Phantoms Open Four-Game Road Trip With Fourth Straight Loss

Brandon Alderson (#19) gave the Phantoms a 3rd period lead on a feed from Kevin Goumas (#17) tonight against Worcester, but it wasn't enough to give rookie netminder Anthony Stolarz (#35) his first career pro win.

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (4-4-1-0) played well during various stretches of the game, but at other times were also overwhelmed by the Worcester Sharks in a 4-3 regulation loss up in Massachusetts.

The Phantoms had leads of 1-0 in the first period and 3-2 in the third period, but a momentum swing in Worcester's favor during a crucial two-minute stretch halfway through the third period proved to be the difference tonight.

Brandon Alderson gave the Phantoms a 3-2 lead 8:02 into the third period, but the Sharks countered that on the very next shift when Daniil Tarasov netted his third of the season to tie the game 3-3 just 49 seconds later. Kevin Goumas and Maxim Lamarche tallied assists on Alderson's 2nd of the season for the Phantoms.

The Phantoms looked to re-gain momentum when Evan Trupp was assessed a tripping minor 17 seconds after Tarasov's goal, but it was the Sharks striking shorthanded to take the 4-3 lead on Ryan Carpenter's third goal of the campaign.

As the headline reads, the Phantoms opened their four-game road trip with their fourth straight loss (0-3-1-0). They'll look to get back in the win column Friday night in Manchester against last season's Atlantic Division champion Monarchs, before traveling to Maine to take on the Portland Pirates on Saturday night. Both games are 7:00 p.m. ET face-offs.

The Phantoms got off to a good start in the first period, taking a 1-0 lead on a power play goal from Taylor Leier - his 2nd goal as a pro. Petr Straka and Shayne Ghostisbehere got the assists on the power play tally 5:10 into the contest.

From there, the Phantoms continued to dominate play and, after killing off a Sharks power play, got their second power play of the evening with less than five minutes to play in the opening period. The Phantoms power play went by the wayside and the Sharks tied the game shortly after, on a weird play where the puck seemed to hit off a skate and bank past Stolarz with 2:46 left in the period.

The Phantoms played well for most of the period - out shooting the Sharks at an 11-5 margin before their tying goal late in the period - but found themselves in a tied hockey game after 20 minutes.

The Sharks got to their game in the second period after killing off a penalty early in the middle frame, drawing back-to-back power plays in the middle part of the 2nd period and taking a 2-1 lead on a power play goal from Jeremy Langlois - his 2nd goal of the night.

The Phantoms battled back and Petr Straka tied the game at 2-2 heading into the third period after he knocked in a rebound of a Jesper Pettersson shot from the point past Sharks goalie Troy Grosenick, who stopped 32 of the 35 shots he faced in the win for Worcester tonight.

Anthony Stolarz picked up his third start of the season, but has yet to earn his first pro win stopping 31 of 35 in the loss tonight for the Phantoms.

ROSTER NOTES

Rookie goaltender Anthony Stolarz (31 saves/35 shots) got his third start of the season to start the team's four-game road trip, with veteran Rob Zepp backing him up.

Defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere (Saturday) and Brandon Manning (Wednesday) were back in the lineup after both were re-assigned from the Philadelphia Flyers.

Forward Jay Rosehill was also back in the Phantoms lineup after serving his three game suspension.

To make room, Brett Flemming and Derek Mathers were scratched.

Phantoms Scratches: Mark Alt (upper body), Steven Delisle (upper body), Brett Flemming and Brett Hextall (upper body).

Lines

Taylor Leier - Scott Laughton - Andrew Gordon
Petr Straka - Nick Cousins - Zack Stortini
Darroll Powe - Kevin Goumas - Brandon Alderson
Jay Rosehill - Andrew Johnston - Austin Fyten

Brandon Manning - Shayne Ghostisbehere
Robert Hagg - Jesper Pettersson
Oliver Lauridsen - Maxim Lamarche

Anthony Stolarz - Rob Zepp