The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (1-0) are the underdog story. Of the 23 teams in the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs, the Phantoms had the 21st-most regular-season points (73) to qualify for the postseason. They’re the sixth seed of six from the AHL Atlantic Division.
However, the Phantoms are out to a lead in the Atlantic Division First Round versus the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (0-1). To put the Penguins in perspective, they finished ninth overall in the AHL and are the third seed in the Atlantic Division.
Wipe the slate clean because the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs tell a new story.
Cal Petersen, Adam Brooks, and Rhett Gardner contributed in a 2-1 win in the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza. Petersen made 21 of 22 saves. Gardner scored the game-winning goal. But, you have to wonder if any tension carries from the end of the game.
Vinnie Hinostroza tripped Jacob Gaucher and Brendan Furry with empty-net chances. The officiating crew didn’t call a penalty when Hinostroza tripped Gaucher and still didn’t get it correct moments later. A power play was awarded to the Phantoms when Hinostroza tripped Furry, but it should’ve been an awarded goal instead of a man advantage. Ian Laperrière was furious with the officiating crew. Bringing that energy to the PPL Center could ‘Rally The Valley’ into eliminating the Penguins.
Last Game (Lehigh Valley Phantoms): 2-1 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, W
Last Game (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins): 2-1 vs. Lehigh Valley Phantoms, L
Last Game Between Opponents: 4/24/2024 in Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
Projected Lineup (Lehigh Valley Phantoms), per Bob Rotruck:
#28 Olle Lycksell – #9 Tanner Laczynski – #24 Adam Brooks
#20 Cooper Marody – #22 Rhett Gardner – #23 Bobby Brink
#17 Garrett Wilson – #56 Jacob Gaucher – #13 Brendan Furry
#16 JR Avon – #91 Elliot Desnoyers
#37 Adam Ginning – #12 Ronnie Attard
#6 Emil Andrae – #7 Louie Belpedio
#19 Hunter McDonald – #2 Helge Grans
#98 Victor Mete
#40 Cal Petersen
(#35 Alexei Kolosov)
Gardner jammed home the game-winner, the deciding siren for the Phantoms on the road. In 2023-2024, he played one game with the Philadelphia Flyers, spending most of his time in Lehigh Valley. During his 60 games in the AHL this season, Gardner tallied 23 points (10G, 13A), shared the team lead with several other teammates in shorthanded goals (1), and took the most shots on goal (135). Matching up versus the Penguins, Gardner scored nine points (3G, 6A) in 10 games this season.
Louie Belpedio had his fingerprints all over Game 1. He notched two assists, both after a shot attempt. His first missed, but Brooks carried the puck in space during a four-on-four situation to break onto the scoreboard. Then, Belpedio was responsible for the shot on goal from the point, leading to a juicy rebound for Gardner to sink the game-winner. Belpedio received a recall from the Flyers and made a good impression with four points (2G, 2A) in 12 games, and with the Phantoms, Belpedio scored 10 points (4G, 6A) in 38 games while being one of three defensemen to score shorthanded.
Projected Lineup (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins), per Tony Androckitis:
#42 Ville Koivunen – #63 Radim Zohorna – #13 Vinnie Hinostroza
#22 Samuel Poulin – #36 Tristan Broz – #48 Valtteri Puustinen
#23 Jagger Joshua – #44 Jonathan Gruden – #26 Austin Rueschhoff
#12 Corey Andonovski – #9 Marc Johnstone – #85 Avery Hayes
#5 Ryan Shea – #3 Jack St. Ivany
#61 Xavier Ouellet – #4 Taylor Fedun
#51 Jack Rathbone – #56 Scooter Brickey
#30 Joel Blomqvist
(#45 Ludovic Waeber)
The puck drops at 7:05pm from the PPL Center.
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