March 27, 2024
Allentown, PA – The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (27-26-8) take to the road for three straight games beginning with a Friday visit to Syracuse, NY to the North Division-leading Crunch and a Saturday rivalry rematch in northeast Pennsylvania against the Penguins.
Lehigh Valley occupies the last playoff spot in the Atlantic Division with a one-point advantage on the Springfield Thunderbirds while also holding one game-in-hand.
There are 11 games remaining in the regular season.
LAST WEEK
March 20 – Phantoms 3 – Springfield Thunderbirds 1
March 23 – Bridgeport Islanders 2 – Phantoms 1
March 24 – W-B/Scranton Penguins 3 – Phantoms 1
THIS WEEK
Friday, March 29 (7:05) – Phantoms at Syracuse Crunch
Saturday, March 30 (6:05) – Phantoms at W-B/Scranton Penguins
Tuesday, April 2 (7:00) – Phantoms at Hershey Bears
WEEKLY RECAP
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Phantoms 3 – Thunderbirds 1
The Phantoms did it again! The team’s league-leading eighth comeback rally in the third period came in an important game with playoff implications as the Phantoms distanced themselves from Sprnigfield for the last playoff spot. Trailing 1-0 at the second intermission, Adam Brooks started the comeback with his power-play strike and then Evan Polei converted on the game-winner with 8:11 left on a give-and-go with Elliot Desnoyers. Tanner Laczynski capped a multi-point effort with an empty-net goal at the end. Cal Petersen had 23 saves including a dazzler on a Springfield odd-man rush in the third to keep the game tied at 1-1.
Saturday, March 23, 2024
Islanders 2 – Phantoms 1
Adam Brooks kept his goal-streak and point-streak going but, unfortunately, that was the only goal the Phantoms would get against Ken Appleby who turned in a 24-save performance in holding off the Phantoms on Margaritaville Night at PPL Center. Ruslan Ishakov scored the winner in the second period to break the 1-1 tie just a few minutes after Brooks had tied it for Lehigh Valley.
Sunday, March 24, 2024
Penguins 3 – Phantoms 1
Adam Brooks struck yet again but the Penguins broke a 1-1 deadlock in the third period with a pair of goals including the winner in the opening minute of the frame by veteran defenseman Xavier Ouellet as the Baby Pens emerged with a 3-1 triumph in Allentown. Joel Blomqvist outdueled Parker Gahagen in the goaltending matchup on Kids Takeover Day with the Phantoms.
TRANSACTIONS
Mar 21 – Delete Darren Brady (D) – Loaned to Reading from LV
Mar 22 – Add Hunter McDonald (D) – Signed to PTO
PLAYOFF FEVER
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms have pushed ahead of the Springfield Thunderbirds for the last playoff spot in the Atlantic Division with just 11 games remaining.
Lehigh Valley’s Magic Number to clinch a playoff spot is at 20 points.
The top six teams in the Atlantic qualify for the Calder Cup Playoffs. The first round is a Best of 3 series and right now would see the Phantoms take on the rival Charlotte Checkers in a 6 vs. 3 matchup in late April but the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are only one point behind Charlotte for the 3 spot.
Lehigh Valley’s second-round matchup would be against first-place Hershey in a Best of 5 series.
BROOKS IS COOKING
Adam Brooks is on a four-game goal streak and five-game point streak. Both streaks are the longest of his career and his goal streak is the longest for any Phantoms player this season. The 27-year-old from Winnipeg has averaged two points per game over the course of his point streak scoring 5-5-10 in his last five games. From March 15 through March 20 he had a hand in eight consecutive Phantoms goals with either a point or an assist which included a Lehigh Valley record-tying five-point game on March 16 at the Providence Bruins.
PETEY PERFORMS
Cal Petersen has been tremendous since his return to the Phantoms on February 29 from the Philadelphia Flyers. The 29-year-old veteran goaltender has a 1.99 GAA since March 1 in eight starts. Petersen has gone 3-4-1 with a .911 save percentage in that stretch.
TOPS IN THE LEAGUE
AHL Scoring Leaders from March 15 through March 26
Adam Brooks, LV, 5-5-10
Tanner Laczynski, LV, 5-4-9
Aatu Raty, Abbotsford, 3-6-9
AHL Power Play Assists
2nd (Tied) – Cooper Marody, 19
AHL Power Play Points
3rd – Cooper Marody, 24
AHL Rookie Scoring
10th (Tied) Samu Tuomaala, 14-27-41
AHL Rookie Power-Play Points
2nd (Tied) Samu Tuomaala, 7-13-20
AHL Rookie Power-Play Assists
2nd Emil Andrae, 15 (also 1st among defensemen)
PHANTASTIC!
The Phantoms record when:
– Score 4 or more goals: 18-0-2
– Allow 3 or fewer goals: 18-6-3
– Lead After 1st period: 7-1-2
– Lead After 2nd period: 13-2-1
– One-Goal Games: 18-7-8
– Overtime: 6-5 / Shootout: 4-3