Phantoms Lineup

Ryan Fitzgerald – Cal O’Reilly – Zayde Wisdom

Maksim Sushko – Chris Mueller – Linus Sandin

Max Willman – Tanner Laczynski – Wade Allison

Isaac Ratcliffe – David Kase – Tyson Foerster

Tyler Wotherspoon – Linus Hogberg

Egor Zamula – Logan Day

Derrick Pouliot – Mason Millman

Felix Sandstrom – Zane McIntyre

Eamon McAdam, Tanner MacMaster, Ralph Cuddemi, Brennan Saulnier, Pascal Laberge, Garrett Wilson, Samuel Morin

Kirill Ustimenko (hip surgery), Chris Bigras (DTD), Wyatte Wylie (DTD)

Game Report

Game Report written by Amy Johnson

It’s been a week since the last time the Phantoms took the ice for a hockey game, after having two games postponed this week due to COVID-19 protocols. But the team was back in action on home ice Sunday afternoon to take on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Felix Sandstrom got the start in net, and the lineup had some returning players from injury like Tyler Wotherspoon and Linus Sandin.

First Period

It seemed like both teams used the first period to get settled in and feel each other out. The Phantoms had an early penalty kill in which they didn’t allow the Penguins to get a single shot on goal. But aside from a few scrambles in Sandstrom’s crease, the action was pretty quiet.

Both teams tried to set up some sustained pressure in the offensive zone, but neither had much luck with that. The Phantoms penalty killers were successful a second time in the frame, but the power play units couldn’t muster much when they had an opportunity late in the period.

Second Period

Things changed drastically in the second period, with goal lights at both ends of the ice lighting regularly. It started with a goal by Wade Allison, his second in as many games, when he buried a snap shot just 14 seconds into the frame.

Nick Schilkey answered that with a sharp-angled shot that got in behind Sandstrom to tie the game about 90 seconds later. Tyson Foerster restored the Phantoms’ lead with a nifty backhander past Shane Starrett less than a minute after that, and after another two minutes Chris Mueller gave Lehigh Valley a two-goal lead when he tapped in the puck in close. The Phantoms were leading 3-1.

That’s when the Penguins tilted the ice back in their favor, scoring three unanswered goals by Drew O’Connor, Jonathan Gruden, and Jordy Bellerive to end the period with their first lead of the game, 4-3.

Third Period

The scoring quieted down to begin the third period, with the Phantoms searching for a way to get back into things. They found the solution when Derrick Pouliot dished the puck from the corner back in front for Tanner Laczynski who was waiting in the slot. Laczynski wasted no time getting the puck through traffic and past Starrett to tie the game.

As if the Phantoms haven’t played enough overtime minutes this season, this game went the extra mile yet again. Laczynski found himself the hero of the game, after potting the tying goal, when he also buried the game winner.

What’s Next?

Plus / Minus

▲  Tanner Laczynski, Wade Allison, Tyson Foerster

▼  Felix Sandstrom, Maksim Sushko, Linus Sandin