February 2, 2016
This Week
Friday, February 5 (7:00 p.m.) – Lehigh Valley Phantoms @ Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Saturday, February 6 (7:00 p.m.) – Lehigh Valley Phantoms @ Hershey Bears
Upcoming
Coming out of the AHL All-Star break, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (22-21-3, 47 pts., 7th Atlantic Division) return to action this weekend as one of the hottest teams in the entire league having reeled off a season-high five consecutive victories. As a result of the team’s recent surge, the Phantoms enter the week just two standings points back of the Providence Bruins for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division.
Lehigh Valley’s push toward the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs continues this Friday, February 5 when the Phantoms invade Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport for a 7:00 p.m. showdown with the Sound Tigers. Bridgeport (23-19-3, 49 pts., 5th Atlantic Division) won all three of its games last week and returns from the All-Star break in the midst of a four-game winning streak. After a 1-0 overtime victory against the Springfield Falcons last Wednesday, the Sound Tigers earned a 4-1 win at the Hartford Wolf Pack on Friday before capping their productive week with a 4-1 triumph at home over the Albany Devils on Saturday. During its recent surge, Bridgeport has outscored its opposition 12-4.
Friday’s contest will mark the third of six total meetings during the 2015-2016 regular season between the Phantoms and Sound Tigers with the two sides having split the first two gatherings. After Bridgeport snared a 2-1 win inside PPL Center on December 26, Lehigh Valley exacted a little revenge with a 4-1 triumph at Webster Bank Arena on January 17.
The Phantoms then conclude their road weekend on Saturday, February 6 when they travel to Hershey for a 7:00 p.m. tilt with the Bears. Hershey (24-13-9, 57 pts., 2nd Atlantic Division) claimed two of three games last week and enters the week having won six of its last nine games overall. After a 3-2 overtime setback in Albany last Wednesday, the Bears swept a weekend series with the Syracuse Crunch capturing a 5-3 win in Syracuse on Friday before returning home to claim a 5-1 triumph over the Crunch on Saturday.
Saturday’s rivalry showdown will be the 10th of 12 total meetings this season between Lehigh Valley and Hershey with the Phantoms holding an impressive 6-3 head-to-head record against their in-state foes. Lehigh Valley has claimed four of the last five rivalry contests and has outscored Hershey 35-31 through the first nine contests.
Both road games this weekend are available on FOX 1470-AM, www.fox1470.com or via the iHeartRadio app. Coverage for both nights begins with “Countdown to Faceoff” at 6:20 p.m.
- Phantoms By The Numbers
- During Lehigh Valley’s recent five-game winning streak, the Phantoms have outscored their opposition 25-15. What’s more, the team’s power play has converted at least once in each game of the winning streak and has produced at a 7-for-29 (24.1 percent) clip over the last handful of games.
Winger Chris Conner enters the week in the midst of a season-high seven-game point streak. The 32-year-old forward from Westland, Michigan has produced five goals, seven assists and 12 points during his recent run and is now tied for third among all Phantoms in scoring with 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists).- Forward Cole Bardreau is coming off an exceptional week in which he recorded five goals and six points in just four games. His week included three multi-point efforts as the first-year center has now registered seven goals, eight assists and 15 points in 24 games this year.
- Winger Taylor Leier enters the week in the midst of a five-game scoring streak having compiled three goals, five assists and eight points over his last five games. The 21-year-old winger enters the week tied with Conner for third among all Phantoms in scoring with 28 points (12 goals, 16 assists) this year.
Last Week
Monday, January 25: Lehigh Valley Phantoms 6 – Hershey Bears 5 (SO)
Cole Bardreau scored twice and Taylor Leier (goal, 2 assists) and Andrew MacDonald (3 assists) each recorded three points as the Phantoms earned a dramatic 6-5 shootout win at the Hershey Bears. Colin McDonald and Davis Drewiske each chipped in a goal and an assist in the triumph while All-Star goaltender Anthony Stolarz earned the win between the pipes with 26 saves on 31 Bears shots.
Lehigh Valley’s special teams was a big part of the victory as the power play connected twice in five opportunities while the team’s penalty kill successfully thwarted seven of Hershey’s eight man-advantage opportunities.
Wednesday, January 27: Binghamton Senators 3 – Lehigh Valley Phantoms 6
Colin McDonald put forth a herculean effort recording three goals and five points as part of a come-from-behind 6-3 win over the Binghamton Senators at PPL Center. The hat trick was the third in Lehigh Valley Phantoms history and the team’s first this year. Meanwhile, McDonald’s five-point night was the franchise’s first since defenseman Erik Gustafsson recorded five points (all assists) in the Adirondack Phantoms 6-0 shutout over the Rochester Americans on April 4, 2011.
All-Star forward Nick Cousins produced two goals and an assist in the victory while Cole Bardreau (goal, assist), Danick Martel (2 assists) and Andrew MacDonald (2 assists) also notched multi-point efforts.
Friday, January 29: WB/Scranton Penguins 3 – Lehigh Valley Phantoms 4 (OT)
Lehigh Valley scored a trio of third-period goals before Cole Bardreau netted the overtime winner in a come-from-behind 4-3 triumph over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in front of 8,740 fans at PPL Center. Bardreau’s goal was one of two scored by the first-year center in the win while Davis Drewiske and Chris Conner also found the back of the net for the Phantoms.
Conner’s goal was part of a multi-point effort (goal, assist) for the 32-year-old winger in front of veteran goaltender Jason LaBarbera who captured his sixth win of the season after 27 saves on 30 shots. The standing room-only sellout was the 11th such crowd enjoyed by the Phantoms at PPL Center this season.
Saturday, January 30: Lehigh Valley Phantoms 5 – WB/Scranton Penguins 3
Colin McDonald converted two goals and Andrew MacDonald chipped in three assists as the Phantoms completed a sweep of their home-and-home series with the Penguins with a 5-3 win at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Chris Conner and Taylor Leier each registered a goal and an assist as Lehigh Valley extended its season-high winning streak to five consecutive games.
Broadcast Coverage
Service Electric’s TV2 Sports will be broadcasting live all of the Phantoms’ 15 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, Peter Zingoni, 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 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. “Countdown to Faceoff” begins 45 minutes prior to puck drop.
Ticket Information
Tickets for all of the Phantoms’ 15 remaining regular season home games are available now online at pplcenter.com, by calling 610-347-TIXX [8499] or in-person at the Mealey’s Furniture Box Office at PPL Center (7th & Hamilton).
RISE UP! 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 and groups for the 2015-2016 season of Phantoms hockey by calling 610-224-GOAL [4625].
In the midst of their 20th season of operation, the Phantoms are coming off their Inaugural Season as the Lehigh Valley Phantoms playing at the state-of-the-art 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).
