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PHANTOMS RECAP | Checkers – Phantoms: Special Teams Play Big Role in OT Win

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PHANTOMS RECAP | Checkers – Phantoms: Special Teams Play Big Role in OT Win
Mike Vecchione, Dan Renouf (Photo by Amy Johnson | © Rocket Sports Media) Mandatory Credit Required

 

FINAL (OT) | 2018-19 Season, Game 14 | November 14, 2018
PPL Center, Allentown, PA

PHANTOMS
Lehigh Valley

3-2

CHECKERS
Charlotte

Mike Vecchione, Dan Renouf (Photo by Amy Johnson | © Rocket Sports Media) Mandatory Credit Required

Lineup

Forward lines and defense pairings: 

[one_half]Carey – Varone – Bardreau
Leier – Vorobyev – McDonald
Twarynski – Vecchione – Conner
Bunnaman – Rubtsov – Kase[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Brennan – Friedman
Samuelsson – Myers
Palmquist – Willcox[/one_half_last]

Goaltenders:
Hart
Lyon

Scratches:

Anthony Stolarz, James de Haas, Tyrell Goulbourne, Radel Fazleev

Injury List:

Game Report

The Charlotte Checkers have put together another top-notch team this year, and their record at the top of the Atlantic Division coming into tonight’s game at the PPL Center in Allentown showed just how formidable they’ve been for opponents this season. With Lehigh Valley coming off a loss to the Checkers on Saturday night, the Phantoms knew they had their work cut out for them to earn a win.

With Mikhail Vorobyev sent off to the penalty box just 1:35 into the first period, the Checkers were easily able to dominate the shot tally early in the game. The Phantoms would end up being short-handed three times in the opening frame, but their penalty killing units came up big and kept Charlotte from converting any of their opportunities.

Carter Hart (Photo by Amy Johnson | © Rocket Sports Media) Mandatory Credit Required

The Checkers were able to get on the board in the period, however, when Andrew Poturalski came forehand-backhand across Carter Hart‘s crease to put the puck in the back of the net.

In the second period, the Phantoms power play units capitalized on their chances, scoring back-to-back goals on the man advantage. First Phil Varone tipped in a big blast from the point by T.J. Brennan, before Vorobyev wristed the puck past Alex Nedeljkovic after it had trickled through his five-hole and out to the left circle.

German Rubstov, Alex Nedeljkovic (Photo by Amy Johnson | © Rocket Sports Media) Mandatory Credit Required

Adding to the excitement in the period, Cole Bardreau got hauled down on a breakaway and was awarded a penalty shot. Despite not being able to beat Nedeljkovic on the play, the fans in the building ramped up the energy level.

Charlotte did manage to even the score on a goal that Hart later jokingly said he “fell asleep” on in the third period, but Lehigh Valley dominated the overtime period. Outshooting Charlotte 4-0 in extra minutes, Brennan and Vorobyev connected to finish off the win for the home team.

T.J. Brennan, Mikhail Vorobyev (Photo by Amy Johnson | © Rocket Sports Media) Mandatory Credit Required

The Phantoms begin another road trip on Friday night when they visit the Providence Bruins and then the Springfield Thunderbirds on Saturday.

▲     Carter Hart, T.J.Brennan, Mikhail Vorobyev, Mike Vecchione

▼     Carsen Twarynski, Connor Bunnaman

 Statistics 
PHANTOMS   CHECKERS
31 Shots 37
2 for 7 Power Play 0 for 6
12 Penalty Minutes 14
 Scoring
 FINAL 1 2 3 OT SO T
 Phantoms (8-4-1-1) 0 2 0 1 3
 Checkers (11-3-1-0) 1 0 1 0 2
Scorers Goalies
  • LV: Varone (5), Vorobyev (2), Brennan (5)
  • CHA: Poturalski (5), Gauthier (6)
  • LV: Hart (W) 4-2-2-0
  • CHA: Nedeljkovic (L) 9-2-1-0
 AHL Three Stars
ahl14_200  

  1. T.J. Brennan  LV
  2. Mikhail Vorobyev  LV
  3. Phil Varone  LV

 Video highlights

 

 Post-game interview
Post-game interview with Scott Gordon:

Post-game interview with Carter Hart:

Post-game interview with T.J. Brennan:

Post-game interview with Phil Varone:

Interviews conducted by Amy Johnson for AHL Report

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