Phantoms Head Into All-Star Break With Win Over St. John's

Per Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach Terry Murray, forward Ryan White will be recalled by the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms enter the AHL's All-Star break on a positive note after a 4-3 win over the St. John's IceCaps tonight.

Andrew Gordon scored his third goal in three games against his former team, Kevin Goumas tallied his second goal in as many nights and Martin Ouellette stopped 23 of the 26 shots he faced in the win for the Phantoms.

The big news coming out of tonight's game came after the final horn sounded. In his post-game press conference, head coach Terry Murray clarified - when asked about the possibility that Jay Rosehill would be a replacent - that forward Ryan White will be recalled by the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Phantoms are now off until Thursday night when they host the Albany Devils. With the win, they keep pace in the East Division with the Hershey Bears and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins - who both won in overtime tonight. It's six points behind Hershey for first place and five points behind the Penguins (with three games in hand).

There's a meeting with the Pens coming next weekend after the 2015 AHL All-Star Classic this weekend in Utica, New York. After traveling to Syracuse for Friday night's game and Allentown tonight, I'm also very fortunate I'll finish the four-day road trip with two nights at one of the league's premier events.  Be sure to follow along on Twitter -> @H_P_Hockey for both nights of the 2015 AHL All-Star Classic starting Sunday night with the Skills Competition.

Full recap and the latest Lehigh Valley Phantoms roster news/notes after the jump.

The Phantoms got off to another quick start at home, taking a 1-0 lead 2:22 into the first period after great work by Zack Stortini to force a turnover on a forecheck. Nick Cousins picked up the turnover above the left-wing face-off circle and dished it to former IceCaps forward Andrew Gordon at the top of the crease for an easy tap-in past Hellebucyk.

It was back-and-forth from there until a Phantoms penalty on Petr Straka halfway through the period gave the IceCaps a power play chance they wouldn't let go to waste. Will O'Neill wound up a shot from the point and it was wired to the top shelf and past Ouellette to even things up at 1-1 with 9:34 left in the first frame. Brenden Kichton picked up the lone assist on O'Neill's 7th of the season.

No scoring in the middle frame, but several great chances by both teams. The pace was elevated in the 2nd period and overall the game had a great flow to it with several stretches of whistle-free hockey.

After just two goals through 40 minutes, the flood gates opened for five goals in the third.

First, Alderson set up Goumas in the slot for his second goal in as many nights to put the Phantoms up 2-1 early in the final frame. With two goals this weekend, Goumas has tripled his goal total after coming into the weekend with just one goal in 31 games. Straka also added an assist on the play.

Straka and Goumas weren't done there either, extending the lead to 3-1 less than five minutes later when Straka put home the rebound of a Steven Delisle point shot 7:52 into the final frame.

The IceCaps twice made it a one-goal game but couldn't force overtime tonight.

Taylor Leier scored his first goal in his last 13 games tonight - getting his 9th of the season by firing a hard shot home from the right-wing face-off dot - to give the Phantoms an insurance marker with less than nine minutes left in regulation.

ROSTER NOTES 

Martin Ouellette (23 saves - 26 shots) got the start in net tonight for the Phantoms. Anthony Stolarz got the night off after playing last night in Syracuse.

On defense, Robert Hagg missed tonight's game due to feeling a bit under the weather. This gave Jesper Pettrsson a chance to get back in the lineup - his first game since Jan 3rd against these same IceCaps.

No changes front as Blair Jones remained out with a lower body injury that caused him to his 4th straight game. Darroll Powe also remains out and hasn't played since 12/27.

Ryan White will be called up to the Flyers per head coach Terry Murray.

Scratches: Mark Alt (broken hand), Robert Hagg (flu), Shayne Gostisbehere (ACL injury), Blair Jones (lower body), Derek Mathers (healthy) and Darroll Powe (upper body).

Lines

Taylor Leier - Ryan White - Jason Akeson

Zack Stortini - Nick Cousins - Andrew Gordon

Jay Rosehill - Austin Fyten - Brett Hextall

Petr Straka - Kevin Goumas - Brandon Alderson

Brandon Manning - Jesper Pettersson

Adam Comrie - Steven Delisle

Oliver Lauridsen - Brett Flemming 

Martin Ouellette - Anthony Stolarz

GAME SUMMARY 

1st Period

2:22: LV - Gordon (13) - Cousins

10:55: LV - (PP) Straka, minor (hooking)

11:26: STJ - PPG O'Neill (7) - Kichton

13:29: STJ - (PP) Kosmachuk, minor (interference)

15:47: LV - (PP) Delisle, minor (tripping)

2nd Period

4:54: LV - (PP) Rosehill, minor (high-sticking)

18:47: LV - (PP) Leier, minor (delay of game)

3rd Period

3:25: LV - Goumas (3) - Alderson, Straka

6:07: STJ - (PP) Riley, minor (high-sticking)

7:17: LV - (PP) Stortini, minor (tripping)

7:52: LV - Straka (11) - Delisle, Goumas

8:26: LV - (PP) Lauridsen, minor (playing with broken stick)

8:41: STJ - PPG O'Neill (8) - Brouillette, Kosmachuk 

11:08: LV - Leier (9) - White

15:56: LV - (PP) Manning, minor (tripping)

19:01: STJ - Klingberg (14) - O'Neill