The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (8-6-2) concluded their three-game trip in Canada on Tuesday night from the Coca-Cola Coliseum against the Toronto Marlies (8-5-2).
Before the game started, the Philadelphia Flyers announced that goaltender Felix Sandstrom cleared waivers and was loaned to Lehigh Valley. He was not at this game as Parker Gahagen backed up starting goaltender Cal Peterson (2-3-0, 3.41 GAA, .890 SV%).
The starting lineup featured Olle Lycksell, Tanner Laczynski, and Samu Tuomaala on the first line. Garrett Wilson, Rhett Gardner, and Wade Allison are on the second line. J.R. Avon, Brendan Furry, and Cooper Marody were on the third line, and Even Polei, Jordy Bellerive, and Zayde Wisdom were on the fourth line.
On defense, Mason Millman and Helge Grans were on the first line, Victor Mete and Ronnie Attard covered the second line, and Adam Ginning paired up with Ethan Samson for the third line. The scratches for the game were Adam Karashik, Emil Andrae, Adam Brooks, Alexis Gendron, Felix Sandstrom, Jacob Gaucher, and Elliot Desnoyers.
In the first period, the Phantoms did a respectable job hustling, grinding, creating turnovers, and making some good passes, which almost resulted in goals, including a mini breakaway by Wade Allison.
Lehigh Valley had 12 shots on goal, of which three of them should have gone in, but Toronto goaltender Dennis Hildeby denied them. The Phantoms kept pounding the Marlies’ zone, but Hildeby was quick in his crease and made some good stops to keep the game scoreless.
On defense, the Phantoms allowed seven shots on goal. Cal Peterson also made a couple of good saves. The highlight of the first period was Lehigh Valley’s Jordy Bellerive and Toronto’s Matteo Pietroniro exchanging punches. The game remained scoreless after one period of play.
In the second period, Lehigh Valley was called for four penalties, including two questionable delay of game penalties. The Phantoms killed all four of those penalties, including a 5-on-3 power play. At 10:49, the Phantoms went on their first power play of the game when Toronto’s Marshall Rifai took down Cooper Marody.
Two minutes later, the Phantoms capitalized with a tic-tac-toe goal. Inside Toronto’s zone, Cooper Marody (9) made a pass to Tanner Laczynski (10), who then made a cross-ice pass to Olle Lycksell (11) before chipping the puck over the right pad of Dennis Hildeby and into the net for a power play goal. Lehigh Valley led 1-0 with 7:12 left of the second period.
Lehigh Valley had 11 shots on goal in the second period. They came close several times to extending their lead. Lehigh Valley goaltender Cal Peterson stopped Toronto’s nine shots on goal including a 3-on-1 play in which he stopped Joseph Blandisi’s shot. Despite that chance, the Phantoms’ defense did not give Toronto many chances to score. The Phantoms led 1-0 after two periods.
In the third period, the Phantoms came close to adding a goal with four shots on goal. Toronto started to pressure the Phantoms forcing some turnovers but Cal Peterson continued to deny them a goal.
Later in the third period, the Phantoms had killed their sixth power play of the night. Lehigh Valley defenseman Victor Mete hit the puck off the boards. The puck hit the stick of David Farrance and Garrett Wilson took it. He rushed toward the Marlies’ zone before sniping the shot from the right circle over the right shoulder of Dennis Hildeby and into the net for a 2-0 lead with 8:13 left in the game.
The Phantoms had 11 shots on goal in the third period. Not long after Wilson’s goal, Rhett Gardner had a breakaway chance but Hildeby secured the puck. Late in the third period, Toronto’s William Villeneuve (6) won the faceoff inside the Phantoms’ zone. Then, Joseph Blandisi (7) made a cross-ice pass to former Phantom Kieffer Bellows (6), who blasted the shot through the five-hole and into the net. Lehigh Valley’s lead was down to 2-1 with 5:20 left in the game.
Lehigh Valley continued to keep the pressure on Toronto, not allowing them to pull the goalie until with 30 seconds left. The Phantoms finished the Canada trip with a perfect 3-0 record. They beat the Marlies by the final score of 2-1. It is their fourth straight road win.
Lehigh Valley had 34 shots on goal, committed six penalties for 17 minutes, went 1 for 2 on the power play, and Cal Peterson made 24 saves off 25 shots.
The Phantoms return to the PPL Center to start a two-game homestand on Friday against the Providence Bruins at 7:05 pm on AHL.TV. Purchase Phantoms tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
