The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (14-12-3) played their final road game of 2022. They were at the Adirondack Bank Center to take on the Utica Comets (13-9-5), who are the AHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils. It was the first meeting of the season between these two teams.
The Phantoms came into this game on a two-game winning streak and 5-4-1 in their last ten games. On the other side, Utica were 6-3-1 in their last ten games and have won four of their last five games.
Pat Nagle (1-3-1, 3.02 GAA, .904 SV%) started in goal. Hayden Hodgson was not in the lineup. He was a healthy scratch. Hodgson joined Troy Grosenick, Adam Karashik, Mason Millman, Ryan Fitzgerald, and Garrett Wilson who were out for the game.
A minute and twelve seconds into the first period. The Phantoms went on their first power-play on a holding call against Mason Geertsen. The Phantoms did not get a shot off during the power-play and went 0/1. The ice conditions were not that great. The puck was bouncing around all over the place and the players were having a hard time controlling the puck.
The Phantoms spent much of the first period chasing the puck. They could not win the puck battles and Utica generated a couple of chances because of their mistakes. The only positive takeaway of the first period was the defense. They did a good job protecting Nagle. The game remained scoreless after one period. Utica led the shots 6-3.
Six minutes and twenty-three seconds into the second period. Egor Zamula went to the penalty box for interference. The Comets took advantage to take a 1-0 lead a minute later. They rushed toward the Phantoms’ zone before beginning to set up a shot opportunity. Reilly Walsh (14) made a pass to Nolan Foote (11). Foote shot the puck through the five-hole and into the net with 12:38 left. Ryan Schmelzer (13) got credit for the secondary assist.
After the goal, Max Willman had a breakaway opportunity that was set up by Ronnie Attard. However, Willman’s shot was blocked by Akira Schmid with 7:51 left. Willman would get a second chance twelve seconds later.
The Phantoms generated a rush toward the Comets’ zone. Cal O’Reilly (10) made a pass to Willman (3). Willman fired the puck over the left pad of Schmid to tie the game 1-1 with 7:39 left. Cal O’Reilly passed Jody Gage for the seventh all-time in assists in AHL history.
Late in the second period. Kieffer Bellows went to the penalty box for slashing. Forty-one seconds later, the Comets regained the lead. The Utica players set themselves up for a shot opportunity inside the Phantoms’ zone. Reilly Walsh (15) blasted the puck that was tipped in by Nolan Foote (12) past Nagle’s left skate. The score was now 2-1 Utica with 2:01 left. Graeme Clarke (14) got the secondary assist.
The Phantoms did not get a shot off for the rest of the second period. They trailed the Comets 2-1 after two periods. Utica continued to lead the shots 11-10.
In the third period, the Phantoms spent too much time passing the puck around rather than shooting it. They had six shots throughout the third period. As time was ticking down, the Phantoms only generated a few rushes but could not score.
Then, with 2:02 left, the Comets put the game away. Robbie Russo (10) took a shot from inside the right circle that was tipped in by Nolan Stevens (9) through the five-hole. It was now 3-1 Utica and Graeme Clarke (15) earned the secondary assist.
The Phantoms pulled Pat Nagle twice. Unfortunately, they didn’t get a shot off as Utica forced a turnover and held onto the puck as time expired. The Phantoms lost to the Comets by the final score of 3-1.
The Phantoms finished the night with 16 shots, 0/2 on the power-play, and Pat Nagle made 19 saves. Meanwhile, Utica had 22 shots, 2/3 on the power-play, and Akira Schmid made 15 saves.
The Phantoms return to the PPL Center for the final home game of 2022. They take on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at 7:05 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased on StubHub.
