It’s a Phantoms GAMEDAY presented by MassMutual as the Hershey Bears come to PPL Center. The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are opening a three-game homestand and are meeting the Bears for the 12th time this season.
The Phantoms are on a five-game home-ice winning streak since March 11.
The Phantoms are 5-0 against Hershey at PPL Center this season and are 6-4-1 against the Bears in the season series.
Lehigh Valley (26-30-11) is playing game 68 of the season and there are 9 games remaining including tonight with seven of those games in Allentown
LAST TIME
The Phantoms limited the Providence Bruins to just 22 shots on goal but were unable to break through against Troy Grosenick more than one time in a 2-1 loss in Rhode Island on Monday night. Maksim Sushko scored his eighth of the year to give the Phantoms a 1-0 lead but a pair of goals from defensemen Aaron Ness and Viktor Berglund pulled the P-Bruins back in front for the come-from-behind win. Wade Allison’s point-shot effort to tie the game with time running out hit off the shoulder of Grosenick and bounced away.
HERSHEY BEARS
Hershey (33-27-9) bounced back from a Friday night loss in Allentown to post consecutive wins against formerly first-place Springfield on Saturday and Sunday. Mason Morelli had a pair of goals in the Sunday finale including the overtime winner. The Bears are 0-5 at PPL Center this season. Lehigh Valley is 6-4-1 against Hershey in the season series. Cal O’Reilly has 6 goals against Hershey this season including three shorthanded tallies. Feix Sandstrom is 5-3-0, 2.39, .921 against the Bears. Hershey’s power play has been held to just 3-for-43 (7.0%) by the stingy Phantoms’ penalty kill but Lehigh Valley man advantage is just 4-for-36 (11.1%) in the rivalry series.
PHANTASTIC!
– The Phantoms are on a five-game home-ice winning streak since March 11.
– Newcomer Adam Karashik made his pro debut on Sunday at Bridgeport. The defenseman is a former captain at Notre Dame and previously played four seasons at UConn before his graduate-transfer season.
– The Phantoms are 16-1-1 when scoring four or more goals. The Phantoms are 16-2-3 when leading at the second intermission.
– The Phantoms have won four of their last six games but have lost their last two away games.
– Wade Allison has nine goals in just 18 games this season. The energetic and popular forward has missed significant time with three different injuries this season. Allison has five goals in his last eight full games.
– Five Phantoms players have made their NHL debuts this season: Max Willman, Felix Sandstrom, Linus Sandin, Isaac Ratcliffe, Hayden Hodgson
– Adam Clendening is 4th among AHL defenseman in assists with 32. He is ninth in total points (37)
– The Phantoms power play is 9/36 (25.0%) in the last 10 games but also has two games out of the last three without a power-play marker.
– Cal O’Reilly has 19 goals this season to establish a new personal high. The 35-year-old captain of the Phantoms had 18 goals in a season 15 years ago in the 2006-07 season when he was a 20-year-old rookie with the Milwaukee Admirals.
– The Phantoms have played 66 games and have 10 remaining in the 2021-22 regular season.
Upcoming Schedule
Wednesday, April 13 vs. Hershey Bears (7:05) (PPL Center)
Friday, April 15 vs. Bridgeport Islanders (7:05) (PPL Center)
Saturday, April 16 vs. Providence Bruins (7:05) (PPL Center) – PRIDE NIGHT!
Tuesday, April 19 at Providence Bruins (7:05)
Friday, April 22 vs. Hershey Bears (7:05) (PPL Center)
Saturday, April 23 at Hershey Bears (7:00)
Broadcast coverage of all Phantoms games, home and away, is available on the Phantoms 365 app and on 1470-WSAN. Fans can watch on AHLTV.com and can listen on their Smart Speakers at: “Play Phantoms Radio 24/7.” Join Voice of the Phantoms, Bob Rotruck, for all the action!
