Sunday, October 23 at 3:05 p.m.
Lehigh Valley Phantoms (1-1-1) vs. Cleveland Monsters (3-1-0)
TODAY – It’s an Opening Weekend rematch at PPL Center with the Lehigh Phantoms and Cleveland Monsters concluding their two-game weekend series in a 3:05 p.m. matinee. The Monsters are the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Cleveland snagged the first game of the series in a 4-3 overtime decision in front of an electric and sellout crowd in Allentown and following an exciting comeback goal late by the Phantoms
Lehigh Valley is now 5-3-1 all-time in home openers and the Phantoms franchise is 18-7-2 in debuts on home ice since the beginning of the Philadelphia Phantoms in 1996.
LAST TIME – Cal O’Reilly scored the tying goal with just 62 seconds remaining but Emil Bemstrom’s second goal of the game was the overtime winner for the Cleveland Monsters.
Elliot Desnoyers scored for a third consecutive game to begin his pro career and Hayden Hodgson lit the lamp in the first period for the team’s first PPL Center goal of the season. The physical and feisty game featured exciting back-and-forth action and good chances for both sides.
SELLOUT CITY! – Last night marked the 101st sellout all-time for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and team’s first since the COVID pandemic. Lehigh Valley’s last sellout game was March 8, 2020 against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the second-to-last game before the league was shutdown and the season eventually cancelled due to the pandemic.
Thank You, Phantoms PHANS!!! You were amazing!! The crowd was buzzing and electric and LOUD throughout the night!
THE DESTROYER – Elliot Desnoyers has a three-game goal streak to begin his pro career. The 20-year-old rookie was a Round 5 selection of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2020 and is coming off a huge breakout season with the Halifax Mooseheads in the QMJHL where he scored 42 goals.
Last night, Desnoyers scored from the side of the net on a sharp angle with an elevated backhander on the power play. Last weekend, his first career pro goal at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton came as he got off a quick shot in the slot following some forecheck work by Garrett Wilson and Zack MacEwen. The following day, he impressively sped past the Hershey defense and protected the puck for a nifty breakaway goal.
Elliot’s father was longtime teammates with Phantoms head coach Ian Laperriere when they were kids growing up in the Montreal area!
CAPTAIN CAL – 36-year-old Cal O’Reilly continues to produce. Now at eighth all-time in career assists in the AHL with 535, O’Reilly has found a greater scoring touch late in his career. Last night, O’Reilly scored his first goal of the season to tie the game with just 62 seconds left. Last year, Cal’s 21 goals was a new career high for him eclipsing the 18 goals he had scored 15 years earlier as a 20-year-old rookie with the Milwaukee Admirals. Cal is the active scoring leader in the AHL with 687 points in a Hall-of-Fame caliber career that has spanned over 1,000 pro games.
ABOUT CLEVELAND – This isn’t the same Monsters team you’re used to. New head coach Trent Vogelhuber has his Cleveland contingent flying and playing at a high pace. The Monsters are second in the Eastern Conference at 4.25 goals per game.
First-rounder David Jiricek from the Czech Republic was the #6 overall selection in the 2022 draft and is only 18 years old. Kirill Marchenko was a Round 2 pick of the Blue Jackets in 2018 and already has 4 goals in his North American rookie season. Emil Bemstrom had the go-ahead goal in the third period and then the winning goal in overtime against Lehigh Valley and boasts 117 games of NHL experience.
The Monsters have the worst penalty kill in the league giving up 6 out of 14 so far for 57.1%. This is Cleveland’s only visit to PPL Center this season.
Lehigh Valley and Cleveland will reamtch for a pair of games in Northeast Ohio in January.
UP NEXT – The four-game homestand continues on Friday, October 28 and Saturday, October 29 with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Bridgeport Islanders visiting PPL Center back-to-back. Haunted on Hamilton Weekend will feature a Halloween theme. Wear your customers! Face-painting, candy, and even a Halloween Parade on the ice for the kids during the first intermission of Saturday’s game!
Lehigh Valley Phantoms Scoring Leaders
Elliot Desnoyers 3-0-3
x – Zack MacEwen 1-2-3
Tyson Foerster 0-2-2
Garrett Wilson 0-2-2
Cam York 0-2-2
Cleveland Monsters Scoring Leaders
Emil Bemstrom 4-3-7
Kirill Marchenko 4-2-6
Brendan Gaunce 2-4-6
Trey Fix-Wolansky 1-3-4
Special Teams
Lehigh Valley Power Play – 2/8, 25.0% (9th)
Lehigh Valley Penalty Kill – 3/13, 76.9% (18th)
Cleveland Power Play – 2/9, 22.2% (17th)
Cleveland Penalty Kill – 6/14, 57.1% (32nd)
First PPL Center Goal of the Season
2014-15 – Scott Laughton
2015-16 – Aaron Palushaj
2016-17 – Mark Zengerle
2017-18 – Danick Martel
2018-19 – Greg Carey
2019-20 – Kurtis Gabriel
2020-21 – Zayde Wisdom
2021-22 – Max Willman
2022-23 – Hayden Hodgson
Opening Night History
How the Phantoms have done in past PPL Center Debuts (5-3-1)
10/11/2014 – 4-3 Win (OT) vs. Adirondack Flames
10/10/2015 – 4-3 Loss vs. Syracuse Crunch
10/15/2016 – 4-2 Win vs. Springfield Thunderbirds
10/7/2017 – 7-2 Win vs. Hershey Bears (Danick Martel Hat Trick)
10/6/2018 – 6-3 Win vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Pro Debut of Carter Hart)
10/5/2019 – 0-3 Loss vs. Providence Bruins
2/20/2021 – 3-0 Win vs. Binghamton Devils
10/23/2021 – 3-1 Loss vs. Hartford Wolf Pack
10/22/2022 – 3-4 OT Loss vs. Cleveland Monsters
Haunted on Hamilton with a special Halloween-style Orange and Black theme takes place with a pair of games on Friday, October 28 and Saturday, October 29 against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Bridgeport Islanders.
Kids in costume get to participate in a Halloween Parade with meLVin on the ice during the first intermission of the October 29 game.
Phantoms individual game tickets are on sale now. Secure your seats for your favorite promotional nights and big rivalry matchups! PHANTOMS GAME TICKETS
Upcoming Schedule
Friday, October 28 (7:05) vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins – HAUNTED ON HAMILTON!
Saturday, October 29 (7:05) vs. Bridgeport Islanders – HAUNTED ON HAMILTON! SNHL Returns
Sunday, October 30 (5:00) at Hershey Bears
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