The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (23-27-7-4) returned to the PPL Center Friday night in a crucial battle against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (29-27-4-4).
The Phantoms trail the Penguins by eleven points for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. This was the tenth meeting between these two teams, with the Penguins leading the season series 5-4.
The Phantoms made a lot of moves during their time off with the additions of defensemen Will Riedell, Adam Karashik, and goalie Darion Hanson to PTO contracts.
In addition, the Phantoms recalled forward Alex Kile from the Maine Mariners (ECHL), while forward Brennan Saulnier was loaned to the Reading Royals (ECHL). Finally, the Flyers loaned forward Max Willman and goalie Felix Sandstrom back to the Phantoms. Both players were in the lineup tonight.
Felix Sandstrom (12-16-3-1, 3.11 GAA, .896 SV%) started in goal for the Phantoms against the Penguins’ Tommy Nappier (9-7-2, 2.93 GAA, .894 SV%). The scratches for the game were Adam Karashik, Garrett McFadden, Linus Hogberg, Maksim Sushko, Jackson Cates, Linus Sandin, Sam Ersson, Darion Hanson, Will Riedell, Alex Kile, and Kirill Ustimenko.
Three minutes and sixteen seconds into the first period, the Penguins struck first. A two-on-one developed for the Penguins when Felix Robert (16) made a cross-ice pass to Michael Chaput (9) with a nice backhand flip over Sandstrom’s left shoulder and into the net for the goal.
Mitch Reinke (21) earned the secondary assist. Sandstrom couldn’t do much to stop that puck. Not long after the goal, the Penguins nearly had a 2-0 lead with 13:43 left, but Sandstrom made a nice diving save off his left pad to keep it 1-0.
With 12:20 left, the Phantoms were on the rush towards the Penguins’ zone. Ryan MacKinnon (1) got a hold of the puck and made a backhand shot that bounced over Tommy Napier’s right shoulder and into the net, tying the game 1-1. Cooper Zech (5) got the secondary assist.
With 9:44 left, the Penguins almost had the go-ahead goal when Valtteri Puustinen’s shot hit Cal O’Reilly, then hit the post past Sandstrom’s right side. The puck stayed on the line before coming back out, and Sandstrom secured the puck afterward.
Then, with 4:12 left, Max Willman used his speed. Penguins’ defenseman Mitch Reinke dislodged the goal net as he shot the puck, and the goal did not count. After a lengthy conference call by the referees to see if the net was dislodged on purpose, the refs did not award the goal to Willman.
It should’ve been a goal, as Reinke did knock the net out of place. Garrett Wilson did give Reinke a push but not enough for Reinke to dislodge the net.
Just as the first period was ending, Wade Allison limped off the ice after blocking a shot that hit his right leg. The game remained tied 1-1, with the Penguins leading the shots 14-7.
Forty-seven seconds into the second period, another two-on-one developed for the Penguins. Drew O’Connor (14) made a cross-ice pass to Kyle Olson (10), who got the puck over Sandstrom’s right pad and into the net for a 2-1 lead. Filip Hallander (12) earned the secondary assist.
With 11:20 left, Tanner Laczynski came close to tying the game. However, Penguins’ goalie Tommy Napier just got his right pad up in time to block the shot and prevent the goal. With 9:02 left, Tanner Laczynski (5) stole the puck from Valtteri Puustinen for a breakaway. He put the puck inside the five-hole that tied the game 2-2.
With 5:44 left, Phantoms forward Adam Johnson stole the puck and attempted a shot on goal, but Tommy Napier made an excellent save, snatching the puck while in the air. With 3:01 left, Matt Strome and Alexander Nylander collided. Strome’s right knee hit the right shoulder of Nylander and Nylander left the game.
Wade Allison had a chance late in the second period, but Tommy Napier saved it. The game remained tied 2-2 after two periods with the shots 21-18 Phantoms.
Three minutes and twenty seconds into the third period, the Penguins tried to break the tie. Penguins forward Jonathan Gruden tried to put the puck in the five-hole, but Sandstrom shut the door. Felix was having a good game.
With 14:39 left, the Phantoms were on the attack. Adam Johnson (11) rushed for the puck to the left corner. He quickly passed the puck to Wade Allison (8). From the left side, Allison sniped the puck over Nappier’s right shoulder, putting the Phantoms up 3-2. Brennan Menell (6) earned the secondary assist.
After the goal, the Penguins started to show urgency in their play. However, the Phantoms were right there with them. With 1:45 left, the Penguins pulled Nappier for an extra attacker. They were taking shots all over the ice. Finally, with two seconds left, Max Willman (10) got the puck and made a long shot from their zone into an empty net for a 4-2 win.
The Phantoms fought hard in this game. They picked up a crucial two points and are now nine points behind the Penguins for the final playoff spot with 15 games left of the season. Max Willman’s return provided much-needed firepower for the offense.
The Phantoms finished the night with 30 shots, 0/2 on the power-play, and Felix Sandstrom made 29 of 31 saves.
The Phantoms host the Utica Comets tonight at 7:05 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased courtesy of our friends at StubHub.
