Sunday, November 12 at 3:00 p.m.
GIANT Center, Hershey, PA
Lehigh Valley (4-6-2) vs. Hershey (9-3-0)
TODAY
The Phantoms and Bears rematch in a Sunday afternoon tilt in Chocolate Town. Hershey took the first game of this home-and-home weekend series in a 2-0 decision at PPL Center on Saturday.
Today is also the first of a four-game road-swing for Lehigh Valley that will also see the team travel to Canada for three games north of the border next week.
Today is Game #13 of the 2023-24 season and represents the fourth time the Phantoms and Bears have met.
LAST TIME
Lehigh Valley once again ran into a red-hot Clay Stevenson who recorded a 24-save shutout in downing the Phantoms 2-0 at PPL Center before a sold-out Saturday night house in Allentown.
Wade Allison was especially strong and had several quality scoring chances including on one mighty blast in the third period which he cranked off the post.
Mike Vecchione (5th) and Pierrick Dube (5th) provided Hershey with their offense. Lehigh Valley was the stronger team in the third period but the Phantoms were unable to cut into Hershey’s lead.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Nov 12 – Add Jacob Gaucher (F) – Recalled from Reading
Nov 10 – Delete Will Zmolek (D) – Loaned to Reading
PHANTASTIC!
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Wade Allison blasted home his first of the season on Wednesday morning at Springfield. The hard-shooting power-forward picked up his 1th career goal with Lehigh Valley in 48 total games to go along with 13 career NHL goals with the Flyers- 20-year-old rookie Samu Tuomaala had four points last weekend including the overtime goal on Friday against Hartford plus three assists in the Friday and Saturday games combined.
- Olle Lycksell had his first assist of the season on Wednesday and takes over sole possession of the team in points (8-1-9). Lycksell is tied for 4th in the AHL in goals and is also tied for second in power-play goals (4)
- Trailing Lycksell for the team-lead in points are three players who are all just one back: Cooper Marody (3-5-8), Samu Tuomaala (2-6-8) and Tanner Laczynski (1-7-8)
- The Phantoms are 4-0-1 when scoring five or more goals
HEADING BACK TO HERSHEY
The I-78 rivalry continues as the Phantoms and Bears meet for the third and fourth time in just over two weeks.
Hershey (9-3-0) is at the top of the Atlantic Division after winning the Calder Cup last year. The Bears shutout Lehigh Valley 4-0 on October 28 despite 32 shots poured on from the Lehigh Valley offense. Hershey also squeaked past the Phantoms in overtime in a 4-3 decision on Wednesday, November 1 after J.R. Avon’s goal for the Phantoms with 4:53 remaining provided Lehigh Valley with a Standings Point.
Currently not with the Hershey Bears are forward Nic Aube-Kubel, defenseman and captain Dylan McIlrath, and goaltender Hunter Shepard, who have all been recalled to Washington in recent days.
30-year-old veteran Mike Sgarbossa (3-9-12) leads the Bears while Ethen Frank (5-3-8) is tops in goals following his strong 30-goal rookie campaign. Pierrick Dube has scored four goals against the Phantoms of his five goals in total this season.
SEASON SERIES:
October 28 – at Hershey 4 – Lehigh Valley 0
November 1 – at Hershey 4 – Lehigh Valley 3 (OT)
November 11 – Hershey 2 – at Lehigh Valley 0
November 12 – at Hershey
December 30 – at Lehigh Valley
January 7 – at Hershey
January 13 – at Lehigh Valley
January 31 – at Lehigh Valley
February 2 – at Lehigh Valley
March 3 – at Lehigh Valley
April 2 – at Hershey
April 12 – at Hershey
Phantoms Scoring Leaders
Olle Lycksell 8-1-9
Cooper Marody 3-5-8
Samu Tuomaala 2-6-8
Tanner Laczynski 1-7-8
Elliot Desnoyers 2-5-7
Garrett Wilson 2-5-7
Bears Scoring Leaders
Mike Sgarbossa 3-10-13
Joe Snively 3-8-11
Alex Limoges 2-8-10
Pierrick Dube 5-4-9
Ethen Frank 5-3-8
Mike Vecchione 5-3-8
SPECIAL TEAMS
Lehigh Valley PP, 16.7% (20th)
Lehigh Valley PK 82.7% (17th)
Hershey PP 22.7% (6th)
Hershey PK 88.0% (5th)
LV PP vs. HER – 1/13
HER PP vs. LV – 1/9
UP NEXT
The Phantoms travel north of the border for three straight games against Canadian foes next week beginning with games on Friday and Saturday nights at the Laval Rocket and Belleville Senators.
Lehigh Valley’s next home games are Thanksgiving Weekend on November 24 and November 25 with weekend promotions including SECTV Phantoms Ballcaps and Flyers Night with GRITTY plus postgame photos.
UPCOMING
Sunday, November 12 (3:00 p.m.) – Lehigh Valley Phantoms at Hershey Bears
Friday, November 17 (7:00 p.m.) – Lehigh Valley Phantoms at Laval Rocket
Saturday, November 18 (7:00 p.m.) – Lehigh Valley Phantoms at Belleville Senators
Tuesday, November 21 (7:00 p.m.) – Lehigh Valley Phantoms at Toronto Marlies
Friday, November 24 (7:05 p.m.) – Providence Bruins at Lehigh Valley Phantoms – SECTV Phantoms Ballcaps
Saturday, November 25 (7:05 p.m.) – Rochester Americans at Lehigh Valley Phantoms – Flyers Night with GRITTY! Plus postgame photos with Phantoms players
