Lehigh Valley Phantoms Report: Playoff Chances Dwindling

In a new weekly feature at Broad Street Buzz, we’ll take a look at the Lehigh Valley Phantoms’ results and stories over the past week. A 1-2 record over a three-in-three chance over this past weekend is hurting the team’s playoff chances.

Postseason Chances Slipping

Despite ending a four-game losing streak that became five this weekend, the Phantoms are still five points out of a playoff spot. They didn’t get any help over the weekend either with the Providence Bruins, the team in the last spot, defeating the Springtown Falcons 5-2 Sunday.

Lehigh Valley started off its weekend by being shut out against the Syracuse Crunch and losing 4-0 Friday night. Coming back home brought some luck Saturday, though. The team ended their losing stretch, securing a 3-1 win over the Utica Comets.

However, it was post-game antics that may have brought more attention.

Following Justin Bailey’s empty-net goal, Utica defenseman Justin Graham hit the Phantoms forward without the puck. As the teams were leaving the ice a scrum ensued but was stopped before it got too out of hand.

The excitement from Saturday’s game didn’t carry over though as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers took a 2-0 lead early in the third. Mike Vecchione scored with 58 seconds, but the Sound Tigers scored an empty-netter to make it 3-1 and hand the Phantoms a 1-2 record in their three-in-three stretch.

Greg Carey Leading the Offense

The Phantoms leading scorer, Greg Carey, didn’t play Friday because of the veteran maximum rule, but the team could have used him. Of the three goals the Phantoms scored on goalies over the weekend, Carey played a part in all three.

He scored the first two goals versus the Comets, bringing his goal total to 25 and assisted on Vecchione’s goal against the Sound Tigers. In total, he has 52 points this season which is 14 higher than any other Phantom.

With Lehigh Valley suffering so much shuffling because of the Flyers’ recalls and demotions, Carey has been a consistent player for the Phantoms.

Aube-Kubel Injured, Kase Returns

On the first shift in Friday night’s game against the Crunch, Nic Aube-Kubel went into the end boards awkwardly, skates-first, and did not return to the game. He ended up not playing in the next two contests either.

No official word was said, but this is a big blow for the Phantoms and his chances of making the Flyers. Aube-Kubel’s long been a possible Lehigh Valley recall and has 21 points in 38 games for the Phantoms. No official word on his injury or timetable was released.

But there was some good news on the injury front for the Phantoms: rookie David Kase returned to the lineup after an injury has kept him out of game action since Dec. 7th.

He skated in warmups Friday but didn’t play until Saturday. He ended up appearing in the two latter weekend games but did not record any points. The AHL does not release players’ ice times publicly.

This Week

The Phantoms play the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins Wednesday and then two games against the Charlotte Checkers Friday and Sunday at the PPL Center. Things won’t be getting any easier for the Phantoms. The Checkers have an eight-point lead across the whole AHL with a 38-14-6 record.