The Lehigh Valley (24-19-5) returned to the Bojangles’ Coliseum on Wednesday night. They took on the Charlotte Checkers (28-16-4) to close out the two-game road trip. This was the sixth meeting between these teams with two more meetings left in the season.
Like last night, the Phantoms substituted some players as others were still dealing with the flu. Max Willman and Adam Karashik returned to the lineup after missing last night’s game. Meanwhile, Elliot Desnoyers and Isaac Ratcliffe were out of the lineup.
Furthermore, Alex Kile was called up from the Maine Mariners (ECHL) and was a healthy scratch. In addition to Desnoyers, Ratcliffe, and Kile. Mason Millman, Jordy Bellerive, Adam Ginning, and Hayden Hodgson were out for tonight’s game. Pat Nagle started in goal with Troy Grosenick backing him up.
Two Phantoms had milestones tonight. Adam Brooks played in his 200th career AHL game, and Kevin Connauton played in his 300th career game.
The game got off to a slow start in the first period. Ten minutes and twenty-eight seconds into the first period Cooper Marody went to the penalty box for holding. A minute and thirty seconds later. Charlotte struck first. After winning the faceoff inside the Phantoms’ zone. Logan Hutsko (15) made a pass to Santtu Kinnunen (17). Kinnunen’s shot was tipped in by Gerry Mayhew (12) over Nagle’s right pad and into the net for a power play goal. It was 1-0 Charlotte.
Lehigh Valley caught a break when Gerry Mayhew tripped Tyson Foerster. Even though they did not score during the power play. The Phantoms tied the game shortly after. Ryan Fitzgerald (1) made a terrific long pass to Zayde Wisdom (3). Wisdom had Mayhew on him and he fired the puck over Mack Guzda’s glove and into the net. The game was tied 1-1 with 2:02 left.
The Phantoms had seven shots in the first period. The game remained tied 1-1 after one period. The Phantoms were grinding as best they could with the guys they had.
In the second period. Charlotte dominated. Four minutes and thirty-two seconds into the second period. Connor Bunnaman (5) took a shot that was blocked by Egor Zamula and three Phantoms players fought Logan Hutsko (16) for the puck. Then, Gerry Mayhew (13) rebounded the puck and fired it through the five-hole and into the net. It was now 2-1 Checkers with 15:28 left.
Five minutes and twenty-four seconds later. Gerry Mayhew (14) completed the hat trick. Bobby Brink tried to make a cross-ice pass that Matt Kiersted (6) got a piece of it and Mayhew took it from there. He sped around Wyatte Wylie and whisked it through the five-hole and into the net. It was now 3-1 Charlotte with 9:52 left. It was the second hat trick allowed by the Phantoms this year.
A minute and fifty-two seconds later. Charlotte added another goal. Aleksi Heponiemi (20) made a long pass to Henry Bowlby (8) and Bowlby made a nice stick move before putting it past Nagle’s right skate and into the net. It was now 4-1 Charlotte. The Phantoms had seven shots in the second period and Charlotte led 4-1 after two periods.
Charlotte led the shots 19-14. One additional note was Cal O’Reilly left the game in the second period after colliding with Garrett Wilson and had to be helped off the ice and into the locker room. He did not return to the game.
In the third period. Charlotte kept the puck away from Lehigh Valley. The Phantoms had no energy in the third period. The Phantoms had four shots on goal and went on to lose by the final score of 4-1.
For the guys who’ve been called up or making their first starts in a while, they did a nice job. The Phantoms finished the night with 18 shots on goal, 0/3 on the power play, and Pat Nagle made 24 saves. On the other side, the Checkers had 28 shots, 1/1 on the power play, and Mack Guzda made 17 saves.
The Phantoms will have a couple of days off before their next game. They host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Friday night at 7:05 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased on StubHub.
