October 24, 2017
This Week
Wednesday, October 25 (7:05 p.m.) – Springfield Thunderbirds @ Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Friday, October 27 (7:05 p.m.) – Lehigh Valley Phantoms @ Springfield Thunderbirds
Saturday, October 28 (7:05 p.m.) – Hartford Wolf Pack @ Lehigh Valley Phantoms
(Post-Game Autograph Session with Phantoms Players.)
Upcoming
Winners of four straight games, the red-hot Lehigh Valley Phantoms (5-1-0-1, 11 pts., 2nd Atlantic Division) look to build on their recent success with three games this week, including highly-anticipated contests at PPL Center this Wednesday, October 25 and Saturday, October 28.
The Phantoms return to action this Wednesday, October 25 when they kick off a home-and-home series with the Springfield Thunderbirds in a 7:05 p.m. clash in downtown Allentown. The AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers, Springfield (1-6-0, 2 pts., 8th Atlantic Division) earned its first win of the season on Saturday with a 7-4 triumph over the Belleville Senators. Prior to that, the Thunderbirds had dropped six straight outings to open the year and had been outscored 23-11 before Saturday’s victory.
Tickets for Wednesday’s clash at PPL Center are available now by clicking HERE.
Lehigh Valley then completes its home-and-home series with the Thunderbirds on Friday, October 27 when the Phantoms invade MassMutual Center in Springfield for a 7:05 p.m. tilt. Wednesday and Friday’s games will mark the first two of six total meetings during the 2017-18 regular season between Lehigh Valley and Springfield after the Phantoms posted a 5-1 mark against the Thunderbirds a year ago.
The Phantoms then cap this week’s action on Saturday, October 28 when the team returns home for a 7:05 p.m. collision with the Hartford Wolf Pack, AHL affiliate of the New York Rangers. Hartford (3-3-0-1, 7 pts., 5th Atlantic Division) saw its three-game winning streak come to an end last week in a tough weekend in which the Wolf Pack dropped all three outings. After a 5-1 setback to Belleville on Friday, Hartford was handed a 3-2 shootout defeat at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday before closing its week with a 6-3 loss at the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Sunday.
Saturday’s game features a Post-Game Autograph Session where fans are encouraged to stick around after the game to snag an autograph from some of their favorite Phantoms. A limited number of tickets remain for Saturday’s game and can be purchased online HERE.
Saturday’s contest will mark the second of six total meetings this season between Lehigh Valley and Hartford. The Wolf Pack claimed the first get-together with a 2-1 shootout win at XL Center in Hartford back on October 8. After Saturday’s clash, the two Atlantic Division foes won’t meet again until a December 20 collision back at PPL Center.
- Phantoms By The Numbers
Forward Danick Martel entered the week leading all Phantoms with seven goals and 10 total points. The third-year winger is currently tied for the AHL lead in goals (seven) and is tied for third in total scoring (10 points).- The forward line of Martel, Mike Vecchione and Nic Aube-Kubel has combined for 11 goals, 11 assists and 22 points through the season’s first three weeks. That trio has also combined for an impressive +27 rating through Lehigh Valley’s first seven games.
- Forwards Greg Carey, Mike Vecchione and Phil Varone (right) each enter the week in the midst of four-game scoring streaks. Carey and Vecchione have each tallied four points over their last four games while Varone has registered five points (1 goal, 4 assists) during that span.
- The Phantoms are already 3-0 in games played at PPL Center this season and have outscored the opposition 15-6 at home.
- Lehigh Valley has displayed a penchant for winning tight games early on this season as the Phantoms are 3-0-0-1 in one-goal games through the season’s first three weeks.
Last Week
Friday, October 20: Bridgeport Sound Tigers 2 – Lehigh Valley Phantoms 5
Danick Martel continued his torrid start to the season as he tallied two goals and an assist as the Phantoms upended the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 5-2 in front of 7,541 fans inside PPL Center. Phil Varone added a goal and an assist while Mark Alt chipped in three helpers in front of goaltender Dustin Tokarski who earned a win in Phantoms debut after an impressive 31-save performance.
Greg Carey (3rd) and Chris Conner (1st) also found the back of the net for Lehigh Valley as the Phantoms moved to a perfect 3-0 in games played at PPL Center this season.
Saturday, October 21: Lehigh Valley Phantoms 4 – Binghamton Devils 3
Samuel Morin recorded a goal and an assist and 11 different Phantoms tallied at least one point as Lehigh Valley earned a 4-3 victory over the Binghamton Devils in front of 4,897 fans at the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena. Corban Knight (1st), Mark Alt (1st), and Nic Aube-Kubel (3rd) also scored for the Phantoms who posted a season-high 37 shots on goal.
Goaltender Alex Lyon improved to 4-1-1 between the pipes as he turned aside 28 of Binghamton’s 31 total shots.
Broadcast Coverage
Service Electric’s TV2 Sports will be broadcasting live each of the Phantoms’ 35 home games throughout the 2017-2018 regular season. 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.
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 and Phantoms365 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 and every Phantoms home game throughout the 2017-18 season are available online at pplcenter.com, by calling 610-347-TIXX [8499] or in-person at the QNB Box Office [7th & Hamilton].
