The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (13-14-6-2) wrapped up a five-game road trip Saturday night at the XL Center against the Hartford Wolf Pack (20-12-3-2). This was Pat Nagle’s last game before joining Team USA for the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games. Nagle started in goal.
The scratches for the game are Egor Zamula (illness, non-COVID), German Rubtsov (injury), Tyson Foerster (injury), Sam Ersson (injury), Garrett Metcalf.
Unlike Friday night’s game, the Phantoms got off to a hot start. They were playing aggressively and taking shots when the opportunity struck. Seven minutes and twenty-six seconds into the first period, Cal O’Reilly (18) set up Logan Day (6) for the shot from the center point. Logan Day took the shot that was tipped in by Hayden Hodgson (9) for a 1-0 lead.
Less than a minute off the faceoff in the Wolf Pack’s zone, Wyatte Wylie’s (1) slap shot to the top right circle gave the Phantoms a 2-0 lead with 11:59 left in the first period. Nick Lappin (2) was credited with the assist.
Then with 9:27 left, the Phantoms were on the attack in the Wolf Pack’s zone. Matt Strome (6) went behind the goal net before passing the puck to a charging Alex Kile, who dove to shoot the puck on the right side for the goal and a 3-0 lead.
The Phantoms were doing a great job with puck possession, something they didn’t do Friday night, and spent most of the first period in the Wolf Pack’s zone. Meanwhile, Pat Nagle made four stops as the Phantoms led 3-0 after the first period. The shots were 9-4 Phantoms.
In the second period, the Phantoms kept the pressure on Hartford, causing them to turn over the puck. With 16:04 left in the second period, a three-on-two developed when Jackson Cates (5) passed the puck to Linus Sandin (4). Sandin took a shot that hit the pad of Tyler Wall, but Garrett Wilson (10) finished the play with a goal on the right side of the net for a 4-0 lead.
Hartford started to get aggressive, looking to end the shutout bid. They came close to scoring a goal at times, but Pat Nagle was ready for them. The Phantoms were playing good defense and killing the Wolf Pack’s momentum. The Phantoms led 4-0 after two periods, and the shots were even at sixteen apiece.
In the third period, the Phantoms were skating around, killing the clock. Meanwhile, the Wolf Pack were on the attack, desperately taking shots to end the shutout bid, only for Pat Nagle to stop them. The Phantoms cruised to a 4-0 win.
The Phantoms finished the night with 21 shots, 0/2 on the power-play, and Pat Nagle earned his first career shutout in the AHL with 26 saves.
The Phantoms return to the PPL Center today at 5:05 pm against the Hershey Bears.
