PREVIEW: Phantoms vs. Bruins, Game #56
Sunday, March 5, 2023 at 4:05 p.m.
Lehigh Valley Phantoms (27-22-6) vs. Providence Bruins (32-12-10)
PPL Center, Allentown, PA
TODAY
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms wrap up their brief two-game weekend homestand as they host the Providence Bruins in the sixth and final meeting of the season series between the Atlantic Division foes.
Lehigh Valley (27-22-6) prevailed 4-3 over the Toronto Marlies on Saturday at PPL Center.
Providence (32-12-10) squeaked out a 1-0 win at Hershey despite only 11 shots on goal.
The Phantoms are in fifth place in the Atlantic Division and trail fourth-place Springfield by two points.
Providence is in second place just one point back of the Hershey Bears while also holding one game-in-hand.
The away team has won every game of the season series. Lehigh Valley is 3-0-0 at Providence while the Bruins have gone 2-0-0 at PPL Center.
There are 17 games remaining in the regular season including 11 at PPL Center.
LAST TIME
Saturday, March 4, 2023
Phantoms 4 – Marlies 3
Elliot Desnoyers scored his team-leading 20th goal of the season on a an impressive backhand swat out of mid-air while Artem Anisimov (16th) achieved his third time with a three-game goal streak this season as Lehigh Valley prevailed over visiting Toronto 4-3 on Slap Shot Night at PPL Center. Garrett Wilson (11th) had a goal and assist as he kept up his recent torrid scoring pace and Olle LYcksell (10th) finished the night with an empty-netter.
DESI AND OLLE RETURN
Elliott Desnoyers and Olle Lycksell have returned to the Phantoms following stays with the Philadelphia Flyers. Desnoyers leads the Phantoms in goals (20) and points (38) and played in his first two career games in the NHL last week. Lycksell has been a point-per-game performer with the Phantoms this season scoring 10-25-34 in 35 games played. He has also played in eight games with Philadelphia and recorded his first NHL assist and point on February 2 in Edmonton. Before yesterday at Syracuse, Lycksell’s last game with Lehigh Valley was February 10 at Hartford in which he scored a goal.
DESTROYER ON A FEBRUARY TEAR
Elliot “The Destroyer” Desnoyers has been named AHL Rookie of the Month for February. The rookie center racked up 5-9-14 in just eight games played with the Phantoms while also making his NHL debut with the Flyers. He also recorded five multi-point games including a career-high four-point game on February 19 against Hartford as well as his first career two-goal game on February 11 against Bridgeport. Desnoyers becomes the third player for Lehigh Valley and the seventh in franchise history to win AHL Rookie of the Month.
Phantoms to win AHL Rookie of the Month
February 2023 – Elliot Desnoyers
October 2017 – Mike Vecchione
January 2016 – Cole Bardreau
Philadephia Phantoms:
December 2008 – Claude Giroux
November 2004 – R.J. Umberger
November 2001 – Maxime Ouellet
November 1998 – Jean-Marc Pelletier
MOST GOALS BY ROOKIE WITH LEHIGH VALLEY
22 – Danick Martel (2015-16)
20 – Elliot Desnoyers (2022-23)
19 Connor Bunnaman (2018-19)
WILLIE GETS ROCKING
Garrett Wilson has points in six of the last seven games in a stretch that include a five-game point streak. The 31-year-old alternate captain has scored 6-5-11 in his recent run which included a hat trick on February 20 against Hartford. The veteran leader brings experience and physicality to the Phantoms with 734 career pro games and 346 points, including 84 games in the NHL.
ABOUT THE BRUINS
Providence bounced back from 7-1 shellacking at Bridgeport on Thursday to post a hard-fought 1-0 win at Hershey on Saturday. Kyle Keyser recorded the 22-save shutout to earn the W while the offense in front of him mustered only 11 shots on goal.
It’s been a strange season series between the Phantoms and Bruins entering the sixth and final meeting of the season; The visiting team has won every game. Lehigh Valley went 3-0-0 at Providence this season but the P-Bruins have countered with a pair of wins in Allentown including a 4-2 decision on February 3 in the most recent game. Three of the games have gone to overtime. Tanner Laczynski had a shootout winner at Providence on November 19 and Artem Anisimov scored an overtime goal at the Bruins on December 16. Vinni Lettieri struck for the P-Bruins in OT on December 17. Rookie Georgii Merkulov (18-23-41) now tops the team in scoring and was the AHL Player of the Week earlier this month when he scored his third and fourth game-winning goals in a five-game stretch.
Phantoms Scoring Leaders
Elliot Desnoyers 20-18-38
Tyson Foerster 18-20-38
Olle Lycksell 10-25-35
Garrett Wilson 11-18-29
Artem Anisimov 16-12-28
Ronnie Attard 8-17-25
Bruins Scoring Leaders
Georgii Merkulov 18-23-41
Vinni Lettieri 16-21-37
Justin Brazeau 14-19-33
Jack Ahcan 4-25-29
Fabian Lysell 11-17-28
Phantoms Tickets are available HERE
SPECIAL TEAMS
Lehigh Valley Power Play – 22.2%, 8th
Lehigh Valley Penalty Kill – 72.7%, 32nd
Providence Power Play – 17.9%, 21st
Providence Penalty Kill – 82.4%, 10th
UP NEXT
The Phantoms travel to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton next Friday and then return to PPL Center on Saturday against the Belleville Senators and Sunday at 4:05 p.m. against the Utica Comets on Hockey Fiesta Weekend.
Phantoms Tickets are available HERE
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Sunday, March 5 (4:05) vs. PROVIDENCE BRUINS
Friday, March 10 (7:00) at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Saturday, March 11 (7:05) vs. BELLEVILLE SENATORS
Sunday, March 12 (4:05) vs. UTICA COMETS
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
Sunday, March 5 (4:05) vs. Providence Bruins – Team Poster Giveaway and Postgame Autographs
Saturday, March 11 (7:05) vs. Belleville Senators – Hockey Fiesta Weekend and Saturday Night Hockey Live
Sunday, March 12 (4:05) vs. Utica Comets – meLVin Youth Jersey Day (first 2,000 kids age 14 and younger) and Hockey Fiesta Weekend
Wednesday, March 15 (7:05) vs. Hershey Bears – Truist Night. Chamber of Commerce Night. $2 Pregame Happy Hour Beers
Friday, March 17 (7:05) vs. Hershey Bears – St. Patrick’s Day! Whiteout Night. $1 Hot Dogs
Sunday, March 19 (4:05) vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins – Prospect Pack Trading Card Sets for First 5,000 Fans
Broadcast coverage of all Phantoms games with Bob Rotruck is available on the Phantoms 365 app and on Real Oldies 1470-AM in Allentown. Also available on the Listen Live button at phantomshockey.com
Fans can also watch the games on AHLTV.com or can listen on their Smart Speakers at: “Play Phantoms Radio 24/7.”
Service Electric Network again provides exclusive television coverage of all Phantoms home games with veteran announcer Steve Degler and Phantoms’ alum Steven Swavely on the call from the booth. Kristi Fulkerson reports from ice level and also from the Chickie’s and Pete’s studio with Dan Fremuth for pregame, intermission and postgame show analysis.
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