia Flyers, Rob Zepp registered seven saves on eight shots in relief of starter Anthony Stolarz who produced 16 saves on 21 total shots.
Friday, January 2: Lehigh Valley Phantoms 3 – Norfolk Admirals 2 (OT)
Nick Cousins buried the game-winner just 2:32 into overtime as the Phantoms kicked off 2015 with a dramatic 3-2 triumph over the Norfolk Admirals. Brandon Alderson and Jason Akeson scored in regulation for Lehigh Valley before Cousins’ eighth conversion of the year sealed the contest. Brandon Manning and Brett Flemming assisted on Alderson’s marker while Blair Jones earned an assist on Akeson’s tally, which was his second shorthanded marker and the Phantoms’ fourth shorthanded goal scored this season.
Rob Zepp earned his ninth victory of the season with 34 saves on 36 Norfolk shots while Lehigh Valley claimed its ninth one-goal win of the season as the Phantoms improved to 3-4 in games decided in overtime.
Saturday, January 3: Lehigh Valley Phantoms 3 – Norfolk Admirals 2 (SO)
The Phantoms completed their weekend sweep of the Admirals and earned their 16th victory of the season thanks to a 3-2 shootout win last Saturday in Norfolk. Zack Stortini and Petr Straka scored in regulation for Lehigh Valley before Jason Akeson ended the back-and-forth affair in the shootout. Zepp earned his 10th win of the season thanks to another 34-save performance.
With the win, the Phantoms improved to 4-1 in shootouts this season and 10-2-4-1 in one-goal contests this year. Lehigh Valley also improved to 11-4 when scoring a power play goal this season.
Broadcast Coverage
Service Electric’s TV2 Sports will be broadcasting live all of the Phantoms’ 23 remaining regular season home games. If you can’t make it out to the rink, be sure to catch all the exciting action in high definition with Steve Degler and former Flyers and Phantoms goaltender Brian Boucher! And don’t miss “Phantoms – Breaking the Ice” every Monday from 7:00 – 8:00 PM throughout the season live at Chickie’s & Pete’s (701 Hamilton Street)!
Be sure to also catch each and every Phantoms game this season live on Fox Sports 1470 AM, online at Fox1470.com 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. Nazareth Pallett Countdown to Faceoff begins 45 minutes prior to puck drop.
Ticket Information
Tickets for all of the Phantoms’ 23 remaining regular season home games are available now at the Mealey’s Furniture Box Office at PPL Center (7th & Hamilton), by calling 610-347-TIXX (8499) or online at pplcenter.com.
Check it out! Don’t miss the action and fun of Lehigh Valley Phantoms hockey at PPL Center in downtown Allentown! Contact the Phantoms Front Office for information on group rates and fan experiences by calling 610-224-GOAL (4625).
In their 19th season of operation, the Phantoms are currently in the midst of their Inaugural Season as the Lehigh Valley Phantoms playing at the brand-new PPL Center. Established in 1996, the Philadelphia Phantoms spent their first 13 seasons at the Spectrum before re-locating to Glens Falls, New York in 2009 where the team spent the next five seasons as the Adirondack Phantoms. A new era of Phantoms hockey began in the fall of 2014 when the Lehigh Valley Phantoms began play at the state-of-the-art PPL Center. Through 18 incredibly successful campaigns, the Phantoms have captured two Calder Cup Championships (1998, 2005), two Conference Championships (1998, 2005), two Regular Season Titles (1996-97, 1997-98) and four Division Championships (1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, 2003-04).
