PREVIEW: Phantoms vs. Bears, Game #41

Saturday, January 28, 2023 at 7:05 p.m.
Lehigh Valley Phantoms (20-15-5) vs. Hershey Bears (27-8-5)
PPL Center, Allentown, PA

TONIGHT
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms continue their longest homestand of the season as they host first-place Hershey (27-8-5) in a big Saturday night rivalry showdown at PPL Center.

Lehigh Valley (20-15-5) has moved into sole possession of fourth-place in the Atlantic Division following last night’s 4-2 victory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Hershey has not played since its 5-2 win in Allentown on Wednesday evening. It is Game 7 out of 14 in the rivalry series between the Pennsylvania foes who will see each other again on Wednesday at PPL Center and also next Saturday in Chocolatetown.

Tonight’s game features meLVin Youth Winter Hats for the first 2,000 kids age 12 and younger presented by Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital.

LAST TIME
Friday, January 25, 2023

Phantoms 4 – Penguins 2
The Phantoms dazzled in their new all-white digs and Tyson Foerster (14th, 15th) dazzled on the ice with a pair of goals for the third time in the last seven games as the Lehigh Valley Phantoms raced out to a 4-0 lead in the opening 25 minutes en route to a 4-2 win against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Olle Lycksell racked up three assists for the second time this season and Ronnie Attard had a goal (6th) and an assist. Egor Zamula registered a pair of helpers and Cal O’Reilly struck for his fourth goal of the season. The Penguins rallied late against Sam Ersson for two goals in the third but the Phantoms’ netminder stood tall in a 34-save performance to preserve the victory. Lehigh Valley went 2-for-5 on the power play while holding the Penguins to 0-for-5.

TYSON’S TALLIES
Tyson Foerster has a pair of two-goal games in the past week against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins striking twice in consecutive Fridays against the Pennsylvania rivals. One of his goals was a spectacular chip while falling down when he hit a defender’s stick cutting across the slot. He was still somehow successful in getting off a shot that hit off the glove of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goaltender Filip Lindberg for the highlight-reel caliber lamplighter.
Foerster also had two goals on January 11 against Bridgeport making it three times in the last seven games that Foerster has scored a pair. The Flyers’ first-rounder in 2020 and #23 overall selection in the draft has taken the team lead in goals with 1t passing fellow 21-year-old prospect Elliot Desnoyers who has 14. It is the first time this season Desnoyers has not held the team lead in goals. Foerster will represent the Phantoms at the AHL All-Star Classic in Laval February 5-6.

PHANTASTIC!
Olle Lycksell posted three assists in a game for the second time this season having also accomplished the feat on November 26 as part of a four-point (1G, 3A) performance against Rochester. Adam Ginning is the only other Phantom with three assists in a game.
– The Phantoms’ penalty kill has been perfect in six of the last games and has allowed just 2-for-26 in that stretch.
– Lehigh Valley is 6-2-2 in January including 4-1-0 in the last five games.
– The Phantoms are….
15-4-4 when scoring 3 or more goals
17-1-1 when allowing 2 goals or fewer
13-3-5 in one-goal games
11-1-5 when scoring the first goal
13-0-4 when leading after two periods
4-3 in overtime and 2-2 in shootouts

ABOUT THE BEARS
Hershey (27-8-5) is tops in the Atlantic Division and has the second-best points percentage in the AHL. The Bears have largely done it with defense and goaltending having limited the opposition to a league-best 2.4 goals per game. Hunter Shepard is second in the AHL with a 2.12 goals-against average to accompany his 11-1-3 record. Mike Sgarbossa (14-22-36) has returned to his top form with a healthy season and is leading the team in points while also striking for four goals against Lehigh Valley. Western Michigan University product Ethen Frank leads all AHL rookies with 18 goals including three against the Phantoms. Joe Snively has provided some additional scoring punch putting together a three-game goal streak shortly after his arrival from the Washington Capitals and scored twice against Lehigh Valley on Wednesday at PPL Center as did Mason Morelli (7-18-25).
The Phantoms won at PPL Center on Wednesday in a 5-2 verdict via a three-goal surge in the third period that broke a 2-2 tie. Elliot Desnoyers (14th) and Hayden Hodgson (2nd) scored tying goals for Lehigh Valley.

Phantoms Scoring Leaders
Olle Lycksell 7-23-30
Tyson Foerster 15-13-28
Elliot Desnoyers 14-9-23
Artem Anisimov 12-8-20
Garrett Wilson 5-12-17
Jackson Cates 7-9-16

Hershey Scoring Leaders
Mike Sgarbossa 14-22-36
Mike Vecchione 13-19-32
Ethen Frank 18-13-31
Mason Morelli 7-18-25
Hendrix Lapierre 10-12-22

Phantoms Tickets are available HERE

SPECIAL TEAMS 
Lehigh Valley Power Play – 22.7%, 6th        (vs. Hershey 2/12, 16.7%)
Lehigh Valley Penalty Kill – 74.7%, 31st
Hershey Power Play – 18.8%, 18th               (vs. Lehigh Valley 8/26, 30.8%)
Hershey Penalty Kill – 80.5%, 16th

UP NEXT
The homestand continues with a Wednesday rematch against the Hershey Bears featuring $2 beer specials during Pregame Happy Hour. The Phantoms conclude the set of five consecutive home games next Friday against the Providence Bruins on Phantoms Premier Member Appreciation Night.

Phantoms Tickets are available HERE

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Saturday, January 28 (7:05) vs. HERSHEY BEARS
Wednesday, February 1 (7:05) vs. HERSHEY BEARS
Friday, February 3 (7:05) vs. PROVIDENCE BRUINS
Saturday, February 4 (7:00) at Hershey Bears

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS

Saturday, January 28 (7:05) vs. Hershey Bears – meLVin Youth Winter Hats presented by Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital (first 2,000 kids age 12 and younger)

Wednesday, February 1 (7:05) vs. Hershey Bears – Pregame Happy Hour. $2 Miller Lites and Yuenglings available until Puck Drop

Friday, February 3 (7:05) vs. Providence Bruins – Phantoms Premier Member Appreciation Night. Great Prizes! Berks $1 Hot Dogs

Saturday, February 11 (7:05) vs. Bridgeport Islanders – Hockey is for Everyone!

 

 

 

PHANTOMS GAME TICKETS

 

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.