The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (0-4) closed out their home opener weekend Sunday afternoon from the PPL Center against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (3-1).
Phantoms forward Brennan Saulnier returned to the lineup after getting hurt in Saturday night’s game. As expected, the Phantoms did not have Garrett Wilson, who was suspended after an instigator penalty Saturday night. Samuel Ersson started at goal.
The Penguins got away with two penalties in the first period, including a tripping call that sent Brennan Saulnier to the wall. However, former Phantom Chris Bigras was called for slashing Max Willman, and the Phantoms went on the power play. The Phantoms were unable to take advantage.
Shortly after the power play expired, the Penguins from the Phantoms’ zone went up 1-0 after the puck got away from the corner. Valtteri Puustinen (2) got the puck and drew Ersson away from the net, leaving an open net, and Puustinen scored. The score remained 1-0 after the first period. The shots were 8-7 Penguins.
In the second period, the Phantoms almost tied the game during the Penguin’s power play, but Penguins goalie Louis Dominque was stopping every shot the Phantoms took. On the other side, Samuel Ersson was stopping the Penguin’s shots.
Late in the second period, Penguins right-winger Kasper Bjorkqvist was called for slashing. The Phantoms had 1:39 left on the power play to start the third period. There were no changes to the score as the Penguins led 1-0. The shots were 13-8 Penguins.
In the third period, the Phantoms were doing a good job taking shots and less passing around. However, they were unable to find the net. With 2:25 left in the game, head coach Ian Laperriere pulled Samuel Ersson for the extra attacker.
The Phantoms tied the game with 46-seconds left after Tyson Foerster’s shot was rebounded by Max Willman (2), who finished the play with a goal under the legs of Louis Dominque. Tyson Foerster (1) and Egor Zamula (1) assisted Willman’s goal. Time expired, and the game went into overtime. The shots were 14-8 Phantoms.
In overtime, Penguins right-winger Valtteri Puustinen (3) put the game away with a goal to the lower right side of Ersson for a 2-1 win.
The shots were 30-29 Penguins. The Phantoms were 0-8 on the power play, and Samuel Ersson made 28 of 30 saves. The crowd at the PPL Center was 5,098.
The Phantoms and Penguins will meet again this Wednesday, October 27th, from the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza at 7:05 pm.
