After nearly a year-long wait, the Phantoms were finally back on the ice Saturday afternoon to start the 2021 season at the Giant Center against the Hershey Bears. It was also head coach Scott Gordon’s birthday. Zayde Wisdom made history for the Phantoms, becoming the youngest player to make a debut at 18 years old.
Before that, the youngest player to debut for the Phantoms was back in 2012 by Derek Mathers when the team was in Adirondack. Eight players were scratched from the game, including Matt Strome, Tanner McMaster, Mason Millman, Logan Day, Ralph Cuddemi, Brennan Saulnier, Pascal Laberge, and Eamon McAdam.
The Phantoms had three chances in the first period to score on the power play. Still, they could not do so with the first period ending in a scoreless tie and only seven shots in the first period. With seven minutes to go in the second period, the Bears went on a two-on-one situation with Eddie Wittchow cross-passing the puck to Kody Clark for the goal to put the Bears up 1-0.
The score would remain 1-0 at the end of the second period. The Phantoms only had seven shots in the period and missed another chance to score on the power play.
Four minutes and twenty-two seconds into the third period, the Phantoms went on their fourth power play. Despite having the man advantage, the Phantoms could not find a way to get the puck into the net.
As time was ticking down, head coach Scott Gordon made the call to pull goaltender Zane McIntyre; however, McIntyre went back when the Phantoms turned the puck over. He made the save to prevent the Bears from adding another goal.
With under a minute left, the Phantoms tied the game 1-1 on the faceoff with a one-time shot by Wyatte Wylie, with Chris Mueller getting the assist. The game remained tied 1-1 heading into overtime. In overtime, Ryan Fitzgerald put the game away to give the Phantoms the first win of the season 2-1.
The Phantoms had a total of 28 shots to the Bears 35. They went zero for five on the power play. Goaltender Zane McIntyre made thirty saves, earning him the third star of the game. Bears right-winger Kody Clark earned the second star, and the first star went to Ryan Fitzgerald.
The Phantoms will be back in action on Wednesday night against the Binghamton Devils at the Prudential Center at 7:05 on AHL.tv.
