The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (34-25-6) concluded a two-game homestand at the PPL Center on Saturday night. They took on the red-hot Hartford Wolf Pack (31-25-11) for the fourth and final meeting of the season. Coming into this game, the Phantoms trailed the Wolf Pack 2-1 in the season series.
Before the game, the Phantoms lost goalie Sam Ersson as he was recalled by the Philadelphia Flyers on emergency conditions. Nolan Maier (4-2-2, 2.98 GAA, .880 SV%) got the start with Pat Nagle backing him up.
There were a couple of minor lineup changes before the game. Egor Zamula left Friday night’s game with a shoulder injury and Wyatte Wylie took his place. Furthermore, Alex Kile was inserted into the lineup playing on the fourth line in place of Ryan Fitzgerald.
In addition to Zamula, Troy Grosenick, Adam Karashik, Zayde Wisdom, Cooper Marody, Will Zmolek, and Hayden Hodgson were out for the game.
Two minutes and eighteen seconds into the first period, the Wolf Pack struck first. After Tyson Foerster’s shot was jabbed away by Dylan Garand, Tanner Fritz (30) got the puck and passed it to Anton Blidh (9). Then, Blidh made a stretch pass to Lauri Pajuniemi (19) for a breakaway and he fired it past Maier’s right skate and into the net. It was 1-0 Wolf Pack with 17:43 left.
Two minutes and twenty seconds later, the Wolf Pack extended their lead. Tim Gettinger’s (19) pass went off an official as the Phantoms tried to clear the zone but Ryan Carpenter (21) got the puck. He skated with the puck before shooting it and it was redirected by Will Lockwood (16) over Maier’s right shoulder and into the net. It was now 2-0 Wolf Pack with 14:22 left.
The Phantoms had nine shots in the first period. However, they should have had more but were missing their shots wide. Lehigh Valley’s coverage was not great as the Wolf Pack had seven shots and came close several times to scoring two more goals but Nolan Maier stopped them.
Shortly after the Wolf Pack’s goal, Brandon Scanlin leveled Max Willman and Alex Kile came to his aid and fought Scanlin. Kile was issued a fighting and instigating penalty for a total of 15 minutes. Meanwhile, Scanlin went to the penalty box for fighting.
The Phantoms killed that penalty and later had to kill a double-minor penalty after Jordy Bellerive hit Wyatt Kalynuk with a high stick and Kalynuk had blood on him. Lehigh Valley trailed the Wolf Pack 2-0 after one period.
Seven minutes and thirty-three seconds into the second period, the Phantoms made it a one-goal game. Artem Anisimov (16) got the puck to Tyson Foerster (22) as they charged toward the Wolf Pack’s zone. Then, Foerster made a great backhand pass to Emil Andrae (1) and he rifled it over Dylan Garand’s glove and into the net. The Wolf Pack’s lead was now 2-1 with 12:27 left.
The Phantoms had 12 shots in the second period. They attacked the Wolf Pack’s zone and nearly tied the game when Emil Andrae shot the puck but it went off the crossbar. Despite Lehigh Valley’s aggressive play, Hartford remained calm and played a simple game.
Late in the second period, Hartford had another breakaway opportunity by Will Lockwood but Nolan Maier came out of his net to swat the puck away. The Phantoms trailed the Wolf Pack 2-1 after two periods.
In the third period, the Phantoms’ mental mistakes cost them. Seven minutes and fifty-two seconds in the period, Tim Gettinger (20) jabbed the puck away from Bobby Brink and it was retrieved by Tanner Fritz (9) for an odd-man rush. Fritz pelted the puck past Maier and into the net. It was now 3-1 Wolf Pack with 12:08 left.
A minute and a half later, Will Cuylle (19) passed the puck to Jake Leschyshyn (8) for a breakaway chance but Maier stopped it. However, Jonny Brodzinski (21) stayed with the play and went around the goal net before scoring. It was 4-1 Wolf Pack with 10:31 left.
Three minutes and eighteen seconds later, the Wolf Pack added one more goal. Brandon Scanlin (10) passed the puck to Will Lockwood (11). Lockwood and Ryan Carpenter (19) rushed toward Maier before Lockwood passed the puck to Carpenter and he shot it under Maier’s glove and into the net. It was 5-1 Wolf Pack with 7:11 left.
The Phantoms were unable to respond and fell to the Wolf Pack by the final score of 5-1. Lehigh Valley did not get a point and Hartford pulls within one behind the Phantoms for fifth place. Meanwhile, the Bridgeport Islanders won and are now four points behind the final playoff spot. In addition, the Wolf Pack snapped the Phantoms’ three-game winning streak.
The Phantoms finished the night with 35 shots, 0-3 on the power play, and Nolan Maier made 13 saves. On the other side, the Wolf Pack had 18 shots, 0-4 on the power play, and Dylan Garand made 34 saves.
The Phantoms visit the Total Mortgage Arena on Sunday against the Bridgeport Islanders at 3 pm on AHL.TV. Tickets for the game are available on StubHub and Viagogo.
