On Friday night, the Phantoms (3-8-3-1) traveled to face the Rochester Americans (9-5) at the Blue Cross Arena. Lehigh Valley Phantoms center Morgan Frost scored a goal and earned two assists; however, it wasn’t enough to prevent a shootout.
Felix Sandstrom was in goal, and the scratches were Mason Millman, Linus Sandin, Wyatte Wylie, Sam Ersson, Ryan MacKinnon, Hayden Hodgson, and Tyson Foerster.
Just 1:46 into the first period, Isaac Ratcliffe was called for a delay of game. This sent the Americans on a power play. The Americans got on the board at 2:17 when Brett Murray (4) tipped Oskari Laaksonen’s (8) shot in for a 1-0 lead.
The Phantoms’ offense was sloppy at best, and it cost them. At 7:34, Egor Zamula turned the puck over to Linus Weissback (4), who blew by two Phantoms players and scored, giving them a 2-0 lead.
After the goal, the Phantoms quickly rushed to the net. Zamula and Cal O’Reilly had chances, but their shots went wide. Finally, at 10:33, Morgan Frost went behind the Americans’ goalpost to set up a one-time blast for Garrett Wilson (3) that went into the net to cut Rochester’s lead to 2-1.
With 4:47 left in the first period, Peyton Krebs raised his stick and hit Morgan Frost, but no penalty was called. The Phantoms began a more aggressive play in the last minute of the first period to try and tie the game. Meanwhile, at 19:28, Americans’ left-winger Matej Pekar went to the penalty box for tripping. The Phantoms trailed the Americans 2-1 with 1:12 left on the power-play to start the second period. The shots were 10-7 Phantoms.
The start of the second period had the Phantoms with 1:12 left on the power play. They tried to tie the game, but they could not convert. However, they got another chance at 3:22 when a bench minor was called against JJ Peterka, giving the Phantoms another power-play. Again, the Phantoms were aggressive and created opportunities.
Then, Linus Hogberg was hit in the face and with a high stick, and again no call was made. Hogberg left the ice and was bleeding. He would return in the third period.
Phantoms’ Cam York (4) and Logan Day (3) set up Morgan Frost (2) for the shot that went to the top left circle that tied the game 2-2 with 15:59 left.
Twelve seconds later, Adam Clendening’s (6) shot hit the pad of Americans’ goalie Michael Houser. Connor Bunnaman (1) rebounded the puck, which curled back to the right pad of Houser and in for the goal, which gave the Phantoms a 3-2 lead.
The Phantoms were dominating the second period and looking for more points. However, the Americans were on the rush, and Felix Sandstrom robbed Mark Jankowski’s shot to keep it 3-2. Morgan Frost set up Logan Day late in the second period for a shot, but Houser saved it. The Phantoms led 3-2 after two periods and dominated the shots 21-4.
In the third period, the Phantoms were out of gas. The Americans were pressuring and spent the majority of the third period in the Phantoms’ zone. Finally, with 7:03 left, Jack Quinn (8) went to Brett Murray (5), who rebounded his own shot and pushed the puck into the net that tied the game 3-3.
Then, with 3:26 left, Ethan Prow’s (6) shot hit the board and went into the direction of JJ Peterka (4), who scored to give the Americans a 4-3 lead.
The Phantoms were rushing to tie the game and pulled Sandstrom for the extra attacker. Morgan Frost’s (12) shot bounced off of Michael Houser, then Gerry Mayhew (7) rebounded the puck and scored to tie the game 4-4 with 1:27 left. The game remained tied 4-4 heading into overtime. The shots were 10-3 Americans.
Overtime did not settle the game, and they went to a shootout for the first time this season. Gerry Mayhew and Morgan Frost missed their shots, while Jack Quinn and JJ Peterka scored to give the Americans a 5-4 win.
The Phantoms had 32 shots, one-for-five on the power play, and Felix Sandstrom made 19 of 23 saves. The Phantoms continue to have problems giving up penalties. However, their penalty-killing is fifth in the league (80.4%).
The Phantoms continue their three-game road trip today in Toronto against the Marlies at 4 pm.
