Sunday, April 12, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
Lehigh Valley Phantoms (34-26-6) at Bridgeport Islanders (31-26-8)
Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, CT
TODAY
The Phantoms conclude their busy three-in-three weekend with a Sunday matinee at the Bridgeport Islanders
Lehigh Valley (34-26-6) had its three-game win streak snapped last night at the hands of the Hartford Wolf Pack thus keeping their Magic Number at 10 points to clinch a playoff spot.
Bridgeport (31-26-8) picked up a big 5-2 win at first-place Providence to stay within three points of Hartford for the last playoff position in the division.
Lehigh Valley is 4-1-1 against the Islanders this season.
There are just six games remaining for the Phantoms in the regular season including three at home.
LAST TIME
Saturday, April 1, 2023
Wolf Pack 5 – Phantoms 1
Emil Andrae blasted home his first career goal in North America and then hit the post a few minutes later but Lehigh Valley was unable to beat Hartford goaltender Dylan Garand other than that in a 5-1 setback on Saturday night at PPL Center. The Phantoms outshot the Pack 35-17 but Hartford was opportunistic on some odd-man rushes in the third period to break open a tight game with three final-period goals to put the game away.
PLAYOFF OUTLOOK
The top six teams in the Atlantic Division qualify for the Calder Cup Playoffs. Lehigh Valley occupies the fifth-place position with a one-point edge on sixth-place Hartford.
Lehigh Valley’s Magic Number to clinch a Calder Cup Playoff Berth is now 10 points.
The current standings would have the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Charlotte Checkers meeting in the first round in the 5 vs. 4 series as part of a Best of 3 matchup.
FOERSTER STAYS HOT
Tyson Foerster has kept his scoring touch since his return to the Phantoms from the Philadelphia Flyers. He cranked up his 20th goal of the season with the Phantoms on Friday after he had recorded an assist on the tying goal in his first game back last Sunday at Hershey. Foerster finished his stretch with Philadelphia on a five-game point streak including his first-career NHL goal on March 18 vs. Carolina followed by his second NHL goal against Marc-Andre Fleury of Minnesota with a snipe on the rush on March 23. Foerster impressed with the big club scoring 3-4-7 in eight games with the Flyers and now has a eight-game point streak (4-6-10) between the Flyers and Phantoms combined.
ERSSON HEADS UP
The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled goaltender Sam Ersson on an emergency basis from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Ersson, 23, is 22-14-1, 2.68, .904 with the Phantoms this season. With the Philadelphia Flyers this year, Ersson is 6-1-0, 3.07, .898. He became just the second goalie in Lehigh Valley history to win 22 games in a season when he picked up the W on Friday night during his one-day return to the Phantoms.
Ersson’s first recall to Philadelphia in December and January included his first NHL win on December 31, 2022 at the Los Angeles Kings and also his first NHL shutout on January 9, 2023 at Buffalo. Since his first NHL recall, Ersson has gone 13-6-0 with the Phantoms and also 6-1-0 with the Flyers for a combined 19-7-0 record. Ersson was outstanding last Sunday when he had a career-high 37 saves in a 4-3 shootout win at the Hershey Bears on Sunday.
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS
Bridgeport (31-26-8) has slipped out of the last playoff position after falling at Hartford on Wednesday 4-1. The Islanders trail the Wolf Pack by three points for the last playoff spot and are also just four points back of the Phantoms. Bridgeport has two games-in-hand on Hartford and also one game-in-hand against the Phantoms.
The Phantoms are 4-1-1 against the Islanders this season including a 4-3 win at Bridgeport on February 26 in the most recent encounter between the teams. Sam Ersson recorded a 15-save shutout against the Islanders on February 11 at PPL Center.
Former Phantoms veteran forward Andy Andreoff is having a career year with 32 goals which rates him second in the AHL and first in the conference. Andreoff has scored 4-5-9 against the Phantoms. Popular former Phantom Cole Bardreau (15-14-29) has set a new career-best for goals as well. Chris Terry (21-44-65) is fifth in the AHL in assists and sixth in points. Ruslan Ishakov (17-32-49) is third among AHL rookies in points.
Veteran goalie and former NHL All-Star Cory Schneider (18-9-3, 2.89, .915) is their 36-year-old rock between the pipes.
Top Performers in Season Series:
Lehigh Valley – Elliot Desnoyers (3-4-7), Tyson Foerster (3-4-7), Adam Brooks (3-2-5), Sam Ersson (2-0-0, 1.50, .925)
Bridgeport – Andy Andreof (4-5-9), Ruslan Ishakov (2-4-6), Chris Terry (1-5-6), Cole Bardreau (2-2-4), Cory Schneider (2-2-0, 3.27, .907)
Phantoms Scoring Leaders
Tyson Foerster 20-22-42
Elliot Desnoyers 21-19-40
Olle Lycksell 10-29-39
Garrett Wilson 16-21-37
Artem Anisimov 18-16-34
Islanders Scoring Leaders
Chris Terry 21-44-65
Andy Andreoff 32-25-57
Ruslan Ishakov 17-32-49
Arnaud Durandeau 19-25-46
William Dufour 20-22-42
Phantoms Tickets are available HERE
SPECIAL TEAMS
Lehigh Valley Power Play – 20.8%, 12th (vs. BRI 3/17, 17.6%)
Lehigh Valley Penalty Kill – 73.5%, 32nd
Bridgeport Power Play – 23.1%, 3rd (vs. LV 6/19, 31.6%)
Hartford Penalty Kill – 80.4%, 18th
UP NEXT
The Phantoms return to PPL Center next weekend hosting the Charlotte Checkers and Springfield Thunderbirds on Friday and Saturday.
Phantoms Tickets are available HERE
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Sunday, April 2 (3:00) at Bridgeport Islanders
Friday, April 7 (7:05) vs. CHARLOTTE CHECKERS
Saturday, April 8 (7:05) vs. SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS
Wednesday, April 12 (7:00) at Bridgeport Islanders
UPCOMING AT PPL CENTER
Friday, April 7 (7:05) vs. Charlotte Checkers – Berks $1 Hot Dogs
Saturday, April 8 (7:05) vs. Springfield Thunderbirds – Star Wars Night! SNHL with DJ Jamal “Jedi” Knight
Friday, April 14 (7:05) vs. Charlotte Checkers – Regular Season Home Finale. Berks $1 Hot Dogs
CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS – TBD
Broadcast coverage of all Phantoms games with Bob Rotruck is available on the Phantoms 365 app and on Real Oldies 1470-AM in Allentown. Also available on the Listen Live button at phantomshockey.com
Fans can also watch the games on AHLTV.com or can listen on their Smart Speakers at: “Play Phantoms Radio 24/7.”
Service Electric Network again provides exclusive television coverage of all Phantoms home games with veteran announcer Steve Degler and Phantoms’ alum Steven Swavely on the call from the booth. Kristi Fulkerson reports from ice level and also from the Chickie’s and Pete’s studio with Dan Fremuth for pregame, intermission and postgame show analysis.
