Future Flyers: Phantoms Struggle Over Weekend
By Marc Naples
This weekend was the third week of the season for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Additionally, this was the first full weekend of action with 3 game on the schedule.
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This busy schedule was especially challenging given the Phantoms injury situation. Coming into the weekend, several players were unavailable. Team captain Colin McDonald, offensive threat Danick Martel, top defensive prospect Robert Hagg, as well as Cole Bardreau and Michael Parks all were still injured.
To fill in all these holes, the Phantoms/Philadelphia Flyers called up a few players from ECHL affiliate Reading Royals. Forwards Brandon Alderson, Kevin Goumas and Derek Mathers all joined the Phantoms as reinforcements. With all the roster maneuvers, the Phantoms lines were as follows heading into the weekend:
Taylor Leier – Tim Brent – Aaron Palushaj
Petr Straka – Nick Counsins – Chris Conner
Tyrell Goulbourne – Pavel Padakin – Brandon Alderson
Kevin Goumas – Derek Mathers (Jay Rosehill scratched)
Shayne Gostisbehere – Andrew MacDonald
Davis Drewiske – Mark Alt
Sam Morin – Jesper Pettersson
Friday at Providence Bruins
The Phantoms opened the weekend on the road against the Providence Bruins. With their lines above, Jason LaBarbera got the start in goal.
The Phantoms got off to a very strong start, outshooting Providence 7-0 early. Unfortunately, they couldn’t’ find a goal for their trouble. Providence reversed the momentum, and claimed a 1-0 shortly before the end of the first period.
The Phantoms again surged at the start of the second, this time scoring immediately. Here’s Leier with a takeaway and firing in an unassisted goal.
Like the 1st period however, Providence turned the tides later in the period. Providence cashed in on the first power play of the game to take a 2-1 lead. There was a scrum after the goal, which resulted in another Providence power play. The Bruins converted again, and just like that it was 3-1. The Phantoms were able to get one back, however, with Petr Straka burying a rebound just before the end of the period (assist MacDonald).
In the 3rd, the Phantoms were able to tie up the game, 3-3, with a power play goal of their own. Here’s Tim Brent scoring, with assists from Leier and Cousins.
That would be the high point for the Phantoms. About halfway through the period, Morin took a double minor for high sticking. With their 3rd power play goal, Providence took a 4-3 lead. As the Bruins controlled the third, they would add an empty net goal for a 5-3 win.
Saturday versus Providence Bruins
The next night, the Phantoms got their chance to avenge the lost to Providence. Anthony Stolarz would get his second start of the season, as Jason LaBarbera was called up to the Philadelphia Flyers due to Michal Neuvirth’s injury. Martin Ouellette was called up from Reading (ECHL) to serve as back up. The Phantoms also signed Evan Rankin from the ECHL to add another forward to the lineup.
Like the first game, the Phantoms again started strong. This time, they turned early pressure into a 1-0 lead. Here’s Tyrell Goulbourne cashing in on a friendly bounce, with assists from Padakin and Pettersson.
The Bruins scored on a 2-on-1 to tie the game up, but the Phantoms retook the lead on this pretty give-and-go power play goal by Straka, with assists from Padakin and Gostisbehere.
The Phantoms were then able to protect their 2-1 lead, before Palushaj iced the game with an empty-netter to make it a 3-1 final score.
Sunday versus Toronto Marlies
The Phantoms closed out their weekend with a Sunday game against Toronto. Unlike their games against Providence, the Phantoms started this one slowly. They were down 2-0 in the first 10 minutes, before Leier had a great individual effort player for a short-handed goal.
Any momentum from this was killed a minute later, when Toronto scored again to make it 3-1. As the 1st period ended, the Phantoms were being outshot 14-5. The Phantoms played better the rest of the game and outshot the Marlies 9-3 in the 3rd period, but did not find the net again. The Marlies took a 3-1 win.
Looking Ahead
The Phantoms are now 2-4 on the season. This puts them 7th out of 8 teams in the Atlantic Division. The Phantoms largely have their penalty kill to blame, as their PK is only operating at 70%, and has conceded 7 goals in 6 games.
This week they will have home games against St. John’s IceCaps (5-1-1, 1st in North Division) on Wednesday and Friday night, and will play on the road against the Hershey Bears on Sunday evening.