Phantoms Prevail Over Providence With Three-Goal Third Period

Phantoms were back in Providence to finish off a three-game weekend.

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The Lehigh Valley Phantoms finished off a successful three-game weekend with a big 5-2 win over the Providence Bruins Sunday afternoon.

The Phantoms jumped ahead to a 1-0 lead on Sam Morin's 1st career professional goal, and after the PBruins twice tied things up the Phantoms broke the 2-2 tie with three third period goals - including an empty netter by Petr Straka (his 6th straight game with a goal).

Post-game reaction from Scott Gordon and Tim Brent after the jump.


POST-GAME REACTION

Scott Gordon on resiliency of team at tail end of 3-in-3:

We played with a short bench tonight with a lack of centers. They had the three centers tonight. I had a concern with the amount of special teams that some guys were over-extended and they still found a way to get it done.

Gordon on Stolarz playing three in a row:

He had a huge game for us. I think because of the way the games went Friday and Saturday - the games weren't 60 minutes of hard play in his zone - that made it a little easier for him to play three-in-three. He's been playing great and we want to take advantage of the way he's playing and try get some wins from him.

Gordon on the weekend:

There's no question. We had a disappointing three minutes Saturday night, but the rest of the weekend we ended up finding ways to get the job done so it was huge for us. To go back home and be three games under .500 but instead go home one game under .500 is huge for us.

Tim Brent on his PK goal and importance of that moment:

At that time they have a power play and it's a one-goal game. They've been pretty successful on the power play this year. I got a little bit of a break and was able to score. I don't want to say that's the difference because it's not. It's a full effort from everybody.

Brent on 3rd game in three days getting 4/6 on the weekend:

I think we all felt like we let one slip away yesterday and we wanted to come back with a good effort. Stolie played extremely well for us again and we found a way to win. As the season goes on, good teams do that. Hopefully, we are learning from the mistakes like we made last night and we can continue to build on the success we are having.

RECAP

Much better start for the Phantoms this afternoon in Providence than they had last night in Hartford. After some pressure in the opening minutes, Mark Alt got a puck down low to Nick Cousins at the right-wing circle and the team's leading scorer drew defenders in tight in the zone and fed a pass to the point to Sam Morin, who blasted a slap shot from the point past Zane McIntyre for his first career professional goal.

The Phantoms took the 1-0 lead 5:36 into the opening period and had some offensive zone time on a subsequent power play, but from there the PBruins got to the attack.

If not for several saves by Anthony Stolarz, making his third start in three days, the Phantoms would not have taken the one-goal lead into the second period. The Bruins out shot the Phantoms 15-4 in the first 20 minutes.

Stolarz continued to be strong in the second period but after three or four stops in a siege by Providence, Seth Griffith went upstairs on the Phantoms' goaltender to even the score at 1-1 just 1:43 into the middle period.

From there, the Phantoms had a decided edge in play - at one point out shooting the PBruins 9-4.

They re-gained the lead at 2-1 midway through the period after a good feed from Colin McDonald hit Danick Martel in the slot. Martel fired one past McIntyre for his 7th of the season at the 10:31 to give the Phantoms the lead back. Andrew MacDonald picked up the second assist.

A parade of penalties made the second half of the period largely a special teams affair, but the Phantoms headed to the locker room with a 2-1 lead heading into the final frame.

Providence would not go quietly into the night, also playing their third game in three nights. Griffith got a puck from Rob Bordson on an odd-man rush and caught a trailing Matt Irwin on a cross-ice pass for a shot that beat Stolarz to the spot to tie the game at 2-2 with 17:21 left in regulation.

The Phantoms had the same no-quit mentality. Just 1:03 after the PBruins tied it up, Tyrell Goulbourne and Aaron Palushaj got to work and Kevin Goumas benefited as the puck came to him in the slot and he fired one past McIntyre to give the Phantoms the lead back at 3-2 with 16:17 left in regulation.

Lehigh Valley had several power plays in the third period, but were unable to add to their lead until they were shorthanded. With Petr Straka in the box for interference, Tim Brent got control of a face-off in the defensive zone and flew down the wing on a 2-on-0 breakaway. Brent opted to shoot and he scored to extend the Phantoms lead to 4-2.

After several stops by Stolarz with Providence pulling their goalie for the final 2:28, Straka added an empty net goal to make it six straight games with a goal.

ROSTER NOTES - Phantoms

Anthony Stolarz (33 saves - 35 shots) got the start in net for the fifth straight game tonight for the Phantoms - his third game of the weekend. Martin Ouellette served as the team's backup.

No lineup changes for the Phantoms this afternoon.

Christian Marti was injured after taking a big time hit in Providence Friday night late in the 2nd period. Bruins forward Andrew Cherniwchan was assessed a major for boarding on the play. Marti never returned. Gordon said Marti needs to see the doctor and that he'll be out for a bit.

The Phantoms called up Jesper Pettersson from the ECHL yesterday and he replaced Marti in the lineup again this afternoon.

Up front, Kevin Sundher was again scratched for Brandon Alderson. Coach Gordon said Sundher had been dealing with a nagging injury and they kept him out to rest.

Phantoms Scratches: Cole Bardreau (injured), Kevin Sundher (injured), (Michael Parks (injured), Matt Lashoff (healthy/veteran), Jay Rosehill (healthy/veteran) & Logan Pyett (out indefinitely)

Lines (Starters in Bold/Italics)

Danick Martel - Tim Brent (A) - Aaron Palushaj
Petr Straka - Nick Cousins - Chris Conner
Tyrell Goulbourne - Kevin Goumas - Colin McDonald (C)
Evan Rankin - Pavel Padakin - Brandon Alderson

Andrew MacDonald (A) - Robert Hagg
Sam Morin - Mark Alt
Davis Drewiske - Jesper Pettersson

Anthony Stolarz - Martin Ouellette

GAME SUMMARY

1st Period

5:36: LV - Morin (1) - Cousins, Alt
7:59: PRO - (PP) Cherniwchan, minor (tripping)
16:44: LV - (PP) Cousins, minor (cross-checking)

2nd Period

1:43: PRO - Griffith (3) - Cross, Youds
4:51: PRO - (PP) Czarnik, minor (tripping)
10:31: LV - Martel (7) - McDonald, MacDonald
11:53: PRO - (PP) Breen, minor (tripping)
12:18: LV - (PP) Martel, minor (boarding)
12:50: PRO - (PP) Blidh, minor (holding)
17:16: PRO - (PP) Sexton, minor (kneeing)

3rd Period

2:39: PRO - Irwin (2) - Griffith, Bordson
3:43: LV - Goumas (3) - Palushaj, Goulbourne
6:39: LV - (PP) Hagg, minor (holding)
8:02: PRO - (PP) Phillips, minor (tripping)
9:59: PRO - (PP) Cherniwchan, minor (delay of game)
11:35: PRO - (PP) Sexton, minor (boarding)
14:02: LV - (PP) Straka, minor (interference)
14:11: LV - SHG Brent (5) - unassisted
19:37: LV - ENG Straka (12) - Hagg