February 17, 2015
This Week
Wednesday, February 18 (7:05 PM) – Binghamton Senators @ Lehigh Valley Phantoms
($2 Beer Night! $2 Coors Light drafts from the time doors open until the start of the 2nd period.)
Friday, February 20 (7:05 PM) – Providence Bruins @ Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Saturday, February 21 (7:05 PM) – Hartford Wolf Pack @ Lehigh Valley Phantoms
(Legends Night! Frank “The Animal” Bialowas, one of the most feared players in Phantoms history, will be at the game. FREE Collector’s Edition Poster for all fans.)
Upcoming
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are back in action for a trio of games at PPL Center this week.
First, Lehigh Valley (24-21-4-1, 53 pts.) kicks off its busy stretch at home on Wednesday, February 18th when the Phantoms welcome the Binghamton Senators back to town. Wednesday’s contest marks the eighth of 10 total meetings during the 2014-2015 regular season between Lehigh Valley and Binghamton and the second collision in downtown Allentown between the East Division foes in the last six days. The Phantoms are 3-4 head-to-head against the Senators this season and are 2-1 against Binghamton at PPL Center. Lehigh Valley’s Nick Cousins (7 goals, 3 assists) and the Senators’ Shane Prince (5 goals, 5 assists) are tied for the scoring lead in the season series with 10 points each through the first seven get-togethers.
The Phantoms enter the week in sole possession of third place in the East Division and are presently just five points back of the Worcester Sharks for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, Binghamton (20-24-5-1, 46 pts.) is fifth among the five teams in the East and currently holds the lowest standings point total in the Eastern Conference. Following a 5-4 setback in Toronto on Monday, the Senators have dropped eight of their last 11 games overall (3-6-2).
Wednesday’s game is another $2 Beer Night with $2 Coors Light drafts available from the time doors open until the start of the 2nd period.
Lehigh Valley then returns to action on Friday, February 20th when it welcomes the Providence Bruins to town for the first and only time this season. Friday’s showdown is the first of just two head-to-head meetings between the Phantoms and Bruins this year with the series finale coming Friday, March 13th in Providence. Providence (26-19-6-1, 59 pts.) kicked off a busy four-game week yesterday with a 2-1 victory over the Eastern Conference-leading Manchester Monarchs. The Bruins are now alone in second place in the Atlantic Division and seventh overall in the East after capturing seven of their last 10 games overall (7-2-1).
The Phantoms then conclude their busy week at home on Saturday, February 21st when they welcome the Hartford Wolf Pack to PPL Center for the final time this season. Saturday’s contest marks the third of four total meetings between Lehigh Valley and Hartford this season with the Phantoms holding a 0-1-1 record head-to-head against the Wolf Pack. Hartford (28-15-4-3, 63 pts.) enters the week tied for second in the Northeast Division and tied for fourth overall in the Eastern Conference. The Wolf Pack snapped a four-game winless skid with a sweep of their home-and-home series last weekend against the Albany Devils and will head to Portland (Tuesday) and Springfield (Friday) before invading downtown Allentown on Saturday.
Saturday’s game is another Legends Night as Frank “The Animal” Bialowas, one of the most feared players in Phantoms history, will be at the game. All fans in attendance will receive a FREE Collector’s Edition Poster spotlighting Bialowas. A limited number of tickets for all three highly-anticipated showdowns are available now at the Mealey’s Furniture Box Office at PPL Center (701 Hamilton), by calling 610-847-TIXX (8499) or online at pplcenter.com.
Phantoms By The Numbers
- Jason Akeson enters the week in the midst of a season-high nine-game point streak during which the 24-year-old winger has amassed seven goals, five assists and 12 total points. Despite not joining the Phantoms on a full-time basis until late November, Akeson enters the week tied for second among all Lehigh Valley skaters with 15 goals and fourth on the Phantoms’ roster with 30 points.
- All-Star defenseman Brandon Manning is currently in the midst of a four-game scoring streak. Over the last four games, he’s produced one goal, five assists and six points and now enters the week tied for the team lead with 27 assists and is second on the squad in total scoring with 36 points.
Nick Cousins continued his stellar play with another five points in three games last week. After being named the CCM/AHL Player of the Month for January after recording 17 points in 13 games, Lehigh Valley’s leading scorer has already notched nine points (2 goals, 7 assists) in just six February outings. Cousins continues to lead all Phantoms in goals (16) and total points (43).- For just the second time in his 10-year professional career, Zack Stortini has reached the double-digit mark in goals. The 6’4″, 232-pound winger previously managed 10 combined goals between the Hamilton Bulldogs and Edmonton Oilers during the 2006-07 campaign but has never accomplished the feat with one team in a single season until now. Stortini enters the week sixth among all Phantoms in scoring with 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists).
- Lehigh Valley is tied for second among all AHL clubs in victories earned via overtime/shootout this season. The Phantoms are a combined 10-5 in games decided in overtime/shootout (5-4 in overtime, 5-1 in shootouts) this year. Only the Oklahoma City Barons have garnered more wins in bonus hockey (11) this season.
Last Week
Friday, February 13: Binghamton Senators 3 – Lehigh Valley Phantoms 2
Jason Akeson notched a pair of assists while Nick Cousins and Brandon Manning each contributed a goal and an assist but the Binghamton Senators were able to hang on for a 3-2 win over the Phantoms in front of 8,782 fans at PPL Center. Lehigh Valley’s power play produced both goals in front of Rob Zepp who registered 29 saves on 32 Binghamton shots.
The East Division rivalry showdown featured three fights and 103 combined minutes in penalties. Meanwhile, the capacity crowd marked the 12th standing room-only sellout at PPL Center this season.
Saturday, February 14: Lehigh Valley Phantoms 5 – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 4 (SO)
Taylor Leier and Petr Straka both scored in the shootout as the Phantoms outlasted the Penguins 5-4 in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Jason Akeson scored twice in regulation and Nick Cousins chipped in three assists as Lehigh Valley claimed its third straight victory over its in-state rivals.
Adam Comrie also recorded a goal and an assist while Brandon Manning contributed a pair of assists as the Phantoms improved to 5-1 in games decided via shootouts this season. Lehigh Valley’s man-advantage accounted for a pair of goals for the second straight night while Rob Zepp earned the win in net after 30 saves in regulation/overtime followed by another three denials in the shootout.
Sunday, February 15: Lehigh Valley Phantoms 5 – Springfield Falcons 4 (OT)
Andrew Gordon netted the game winner just 24 seconds into overtime as the Phantoms capped their 3-game weekend with a dramatic 5-4 victory at the Springfield Falcons. Zack Stortini scored twice in regulation while Taylor Leier opened the scoring on his 21st birthday. Jason Akeson also found the back of the net for the Phantoms as the 24-year-old winger extended his scoring streak to a season-high nine games.
Lehigh Valley’s power play went 1-for-7 in the triumph as the Phantoms landed a man-advantage marker for the fourth consecutive game in improving to 18-8 when scoring a power play goal this year. Meanwhile, Lehigh Valley improved to 5-4 in games decided in overtime and 14-5-4-1 in one-goal affairs this season.
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 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’ 15 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).
