Phantoms Weekly – Phantoms Face Trio of Division Rivals This Week

March 31, 2015

This Week

Wednesday, April 1 (7:15 PM) – Lehigh Valley Phantoms @ Norfolk Admirals

Friday, April 3 (7:05 PM) – Lehigh Valley Phantoms @ Binghamton Senators

Saturday, April 4 (7:05 PM) – Lehigh Valley Phantoms @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Upcoming

After completing a five-game home stand at PPL Center, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms hit the road for a trio of divisional showdowns this week.

JustSports PhotographyThe Phantoms get another early start to their week as the team returns to action this Wednesday, April 1st as Lehigh Valley invades the Norfolk Scope for a tilt with the Admirals. Wednesday’s contest marks the fifth of eight total meetings during the 2014-2015 regular season between Lehigh Valley and Norfolk with the Phantoms holding a perfect 4-0 record against the Admirals so far. Lehigh Valley has outscored Norfolk 13-9 to date claiming each of the first four get-togethers by just a single goal. The two sides haven’t met since early January when the Phantoms swept a weekend series in Norfolk with back-to-back 3-2 triumphs.

Lehigh Valley (30-29-6-1, 67 pts.) enters the week in sole possession of third place in the East Division and 13 standings points back of the Portland Pirates for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, Norfolk (23-36-6-3, 55 pts.) is fifth among the five teams in the East Division and currently holds the lowest standings points total in the Eastern Conference. The Admirals enter the week in the midst of a five-game losing skid and have dropped 13 of their last 14 contests overall.

The Phantoms continue their road swing on Friday, April 3rd when they head to the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton for their final meeting of the year with the Senators. Lehigh Valley is 4-4-1 against the Senators this season. Binghamton (28-31-7-1, 64 pts.) is fourth among the five teams in the East Division and 13th overall in the Eastern Conference. The Senators dropped a pair of outings last weekend and enter the weekend having suffered setbacks in five of their last eight games overall.

JustSports PhotographyThe Phantoms conclude their three-game road trip on Saturday, April 4th when they head to the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for a rivalry showdown with the Penguins. Saturday’s tilt will mark the 10th of 12 total meetings this year between the Pennsylvania rivals and the third head-to-head meeting over the last 14 days. Lehigh Valley is 5-3-1 overall against the Penguins this season and has claimed four of the last five showdowns between the East Division foes. The Phantoms are 3-2 at Mohegan Sun Arena this season and have claimed each of the last two showdowns in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Penguins (38-22-3-4, 83 pts.) enter the week fourth overall in the Eastern Conference and are presently just seven points back of the Hershey Bears for the top spot the East Division.

Catch each of Lehigh Valley’s road outings this week on Fox 1470 AM, online at fox1470.com or via the iHeartRadio app. Coverage begins with the Nazareth Pallet Countdown to Faceoff 45 minutes before puck drop.

Phantoms By The Numbers

  • Lehigh Valley’s penalty kill enters the week having successfully killed 21 straight power plays. The Phantoms haven’t surrendered a man-advantage marker against since the 15:54 mark of the first period in their showdown with Hartford back on March 20th. Lehigh Valley enters the week having allowed just five power play goals over the last 14 games going an impressive 49-for-54 (90.7 percent) during that stretch.
  • JustSports PhotographyScott Laughton tallied three goals and four points in two games last weekend and has now registered 10 goals, nine assists and 19 points in 29 games with the Phantoms this season. A 20-year-old forward from Oakville, Ontario, he’s produced four goals, four assists and eight points in 16 games since returning from a 31-game stint with the Philadelphia Flyers.
  • Lehigh Valley’s active leader in assists, Jason Akeson notched another four helpers in two games last weekend. The 24-year-old winger from Orleans, Ontario enters the week leading all Phantoms in assists (26) and points (46) and currently ranks fourth on the franchise’s all-time list with 139 assists and fifth in total scoring with 217 points.
  • With 9,017 fans on hand Saturday evening, Lehigh Valley entertained its largest crowd of the 2014-2015 season. The Phantoms have now enjoyed 20 sellouts through the first 33 games at PPL Center and enter the week fourth in the league in average attendance (8,169 fans/game). Lehigh Valley is 12-7-1 when skating in front of standing room-only sellouts and a perfect 5-0 when playing front of better than 8,900 fans at PPL Center.

Last Week

Wednesday, March 25: Syracuse Crunch 6 – Lehigh Valley Phantoms 1

P0325_0641Blair Jones netted his seventh goal of the season and Brandon Manning accounted for 32 of the game’s 91 combined penalty minutes thanks to a pair of fights as the Phantoms were handed a 6-1 setback to the Syracuse Crunch in front of 8,197 fans at PPL Center. Andrew Gordon and Adam Comrie assisted on Jones’ conversion as Comrie produced his seventh point over an eight-game span.

Jonathan Marchessault paced the offensive effort for Syracuse with a pair of goals Ryan Martindale and Justin Courtnall each chipped in a goal and an assist for the Crunch.

Saturday, March 28: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 1 – Lehigh Valley Phantoms 4

P0328_0649Scott Laughton scored twice and Rob Zepp recorded 33 saves as the Phantoms earned a 4-1 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in front of a PPL Center record crowd of 9,017 fans. Laughton’s two goals were part of the first professional three-point game for the blossoming 20-year-old forward. Defensemen Jesper Pettersson and Steven Delisle also found the back of the net for Lehigh Valley as the Phantoms earned their 30th win of the season.

Despite being out shot 34-21 in the game, Lehigh Valley prevailed thanks to a herculean effort between the pipes from Zepp who earned his 18th victory of the season. The Phantoms also claimed the special teams battle as Lehigh Valley went 1-for-2 with the power play while holding Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s man advantage off the board in five opportunities.

Sunday, March 29: Manchester Monarchs 3 – Lehigh Valley Phantoms 1

Scott Laughton opened the scoring with his 10th goal of the season (and third in four periods) and Rob Zepp turned aside 30 of Manchester’s 32 shots on goal but the AHL-leading Monarchs were able to escape PPL Center with a 3-1 victory. The setback came in front of yet another standing room-only sellout as 8,608 were on hand for Lehigh Valley’s eighth capacity crowd over the last nine home games and 20th sellout overall at PPL Center this season.

Paul Bissonnette and Ryan Horvat led the offensive effort for Manchester with a goal and an assist each while Josh Gratton chipped in a pair of helpers for Monarchs.

Broadcast Coverage

Service Electric’s TV2 Sports will be broadcasting live all of the Phantoms’ five 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! Pre-game coverage begins with “Phantoms Front and Center” with Doug Heater and Kristi Fulkerson 30 minutes before puck drop. 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 Pallet Countdown to Faceoff begins 45 minutes prior to puck drop.

Ticket Information

Tickets for all of the Phantoms’ five 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 season tickets for the 2015-2016 season of Phantoms hockey 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).