Last night was huge for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (1-0). After a win in Game 1 of the Atlantic Division First Round in the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins face elimination at the PPL Center on Friday.
Keith Jones, Daniel Brière, and John Tortorella, to name a few, represented the Philadelphia Flyers in Wilkes-Barre. Brière and Tortorella, in their exit interviews, noted plans to keep a thoughtful eye on goaltending and the power play throughout the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs. Alexei Kolosov backed up Cal Petersen.
Set for the opening faceoff were Tanner Laczynski, Olle Lycksell, Adam Brooks, Adam Ginning, and Ronnie Attard as the Phantoms began their quest for the Calder Cup.
FIRST PERIOD
Lycksell began the attack for the Phantoms. He carved through the Penguins’ defense, nearly splitting a one-on-two. However, the Penguins assumed puck control. Valtteri Puustinen, Sam Poulin, Ryan Shea, and Jack St. Ivany began to pressure Petersen.
Poulin fumbled a one-timer attempt, missing the near post. Petersen sprawled, attempting to flash leather, but the puck sailed off target. Missed opportunities were the name of the game for the Penguins. Later in the period, Jonathan Gruden had Matt Filipe on a two-on-one, but Petersen disrupted the execution.
Laczynski accounted for the Phantoms’ first shot on goal. In the defensive zone, Attard and Ginning remained dialed in. They repeatedly forced skaters into the boards to slow down the Penguins.
Xavier Ouellet and Victor Mete both served penalties. The Phantoms were on the power play, but Mete canceled out the man advantage. Four-on-four hockey meant more space and opportunity on the ice to break through on the scoreboard.
Brooks put the Phantoms ahead, 1-0. A sharp-angled shot snuck past Joel Blomqvist. The officials blew a premature whistle, but upon further review, the goal stood.
Helge Grans cleared the remaining portion of an abbreviated Penguins power play. Overall, the Phantoms finished 0/3 on the power play and 2/2 on the penalty kill.
SECOND PERIOD
Rhett Gardner extended the lead. Louie Belpedio put a shot on goal, with traffic, from the point, and then Gardner and Cooper Marody took their swipes at the rebound. Gardner put the finishing touches on the scoring play, 2-0.
Gardner kept the pressure on Blomqvist. It isn’t rocket science, but he and Brooks continued to buzz after scoring their goals. Bobby Brink, Garrett Wilson, Jacob Gaucher, Marody, and Grans were exceptional at containing the puck on offense. The Phantoms sustained pressure, and two scoring chances came from it. Grans rang the puck off the post, and Gardner had a look at an open net, but the puck rolled off his stick.
Ville Koivunen ended the shutout bid for Petersen. Koivunen saw the read from Poulin the entire way, finding the hole in coverage where Evan Polei was. The puck chips past Petersen, 2-1.
THIRD PERIOD
Dmitri Samorukov and Attard finished notable checks to begin the third period. Attard planted Radim Zahorna, and Samorukov dropped Lycksell. Additionally, Hunter McDonald knocked Jagger Joshua off the crease. If you’re hoping to impress Tortorella, keep clearing the crease for your goaltender.
Laczynski put on a forechecking clinic on offense. There’s so much to like about his game. Under Tortorella, Laczynski played 32 games but produced four points (2G, 2A). He won 51.5% of his faceoffs and protected the puck well (10TK, 3GV). Unfortunately, Laczynski finished his NHL stint with a lower-body injury.
The Penguins began to pressure Petersen in the late stages of the third period. Emil Andrae and Ginning disrupted on defense, while Brink and Brendan Furry matched the urgency on offense. Ginning showed why he is a ‘shut down’ defenseman, proving to be one of the steadiest Phantoms defensemen. Brink torched a puck off the post, and Furry flashed speed, working flat and inside toward Blomqvist for a high-danger scoring chance.
Intending to tie the game, the Penguins pulled Blomqvist for the six-on-five advantage. Gaucher and Furry had a chance at the empty net, and Vinnie Hinostroza tripped them each time. Ian Laperrière wasn’t happy with the final moments of the game. He felt the trip on Furry, instead of being a power play, should be an awarded goal due to the empty net.
Up Next
Next, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in Game 2 of the Atlantic Division First Round at the PPL Center.
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