For the second straight game, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (9-11-4-2) won in overtime 2-1 over the Bridgeport Islanders (10-17-2-3) in front of 5,145 fans at PPL Center to start 2022.
Garrett Metcalf made his Phantoms debut with Pat Nagle as his backup. The scratches for the game were Mason Millman, Wade Allison, Matt Strome, and Tyson Foerster.
In the first five minutes of the first period, both teams were sloppy with the puck causing turnovers. With 10:29 left, Samuel Bolduc nearly made it 1-0 Islanders, but Garrett Metcalf stopped the shot. Then, the Phantoms had a couple of opportunities by Connor Bunnaman and Matt Strome, but Jakub Skarek stopped their shots.
Late in the first period, Logan Day almost broke the scoreless tie, but once again, Skarek stopped his shot. Then, the Islanders went on the power play after Isaac Ratcliffe was called for hooking. After one period, the game was scoreless, and the Islanders had 1:05 left on the power play. The shots were 9-7 Phantoms.
In the second period, Cal O’Reilly and Logan Day had a chance to score but missed their shots. Both teams continued to have problems controlling the puck. With 15:55 left, the Islanders had momentum, but the Phantoms stopped it.
After several attempts to break the scoreless tie, the Phantoms finally scored with 2:48 left in the second period on a two-on-one play when Garrett Wilson (8) didn’t get all of his shot, but the puck went under Jakub Skarek to the center-point for a 1-0 lead. The Phantoms had the momentum heading into the third period up 1-0 with the shots 17-14 Islanders.
In the third period, the Phantoms went on their first power play of the game after Brennan Saulnier drew a holding penalty to Seth Helgeson. The Phantoms were unable to capitalize on the man advantage. With fourteen minutes left, Matt Strome stole the puck and shot over the crossbar. Both teams were aggressive as the minutes were winding down.
With 8:04 left in the third period, the Islanders tied it up 1-1 after a backhand pass from Otto Koivula (15) to Michael Dal Colle (5), who had a slight opening and got the puck through, ending Garrett Metcalf’s shutout bid. Arnaud Durandeau (13) also assisted Dal Colle’s goal.
The Phantoms attacked with 3:52 left as Connor Bunnaman almost put the Phantoms back in the lead but was stopped by Jakub Skarek. The Phantoms and Islanders were tied 1-1 after three periods, with the shots even at 25 apiece.
It only took forty-three seconds in overtime to end the game as the Phantoms were on a three-on-one play with Adam Clendening holding the puck, deciding whether to pass it to Cal O’Reilly or take the shot.
He took the shot that went over the right shoulder of Jakub Skarek to give the Phantoms a 2-1 win. It was the second straight overtime win for the Phantoms, who are now on a seven-point streak.
The Phantoms finished the night with 26 shots, 0/1 on the power play, and Garrett Metcalf made 25 of 26 saves.
The Phantoms next game is on Wednesday, January 5th, from the Giant Center against the Hershey Bears at 7 pm.
