Lehigh Valley Phantoms Report: Sunday Loss Cancels Out Hard Work

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms won two of their three games in the past week, but their loss on Sunday still has them at the same spot in the standings as the beginning of the week. That and more in this week’s report of the Phantoms.

2-1 Record, Still Five Points Out

The Phantoms ended their three-in-three last week with a 1-2 record and five points out of a playoff spot. Despite a more successful outing this week, the team is still five points from the postseason with just 15 games left.

The Phantoms’ week started out strong on Wednesday by defeating their in-state rivals, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 3-1. Rookie Pascal Laberge scored his first professional goal, and eventual game-winner, to break a 1-1 tie in the second period. Alex Lyon made 27 saves in net.

That momentum carried over to Friday. Playing the best team in the AHL, the Charlotte Checkers, the Phantoms scored three consecutive goals in the second to jump to a 3-0 lead. Charlotte scored twice in the third, but Lyon made 32 total saves to hold off the comeback attempt.

Sunday, though, unraveled Lehigh Valley’s hard work. Despite playing a strong game — and even having a goal waved off — the team lost 4-0 to the Checkers. The goal would have tied the game at one and could have brightened up an afternoon that quickly turned frustrating for the Phantoms.

Mike Vecchione Scores Twice, Vorobyev Three Assists

The huge second period on Friday night that led to the Phantoms’ win can be largely thanked to Mike Vecchione. The center scored twice in the middle stanza, including one short-handed as he fought off a Checkers’ defenseman on a breakaway.

Mikhail Vorobyev assisted on the goal, giving him his third over the weekend. The prospect, who has seen time with the Flyers this season, also had two helpers in Wednesday’s game.

Nicolas Aube-Kubel Returns

Last Friday, Aube-Kubel was injured against the Utica Comets and didn’t return for games on Saturday or Sunday of that weekend. He also didn’t play Wednesday or Friday night of this week.

In Sunday’s game against the Checkers, the 22-year-old returned. He played on the first line with Vorobyev and Chris Conner but obviously couldn’t help the team much. If the Flyers (and Phantoms) start to fall out of the playoff race over their final games, Aube-Kubel could be a possible call-up.

Jori Lehtera Sitting

For fans of the Flyers that may be wondering about the infamous Jori Lehtera, the veteran is playing less than he did in the NHL for the Phantoms.

The Finnish forward did not suit up at all this week and even missed games last week. The AHL has a veteran-maximum rule that typically forces the Phantoms to sit some of their better players. Conner was a casualty last week and T.J. Brennan also sat in the press box this week.

However, the team usually rotates who’s sitting. That hasn’t been the case for Lehtera.

Upcoming Schedule

The Phantoms play the Penguins again this Wednesday, but Friday’s game against the Providence Bruins is the one to watch. The Bruins are in the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and have the lead in ROW victories. After that, on Saturday, Lehigh Valley has a 2018 Eastern Conference Finals rematch with the Toronto Marlies.