February 14, 2017
This Week
Tuesday, February 14 (7:05 p.m.) – Lehigh Valley Phantoms @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Friday, February 17 (7:05 p.m.) – Hartford Wolf Pack @ Lehigh Valley Phantoms
(meLVin’s Birthday Bash.)
Saturday, February 18 (7:05 p.m.) – Hartford Wolf Pack @ Lehigh Valley Phantoms
(90’s Night.)
Sunday, February 19 (3:00 p.m.) – Lehigh Valley Phantoms @ Utica Comets
Upcoming
Winners of six of their last nine games overall, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (32-14-2, 66 pts., 2nd Atlantic Division) hit the frozen surface four times this week, including a two-game series this Friday and Saturday at PPL Center with the Hartford Wolf Pack.
Lehigh Valley’s week kicks off on Tuesday, February 14 when the Phantoms invade the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for a Valentine’s Day showdown with the rival Penguins. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (36-11-3, 75 pts., 1st Atlantic Division) won two of three games last week and enters the week having claimed seven of its last nine tilts overall. After a 4-0 shutout at the hands of the St. John’s IceCaps last Wednesday, the Penguins quickly rebounded with a 4-3 overtime triumph against the Hershey Bears on Friday followed by a 4-2 regulation win over the Binghamton Senators on Saturday.
Tuesday’s game will mark the fourth of 12 total meetings during the 2016-17 regular season between Lehigh Valley and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with the Phantoms having taken two of the first three collisions.
The Phantoms then return home to PPL Center this Friday, February 17 and Saturday, February 18 for their final two home meetings of the year with the Hartford Wolf Pack. Hartford (18-26-5, 41 pts., 7th Atlantic Division) split a pair of games last weekend and enters the week having won three of its last five games overall. Last weekend began on a high note for the Wolf Pack as they were able to earn a 3-2 win at the Springfield Thunderbirds on Friday before they were doubled up 4-2 by the Hershey Bears inside Giant Center on Saturday.
This weekend’s series will mark the sixth and seventh of eight total meetings this season between Lehigh Valley and Hartford with the Phantoms having posted a 2-2-1 mark in five prior meetings with the Wolf Pack.
Friday’s game is meLVin’s highly-anticipated Birthday Bash as a host of mascots will be on hand to celebrate the birthday of everyone’s favorite puck-nosed pladottle. Then, on Saturday, it’s time to turn back the clocks once again for 90’s Night inside PPL Center. A limited number of tickets are available for both Friday and Saturday’s game and can be purchased online by clicking HERE.
Lehigh Valley then caps this week’s action on Sunday, February 19 when the team travels up to the Utica Memorial Auditorium for a 3:00 p.m. contest with the Utica Comets. Utica (19-21-8, 46 pts., 5th North Division) claimed just one of three outings last week and enters the week having dropped seven of its last eight games overall (1-5-2). The Comets earned a 2-1 win at Springfield last Saturday in between a 6-4 loss to the Toronto Marlies on Friday and a 3-2 setback to the Syracuse Crunch on Sunday.
This Sunday’s tilt between Lehigh Valley and Utica will be the third of four total meetings this year with the Phantoms having won each of the first two gatherings. Lehigh Valley opened the season series with a 4-1 win in Utica on November 16 and followed that up with a 4-1 triumph at PPL Center on January 20.
- Phantoms By The Numbers
- The Phantoms are currently the highest-scoring team in the American Hockey League averaging 3.65 goals per game. Much of Lehigh Valley’s production has come in the third period where the Phantoms have produced a league-best 74 goals and are outscoring their opposition 74-39 in the final frame of regulation.
Lehigh Valley is 29-4-2 when scoring three or more goals this season. Meanwhile, the Phantoms are 30-4 when allowing three goals or fewer this year.- The Phantoms have allowed just one power play goal against over the team’s last four games. Lehigh Valley’s penalty kill is an impressive 13-for-14 during that stretch.
- Forward Andy Miele (right) has been one of Lehigh Valley’s most consistent offensive producers in recent weeks having tallied 25 points (4 goals, 21 assists) over his last 25 games.
- Forward Greg Carey currently leads all Phantoms and is third among all AHLers with 22 goals this season. He also leads all Lehigh Valley skaters and all AHLers with 14 power play markers this season.
- Forward Chris Conner has been on a tear in recent weeks having recorded at least one point in 12 of his last 16 games. Conner has compiled an impressive 16 points (7 goals, 9 assists) since January 7.
Last Week
Wednesday, February 8: Binghamton Senators 0 – Lehigh Valley Phantoms 5
Mark Zengerle, Samuel Morin and Robert Hagg each tallied a goal and an assist as the Phantoms orchestrated a total team effort in earning a 5-0 victory over the Binghamton Senators. Corban Knight and All-Star forward Jordan Weal each chipped in a pair of assists in front of goaltender Alex Lyon who garnered his third shutout of the season thanks to a solid 27-save performance.
Danick Martel (12th) and Scott Laughton (11th) rounded out the scoring for the Phantoms who moved to a perfect 5-0 against Binghamton this season.
Friday, February 10: St. John’s IceCaps 2 – Lehigh Valley Phantoms 4
Chris Conner scored twice and Cole Bardreau added a goal and an assist as the Lehigh Valley Phantoms closed Friday’s contest with three straight tallies en route to a come-from-behind 4-2 win over the St. John’s IceCaps. Travis Sanheim (8th) also scored for Lehigh Valley as the Phantoms skated in front of 8,467 raucous fans – the eighth standing room-only sellout at PPL Center this season.
With Friday’s win, Lehigh Valley claimed its impressive 17th home win of the season as the Phantoms notched their 20th victory when scoring on the power play this season.
Saturday, February 11: St. John’s IceCaps 4 – Lehigh Valley Phantoms 3
Mark Zengerle and Colin McDonald each registered a goal and an assist and Will O’Neill added a pair of assists but the Phantoms weren’t able to complete a weekend sweep of St. John’s as the IceCaps escaped PPL Center with a 4-3 decision. Robert Hagg (5th) also scored for Lehigh Valley in front of goaltender Alex Lyon who recorded 17 saves on 21 IceCaps shots.
Broadcast Coverage
Service Electric’s TV2 Sports will be broadcasting live all of the Phantoms’ 14 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’ 14 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].
