 |
| Laughton is back & eager to push the Phantoms into playoff contention. |
Scott Laughton was a difference maker in his first game back in the AHL since mid-November, tallying two assists - including setting up the game's opening goal scored by birthday boy Taylor Leier. It was the second night in a row Leier opened the scoring, and he more than anyone is happy to have his linemate (& roommate) from the beginning of the season back at his side.
"We didn't skip a beat," Leier said after the game about his chemistry with Laughton. "We've been linemates through the summer camps, rookie camp, the preseason and regular season."
The Phantoms (24-21-4-1) are looking forward to returning home to PPL Center, where they have lost their last four home games, to host a Binghamton Senators team that has been "a thorn in the side" to Lehigh Valley this season according to Gordon.
The Phantoms penalty problems continued in the first period as they were whistled for four minor penalties in the first 11:35 of the contest. Luckily for the Phantoms, they were able to kill them all off and even take a 1-0 lead in the midst of all the penalty kills.
In his first game back with Lehigh Valley, Laughton won a puck battle in the corner of the offensive and fed it to Leier who opened the scoring for the second straight night - picking the top right corner and beating Falcons goaltender Oskar Dansk to the spot 7:10 into the first period.
The Phantoms would take the 1-0 lead into the second period, but a Domenic Monardo deflection goal off of a Brett Ponich point shot for Springfield tied the game up at 1-1 about five minutes into the middle frame.
From there, the Phantoms were opportunistic - getting the lead back 87 seconds after the Falcons tied the game on a great individual effort by Akeson. Akeson stole a puck and wheeled his way into the slot, using the defender as a screen and wristing one top shelf on Dansk to make it 2-1 Phantoms.
After a double-minor high-stick on Springfield, the Phantoms power play went to work and extended their lead to 3-1 after Zack Stortini stuffed home a rebound of a Brandon Manning point shot. Laughton added his second assist of the night on Stortini's 9th of the year at 7:26 of the second period.
The Falcons didn't pack it in down 3-1. In fact, they made it a one goal game after a delay of game penalty on Rob Zepp, in net for his third game of the weekend. Marko Dano got a puck to T. J. Tynan for his 6th of the season, while Mike Little added a secondary assist on the Falcons' power play goal.
The goal scoring wasn't done in the middle frame, as the 5th goal of the period restored the Phantoms' two goal lead at 4-2. On a play similar to Stortini's first goal, he camped in front of Dansk and stuffed home the rebound of a Jay Rosehill shot with 7:01 left in the 2nd for his second tally of the game.
Again, there was no quit by the Falcons down by two goals entering the third period. Just 2:23 into the 3rd, Luke Adam picked a corner on Zepp after a nice feed from Little for his 13th of the season.
The Phantoms had two power play chances after the goal that made it 4-3, but were unable to restore their two-goal lead. The Falcons tied the game up shortly after one of their own power plays had ended, on a one-timer by Jaime Sifers with 6:06 left in regulation.
The Phantoms went to overtime tied at 4-4 for the second straight night and after a stick lift by Gordon on the defensive blue line sprung him on a breakaway, the veteran forward finished things off 24 seconds into the extra session with a fore hand to backhand move on Dansk.
ROSTER NOTES
Rob Zepp (27 saves - 31 shots) drew the start in net for his third game in three nights. Martin Ouellette was Zepp's backup for the third straight night.
On defense, no changes were made as Brett Flemming and Jesper Pettersson were both healthy scratches.
Up front, recently re-assigned Scott Laughton was back in the Phantoms lineup. Brandon Alderson also returned after sitting out last night's shootout win in Wilkes-Barre as a healthy scratch. Kevin Goumas and Derek Mathers were scratched to make room for them.
Scratches: Brett Flemming (healthy), Jesper Pettersson (healthy), Shayne Gostitsbehere (ACL surgery in November), Kevin Goumas (healthy), Blair Jones (lower body) and Derek Mathers (healthy).
Lines
Taylor Leier - Scott Laughton - Andrew Gordon
Jason Akeson - Nick Cousins - Zack Stortini
Jay Rosehill - Austin Fyten - Brett Hextall
Petr Straka - Darroll Powe - Brandon Alderson
Brandon Manning - Mark Alt
Adam Comrie - Steven Delisle
Oliver Lauridsen - Robert Hagg
Rob Zepp - Martin Ouellette
GAME SUMMARY
1st Period
0:57: LV - (PP) Stortini, minor (tripping)
0:57: LV - Stortini, major (fighting)
0:57: SPR - Larkin, major (fighting)
4:46: LV - (PP) bench minor, too many men (Served by Straka)
7:10: LV - Leier (13) - Laughton
8:31: LV - (PP) Akeson, minor (tripping)
11:35: LV - (PP) Hextall, minor (slashing)
13:28: SPR - (PP) bench minor, too many men (served by Monardo)
16:23: LV - Hextall, major (fighting)
16:23: SPR - Rychel, major (fighting)
18:13: SPR - (PP) Tyrell, minor (slashing)
2nd Period
1:22: SPR - (PP) Larkin, minor (cross-checking)
4:40: SPR - Monardo (9) - Ponich, Chaput
6:07: LV - Akeson (15) - unassisted
6:55: SPR - (PP) Hoeffel, double-minor (high-sticking)
7:26: LV - PPG Stortini (9) - Manning, Laughton
11:18: LV - (PP) Zepp, minor (delay of game)
11:48: SPR - PPG Tynan (6) - Dano, Little
12:59: LV - Stortini (10) - Rosehill, Fyten
12:59: LV - Rosehill, major (fighting)
12:59: LV - Rosehill, ten-minute misconduct
12:59: SPR - Gagnon, major (fighting)
12:59: SPR - Gagnon, ten-minute misconduct
3rd Period
2:23: SPR - Adam (13) - Little, Sifers
6:36: SPR - (PP) Cowick, minor (cross-checking)
6:36: SPR - Cowick, minor (roughing)
6:36: LV - Lauridsen, minor (roughing)
9:26: SPR - (PP) Monardo, minor (interference)
11:38: LV - (PP) Alderson, minor (holding)
Overtime
0:24: LV - Gordon (15) - unassisted
0 comments:
Post a Comment