Phantoms Get Rematch with Hartford Tomorrow
February 9, 2019
Lehigh Valley, Pa. – The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (25-19-3-2) fell in a close 2-1 contest to the Hartford Wolf Pack (20-24-3-3) in front of a sold out PPL Center. Jori Lehtera scored his first AHL goal in his Phantoms debut and Alex Lyon made 31 saves in net. The Phantoms won’t wait long for a chance at revenge as they will face the Wolf Pack again tomorrow in a 3:05pm matchup.
The Phantoms almost got things started early in this one as Tyrell Goulbourne came flying down the ice and ripped a shot off the post just 12 seconds in but it stayed out. Things tilted the Wolf Pack’s way after that as they outshot the Phantoms 13-5 in the first period. Hartford was able to get on the board first with a power play goal 8:13 into the first period. With Connor Brickley screening Alex Lyon in front of the net, Hartford’s leading scorer, Peter Holland was able wire one through Lyon to take a 1-0 lead.
Lehigh Valley shifted play a little more in their favor during the second period as they out shot the Wolf Pack 11-8. The Phantoms had their best chances of the night on consecutive shifts as two centering passes from below the red line found a Phantom open in front but both unable to find the back of the net and even the score.
Hartford took a 2-0 lead four minutes into the third as Steven Fogarty found Ryan Gropp cutting through the middle of the zone and he was able to snap a wrist shot over the blocker of Lyon.
Lehigh Valley was able to answer just a minute and 19 seconds later as Jori Lehtera scored his first goal as a Phantom. In his Lehigh Valley debut, Lehtera intercepted a Hartford pass at the top of the circle and turned and fired it on net, beating Halverson to make it a 2-1 game.
Unfortunately, the Phantoms were unable to get another by Halverson who made 25/26 saves and fell 2-1. Alex Lyon made 31/33 saves in the loss.
3 Stars:
1: F Ryan Gropp (HFD) Game-Winning Goal
2: G Brandon Halverson (HFD) – 25 saves, Win
3: G Alex Lyon (LV) – 31 saves
GOALS:
First Period:
LV – None
HFD – (8:13) Peter Holland (18) (Bigras, Andersson)
Second Period:
LV – None
HFD – None
Third Period:
LV – (5:11) Jori Lehtera (1)
HFD – (3:52) Ryan Gropp (5) (Fogarty, Gettinger)
NEXT TIME OUT: Lehigh Valley and Hartford will square off in back-to-back games as the rematch tomorrow in a matinee contest at 3:05pm.
Follow the action @LVPhantoms on Twitter, on AHLTV or the Phantoms365 App.
