The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (9-7-2) started a three-game road trip on Friday night at the Bojangles Coliseum against the Charlotte Checkers (11-6-3). This was the first of back-to-back games against Charlotte this weekend.
Lehigh Valley faced some familiar names that used to play for them back in the day, including Alex Lyon, Connor Bunnaman, Gerry Mayhew, and former Flyer Michael Del Zotto.
There were some minor lineup changes before the game. First, Artem Anisimov did not make the trip as his ten-day PTO contract is up, and the Flyers will determine whether or not to keep him. Taking his place was Adam Brooks, who last played on October 16th against Hershey.
In addition, Kieffer Bellows cleared waivers on Friday and is headed to Lehigh Valley. Bellows is expected to play on Saturday. Anisimov and Bellows joined Troy Grosenick, Adam Karashik, Linus Hogberg, Ryan Fitzgerald (illness), Isaac Ratcliffe (injury), and Evan Barratt as the scratches for the game. Sam Ersson started in goal.
Early in the first period, Jackson Cates almost scored for the Phantoms but Alex Lyon robbed his shot. Then, the Phantoms took a 1-0 lead when Wyatte Wylie took a shot near the right end boards. The puck went under the right skate of Alex Lyon and into the net for the goal with 15:32 left. Adam Ginning (3) and Cooper Marody (4) assisted Wylie’s goal.
Despite leading the game, the Checkers were outshooting them, making clean hits to cause turnovers, and winning the puck battles. They kept getting closer and closer to tying the game but Sam Ersson was stopping their shots.
Late in the first period, the Phantoms committed three penalties. First, Kevin Connauton went to the penalty box for tripping. Luckily, the Phantoms killed the power play as Charlotte got off a couple of shots. Second, Adam Ginning got caught hooking. Once again, the Phantoms killed that power play.
Third, Zayde Wisdom was called for goaltender interference after hitting Alex Lyon from behind. Phantoms’ alternate captain Garrett Wilson disputed the call saying Lyon was acting in his reaction but the refs didn’t budge. The Checkers had 50 seconds left of power play time to begin the second period as the Phantoms were up 1-0. However, the Checkers led the shots 13-4. Phantoms head coach Ian Laperriere let the refs know he was not happy about the last call.
The Phantoms killed the remaining time of the power play at the start of the second period. However, Charlotte kept attacking the Phantoms’ zone and Ersson was blocking every shot coming his way. Then, the Phantoms went on their first power play of the game on a tripping call against Matt Kiersted. During the power play, the Phantoms spent too much time passing and not enough shooting. Some of the players were hesitant to shoot the puck.
Charlotte was able to intercept the puck as Riley Nash (6) was weaving around center-ice before making a backhand shot from a long distance through the five-hole of Ersson and into the net for a short-handed goal, tying the game 1-1 with 9:02 left. Chris Tierney (10) assisted Nash’s goal.
Late in the second period, both teams generated several odd-man rushes but neither team capitalized on them. The game remained tied 1-1 after two periods and the Checkers extended the shots lead to 23-8.
In the third period, Ronnie Attard got hit on the helmet after blocking Justin Sourdif’s shot. He went to the locker room but returned to the game a short time later. The Phantoms were creating shot opportunities when Elliot Desnoyers was elbowed on the head by Henry Bowlby. A fight broke out and, in the end, the Phantoms would go on their third power play.
During the power play, the Phantoms were setting up for a shot inside the Checkers’ zone. Cal O’Reilly (6) was near the left endboards when his pass hit a Checkers’ defender before Adam Brooks (1) retrieved the puck to make a backhand shot through the five-hole and into the net, giving the Phantoms a 2-1 lead with 9:02 left. Louie Belpedio (6) picked up the secondary assist.
A minute later, Charlotte answered back when they were inside the Phantoms’ zone as Logan Hutsko (5) skated towards center ice before firing the puck that hit Cam York’s stick and then went through the five-hole and into the net, tying the game 2-2 with 8:02 left. Santtu Kinnunen (9) and Chris Tierney (11) assisted Hutsko’s goal.
Less than two minutes later, the Phantoms answered back. They were fighting to keep possession of the puck inside the Checkers’ zone. Jordy Bellerive (1) was wrestling Anthony Bitetto to create space near the right endboards before he shot the puck off the left leg of Alex Lyon and into the net for his first goal of the season. Lehigh Valley recaptured the lead 3-2 with 6:27 left. Ronnie Attard (6) and Hayden Hodgson (2) assisted his goal.
Late in the game, Charlotte pulled Lyon for the extra attacker. They got off several shots but ran out of time and the Phantoms won the game 3-2. One player that stood out in this game was Phantoms’ defenseman Adam Ginning. He did a terrific job breaking up plays and fighting for the puck all night long.
The Phantoms finished the night with 24 shots, 1/3 on the power play, and Sam Ersson made 32 saves. On the other side, the Checkers had 34 shots, 0/3 on the power play, and Alex Lyon made 21 saves.
The two teams will meet again tonight at 6 pm on AHL.TV. Tickets for the game can be purchased on StubHub.
