The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (10-9-2) returned to the PPL Center on Friday night against the Charlotte Checkers (12-8-3) in a back-to-back series. These two teams met last weekend in Charlotte and split the series.
The Phantoms welcomed back Linus Hogberg, Artem Anisimov, and Isaac Ratcliffe to the lineup before the game. In addition, the Phantoms lost Cam York as he was recalled to the Flyers but got Egor Zamula back. It was his third game of the season with the Phantoms.
Sam Ersson started in goal and the scratches for the game were Troy Grosenick, Adam Karashik, Ryan Fitzgerald, Zayde Wisdom, Cooper Marody, and Wyatte Wylie.
A minute into the first period, Olle Lycksell made an aggressive move to the net that almost put the Phantoms up 1-0 but Mack Guzda made the save. Then, the Phantoms went on their first power play of the game when Michael Del Zotto tripped Tyson Foerster. However, The Phantoms were unable to take advantage of the power play.
The officials made a couple of questionable calls during the game. Garrett Wilson was handed a double-minor after making a clean hit on Justin Sourdif and Olle Lycksell served the other penalty with 7:11 left. The Phantoms killed that power play. The second was a Kieffer Bellows cross-check but Charlotte got away with a penalty when Garrett Wilson was cross-checked by Ethan Keppen.
The Phantoms’ defense held tight blocking the Checkers’ shots as they used their bodies to prevent scoring chances. With two minutes left, Adam Ginning made a mistake when he covered the puck with his hand and a penalty shot was awarded to Charlotte. Former Phantom Gerry Mayhew took the shot but missed it. Charlotte had a minute and twenty-two seconds left of power play time on the Bellows penalty in a scoreless tie. Charlotte led the shots 14-5.
In the second period, the Phantoms killed off another Checkers power play. Then the Checkers put one on the scoreboard when they generated a rush as Logan Hutsko (6) drew three Phantoms players toward him and he made a backhand pass to Aleksi Heponiemi (5). Then, Heponiemi made a thunderous shot over Ersson’s right shoulder and into the net, putting Charlotte up 1-0 with 12:02 left. Anthony Bitetto (4) picked up the secondary assist.
After this, the Phantoms responded. First, they killed off another Charlotte power play before Artem Anisimov (3) tied it up 1-1 with 9:22 left. Olle Lycksell (9) did a terrific job setting up the goal as he made the pass over to Anisimov and he dangled with the puck before putting it through the five-hole as Mack Guzda fell on his butt. Tyson Foerster (9) got the secondary assist.
With two minutes left, the Phantoms went on their fourth power play of the game after Lucas Carlsson tripped Tyson Foerster. On the power play, the Phantoms entered the Checkers’ zone setting up for a shot. Next, Egor Zamula (1) quickly passed the puck to Kieffer Bellows (1) as he hit a one-timer through the five-hole that put the Phantoms up 2-1 with 1:39 left. Tyson Foerster (10) picked up his second assist of the game.
Charlotte attacked the Phantoms’ just as the horn sounded to end the second period with the Phantoms up 2-1. Charlotte continued to lead the shots 21-18. It was a good period for the Phantoms. One noticeable difference was the Phantoms kept their legs moving. No one was standing still waiting for the puck to come to them. They were playing a balanced game.
Six minutes and ten seconds into the third period, the Phantoms had two chances to extend the lead on two power play opportunities but could not capitalize. As the minutes were ticking down, the Checkers were attacking aggressively but the Phantoms stood their ground.
Late in the third period, Egor Zamula went to the penalty box for a delay of game penalty after hitting the puck over the glass without it being touched by another player with three minutes left. Charlotte pulled Mack Guzda for an extra attacker. However, the Phantoms held them off and came away with a 2-1 win.
Both teams played a good game. It was a defensive battle and no one had an advantage over the other. Phantoms head coach Ian Laperriere’s line combination worked and he should stick with it moving forward. Overall, good game for the Phantoms.
The Phantoms finished the night with 29 shots, 1/4 on the power play, and Sam Ersson made 29 saves. Ersson continues to improve and if he keeps this up, there is a chance he could end up with the Flyers by the season’s end. On the other side, the Checkers had 30 shots, 0/5 on the power play, and Mack Guzda made 27 saves.
The Phantoms and Checkers go at it again tonight at 7:05 pm on AHL.TV. Tickets for the game can be purchased on StubHub.
