The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (21-17-5) concluded a five-game homestand on Friday night. They took on the second-place Providence Bruins (26-9-9) from the PPL Center. This was the fifth meeting of the season between these teams. Neither team has won a home game in this series and that continued on Friday night.
There were some minor lineup changes before the game. Cal O’Reilly remained out with an illness and Elliot Desnoyers was scratched for the game. Adam Brooks and Jordy Bellerive took their places.
Cal O’Reilly and Desnoyers joined Troy Grosenick, Linus Hogberg, Ryan Fitzgerald, Zayde Wisdom, and Wyatte Wylie as the scratches for the game. Sam Ersson (12-10-1, 2.78 GAA, .906 SV%) started in goal with Pat Nagle backing him up.
For most of the first period. It was uneventful. Throughout the game. The Phantoms could not control the puck, were not in their right positions, defense playing offense, too many passes, and not enough shooting. Luckily, the Bruins were doing the same and neither team generated a rushing chance.
The Phantoms committed three penalties in the first period. They killed two of them. Late in the first period, the Phantoms struck first.
Isaac Ratcliffe took control of the puck to start a rush before passing it to Hayden Hodgson (3). As the Phantoms were getting to their positions, Hodgson found Louie Belpedio (11). Belpedio took a shot that bounced off of Brandon Bussi’s left pad. Jordy Bellerive (5) retrieved it and flipped it over Bussi’s left pad and into the net. It was 1-0 with 4:32 left.
On the Bruins’ third power play. They tied the game with 17 seconds left. Georgii Merkulov got the puck to start the Bruins’ rush. Merkulov passed the puck to Fabian Lysell (15). As the Bruins got into their positions. Lysell found Chris Wagner (4). Wagner turned to shoot the puck that went off of Ersson but Justin Brazeau (13) retrieved it and flipped it over Ersson’s glove and into the net.
The game was tied 1-1 after one period. Lehigh Valley had six shots in the first period. The Phantoms lost the one-on-one battles but won the faceoff draws several times.
The Phantoms had five shots in the first three minutes and thirty-six seconds into the second period but could not score. About halfway through the second period, Kevin Connauton was called for interference and the Bruins went on their fourth power play.
Four seconds after the power play expired. The Bruins took the lead. Providence had several shots before the goal. Marc McLaughlin (11) sent the puck around the endboards to John Beecher (7). Then, Beecher found Oskar Steen (11) all alone and he buried the shot over Ersson’s left shoulder and into the net. It was now 2-1 with 8:16 left.
The Phantoms continue to give opponents too much room and did not play man coverage. These teams have figured out the Phantoms’ weaknesses and they continue to expose them.
Within a span of two minutes. The Phantoms had two power-play chances to get back into the game. On the first power play, they did not get a shot off and went to 0/2. Shortly after the first power play expired, they went on another one when Oskar Steen slashed Ronnie Attard. This time, they made it count.
The Bruins tried to get the puck out of their zone but Ronnie Attard (11) kept the puck in their zone. Then, Bobby Brink (3) was able to swipe the puck toward Cooper Marody (6). The puck took several bounces before Marody whisked it through the five-hole and into the net. The game was tied 2-2 with 2:49 left. Marody now has four points in the last two games.
Thirteen seconds later. The Bruins took back the lead. Providence won the faceoff and quickly made their way into the Phantoms’ zone. Justin Brazeau (13) made a cross-ice pass to Mike Reilly (11). Reilly started to go toward Ersson before finding Georgii Merkulov (10). Merkulov shot the puck that went off Ersson and rolled into the net. It was now 3-2 with 2:36 left.
The Bruins led 3-2 after two periods. The Phantoms had 13 shots in the second period. However, they should’ve had more but the Phantoms players missed several shots wide left and wide right. Meanwhile, the Bruins had six shots in the second period and came away with two goals.
In the third period. There were two four-on-four plays. The first was Adam Ginning and Marc McLaughlin going to the penalty box for roughing. No one scored. The second came when Hayden Hodgson fought Nick Wolff. Again, no one scored.
Late in the third period. Garrett Wilson was called for cross-checking Oskar Steen and he went after him. Steen put on an acting performance to sell the clean hit into a cross-check. Wilson was not having any of it.
After the power play expired. Wilson was ejected from the game with a ten-minute game misconduct for abuse of officials. Wilson had every right to chirp at the refs. The refs have made a lot of bad calls this year. However, he should’ve just bit his tongue and moved on.
The Bruins took advantage and put the game away. The Phantoms failed to get the puck out of their zone and the Bruins made them pay. Marc McLaughlin (8) got the puck and quickly fired it over Ersson’s left shoulder and into the net. The Bruins won the game by the final score of 4-2.
After the game, Phantoms coach Ian Laperriere was not happy with the performance. They were too casual, not grinding, and did not show up. The Phantoms finished the night with 32 shots, 1/3 on the power play, and Sam Ersson made 19 saves.
On the other side, the Bruins had 23 shots, 2/5 on the power play, and Brandon Bussi made 30 saves. The Phantoms go 3-2 in this homestand.
The Phantoms have one more game before the All-Star break. They head to the Giant Center to take on the Hershey Bears on Saturday at 7 pm on AHL.TV. Tickets for the game can be purchased on StubHub.
