PREVIEW: Phantoms Start Three-Game Weekend In Binghamton

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms kick off a three-game weekend tonight in Binghamton at 7:05 p.m. ET.

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (10-9-2-1) are in Binghamton tonight at the Floyd L Maines Veterans Memorial Arena, taking on the Binghamton Senators (11-9-2-1) at 7:05 p.m. ET. The Phantoms trail the Senators by two points for third place in the East Division and will look to close the gap against a BSens team with wins in four of their last five games.

Stay tuned for full coverage of tonight's game, complete with live in-game updates via Twitter @TonyAndrock_TCG which is also embedded onto the right hand side of the website for ease of access. Full post-game recap of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (LV) and Binghamton Senators (BSens) right here at Highland Park Hockey shortly following the game.

A closer look at the two East Division teams after the jump.

By The Numbers

LV: 10-9-2-1 = 23 points, Fourth Place East Division (13th - East)
Last Ten Games: 5-3-1-1

BSens: 11-9-2-1 = 25 points, Third Place East Division (12th - East)
Last Ten Games: 7-2-0-1

LV Leading Scorers: #28 - Brandon Manning (6G-11A), #25 - Nick Cousins (4G-9A), #23 - Taylor Leier (7G-5A), #10 - Andrew Gordon (6G-6A)

BSens Leading Scorers: #6 - Chris Wideman (11G-12A), #18 - Shane Prince (9G-9A), #15 - Cole Schneider (9G-9A), #44 - Jean-Gabriel Pageau (8G-10A)

Expected Starting Goaltenders

LV - Rob Zepp: 7-4-3, 2.57 GAA, .918 SV%, 0 SO
BSens - Andrew Hammond: 5-8-2, 3.22 GAA, .910 SV%, 1 SO


ROSTER NOTES - Phantoms

Philadelphia Flyers GM Ron Hextall said Phantoms defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere met with doctors last night one month post-surgery in his recovery from ACL surgery and the update was a positive one. Per Hextall, the doctors are pleased with how the surgery went and he is right on schedule and where he should be at one month post-op. Gostisbehere is still at least 2-3 months away, but could return to action this season.

Also, the Phantoms could see forward Ryan White sent to the AHL from Philadelphia for purposes of a conditioning stint. White hasn't played in a game yet this year, but was recently cleared for contact per Hextall.

Rob Zepp appears to be fine after missing a few games with a lower body injury and there is no reason to expect the veteran won't start off the weekend in net for the Phantoms. The team plays three games this weekend, so rookie Anthony Stolarz should see a game this weekend as well.

The Phantoms are currently carrying 13 healthy forwards and seven healthy defensemen - one extra body at each position - to start the weekend.

Brett Flemming and Jesper Pettersson have been sharing the 6/7th defenseman role with Pettersson in the lineup the last two after sitting as a healthy scratch a few games prior.

Jay Rosehill found himself as a healthy scratch the last two games, last appearing in last Friday night's 5-1 blowout loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Derek Mathers has been the healthy scratch up front besides the last two games last weekend, but with three games in three days I would expect there will be some shuffling between now and Sunday afternoon.

Expected Lines

Taylor Leier - Blair Jones - Zack Stortini
Jason Akeson - Nick Cousins - Petr Straka
Darroll Powe - Kevin Goumas - Andrew Gordon
Jay Rosehill - Austin Fyten - Brett Hextall

Brandon Manning - Mark Alt
Robert Hagg - Steven Delisle
Jespser Pettersson - Oliver Lauridsen

Rob Zepp - Anthony Stolarz

Expected Scratches: Brett Flemming (healthy), Shayne Gostisbehere (ACL surgery, out at least 2-3 months) and Derek Mathers (healthy)