For the third time, this season, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (7-6-2) took on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (9-5-1) on Friday night from the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza. The last time these two teams played each other was on October 28th at Lehigh Valley in a 3-1 Penguins win to even the season series 1-1.
Since the last time the Phantoms played, they lost forwards Max Willman and Tanner Laczynski to the Philadelphia Flyers after the Flyers lost Scott Laughton and Wade Allison but did get defenseman Egor Zamula. In consequence, the Phantoms recalled forward Charlie Gerard and goalie Nolan Maier, who backed up Pat Nagle as Sam Ersson was out with the flu.
In addition to Ersson, Adam Karashik, Linus Hogberg, Evan Barratt, Adam Brooks, Cooper Marody, Hayden Hodgson, and Troy Grosenick were scratches for the game.
The Phantoms got off to a shaky start in the first period with missing passes leading to turnovers that almost led to a couple of goals by the Penguins but Pat Nagle stopped them. As the period went along, the Phantoms got better with puck control and defending Nagle.
Midway through the first period, the Phantoms went on their first power play after Drew O’Connor was called for high-sticking. The Phantoms got off one shot but they were able to score seven seconds after the power play ended. Louie Belpedio (3) fired the puck from the right circle and Tyson Foerster (4) tipped it in through the five-hole for a 1-0 lead with 6:27 left. Olle Lycksell (5) picked up the secondary assist.
Late in the first period, the Penguins attacked the Phantoms’ zone, getting four chances to tie the game but Pat Nagle made the saves, and the Phantoms led 1-0 after one period. Meanwhile, Wilkes-Barre led the shots 8-5.
In the second period, the Phantoms had 15 chances to add to their lead. They did a good job hustling toward the puck, creating turnovers, and winning the puck possession. However, late in the second period, the Penguins generated a three-on-two-man advantage, and Egor Zamula belly-flopped to prevent the pass. The score remained 1-0 in favor of the Phantoms. The Phantoms led the shots 20-18.
In the third period, the Penguins were pounding the Phantoms’ zone, getting closer and closer to tying the game. Then, the Phantoms made it 2-0 with 9:27 left after Elliot Desnoyers (6) went around the goal net and pushed the puck past Dustin Tokarski’s left pad. Cam York (8) assisted Desnoyers goal.
The Phantoms looked to be headed to a commanding win, but the Penguins had other plans. They cut the Phantoms’ lead to 2-1 with 6:47 left after Valtteri Puustinen (5) fired the puck from the right corner that went through the five-hole and into the net. Drake Caggiula (5) and Xavier Ouellet (10) assisted Puustinen’s goal.
At this point, the Phantoms were making mental mistakes from turnovers, and sloppy puck possessions. They could not keep up with the Penguins. The Phantoms had a chance to get the goal back when Kyle Olson tripped Wyatte Wylie, putting them on the power play.
However, the Phantoms were careless with the puck and it cost them when Filip Hållander (10) got it and made a nice to Drake Caggiula (2) as there was an empty net in front of him and scored a shorthanded goal.
The Phantoms had a couple of chances to retake the lead, but the Penguins secured the puck to force overtime tied 2-2. The shots were 34-32 Phantoms.
The Penguins dominated overtime, but could not score thanks to Pat Nagle, who had two terrific saves. No one scored in overtime, and the game went into a shootout. It was the second shootout in the last three games for the Phantoms.
Unfortunately, the Phantoms were unable to score in a shootout and Alexander Nylander scored for the Penguins, giving them a 3-2 win. At times, the Phantoms looked good, but the Penguins outplayed them, out-hustled them, and were well disciplined.
The Phantoms finished the night with 34 shots, 0/3 on the power play, and Pat Nagle made 33 saves. On the other side, the Penguins had 36 shots, 0/2 on the power play, and Dustin Tokarski made 32 saves.
The Phantoms return to the PPL Center tonight at 7:05 pm against the Rochester Americans. Tickets for the game can be purchased on StubHub.
