The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (24-18-5) continued their three-game road trip on Tuesday night. They took on the Charlotte Checkers (27-16-4) at the Bojangles’ Coliseum in a crucial battle in the Atlantic Division.
The Phantoms entered this game three points behind Charlotte for third place. In addition, Lehigh Valley has had success against Charlotte this year, winning three of four games. Furthermore, the Phantoms were on a three-game winning streak and a six-game road winning streak.
Before the game started. There were several lineup changes. First, the Philadelphia Flyers recalled forward Kieffer Bellows and goalie Sam Ersson on Monday. On Tuesday, the Phantoms called up forward Charlie Gerard and defenseman Mason Millman from the Reading Royals.
Millman was in the lineup but Gerard was out. The Phantoms have also been dealing with the flu bug making its round through the team. Max Willman, Adam Karashik, and Adam Ginning were out of the game with the flu. Jordy Bellerive and Hayden Hodgson were also out of the game.
The good news for the Phantoms was the return of goalie Troy Grosenick (2-2, 3.74 GAA, .885 SV%). Grosenick’s last game was on October 29th.
In the first period. The Phantoms did a great job with their stick work. They were able to create turnovers and take shots at Alex Lyon. In some instances, when the Phantoms took some shots, Charlotte blocked them. They made six blocks.
The first goal of the game went to Charlotte. Lehigh Valley tried to get the puck out of their zone in a ferocious battle. Jackson Cates started to skate with the puck until Cameron Morrison (4) stole the puck away from Cates. Then Morrison passed the puck to a wide-open Zac Dalpe (13) and he fired it past Grosenick’s right skate and into the net. It was 1-0 Charlotte with 1:04 left. Charlotte got off one more shot before the first period ended. The Phantoms trailed the Checkers 1-0 and Charlotte led the shots 10-7.
Two minutes and thirty-five seconds into the second period. Charlotte extended their lead. Logan Hutsko (14) sent the puck into the Phantoms’ zone as they were changing players. Wyatte Wylie got the puck until Zac Dalpe (10) stole it and made a backhand pass to a charging Cameron Morrison (3). Morrison ripped the shot over Grosenick’s left shoulder and into the net. It was 2-0 Charlotte with 17:25 left.
Two minutes and thirteen seconds later. The Phantoms cut the deficit. Lehigh Valley charged toward the Checkers’ zone. Cooper Marody (14) attempted to make a cross-ice pass but it was blocked. The puck went in the direction of Elliot Desnoyers (13). Then, Desnoyers found Ronnie Attard (8) entering the Checkers’ zone and passed the puck to him. Attard made a slapshot from the right post that went through the five-hole and into the net. It was now 2-1 Charlotte with 15:37 left.
The Phantoms had a golden opportunity to tie the game with a five-on-three advantage after Gerry Mayhew tripped Adam Brooks and a delay of game penalty was called on Charlotte. Unfortunately, the Phantoms could not find a way to tie the game. Lehigh Valley went 0/4 on power plays.
In the last seven minutes of the second period. The Phantoms had four shots on goal. They trailed the Checkers 2-1 after two periods. The Phantoms had ten shots in the second period and led the shots 17-16.
Charlotte came right out of the gate in the third period. It took four minutes and thirty seconds for Charlotte to score. Aleksi Heponiemi (19) made an in-between pass to Riley Nash (22) for a breakaway chance. It was the third breakaway opportunity for Charlotte in this game. Nash took a shot and the puck went up in the air. Tory Grosenick could not find it. When he did, Henry Bowlby (7) was there for a quick shot through the five-hole and into the net. It was now 3-1 Charlotte. Charlotte had seven shots in the first nine minutes of the third period.
The Phantoms registered five shots on goal in the third period. They also committed three penalties. Lehigh Valley did a good job killing the power plays. Charlotte went 0/6. With two minutes left, Troy Grosenick was pulled for an extra attacker. Shortly after, the Phantoms made it a one-goal game.
As the Phantoms were passing the puck around looking for a shot. Tyson Foerster (16) found Ronnie Attard (13) ready to shoot. He made a one-timer that was tipped in by Adam Brooks (5) over Alex Lyon’s right pad and into the net. It was now 3-2 with 58 seconds left.
The Phantoms pulled Grosenick again but they could not get another shot off as Charlotte’s defense fought to the get puck away from them. The Phantoms lost the game 3-2 to the Checkers. The loss snapped the Phantoms’ three-game winning streak and six-game road winning streak.
It was a good effort by the Phantoms given the circumstances they faced. Some of the guys looked out of it and it won’t surprise me if more land on the scratch list due to the flu. Otherwise, they played a good game.
The Phantoms finished the night with 22 shots, 0/4 on the power play, and Troy Grosenick made 24 saves. On the other side, Charlotte had 27 shots, 0/6 on the power play, and Alex Lyon made 20 saves.
Lehigh Valley will get another crack at Charlotte on Wednesday at 7 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased on StubHub.
