Game 52 Preview: Springfield at Lehigh Valley

The Phantoms host the Springfield Falcons tonight at 7:05 pm ET. Photo: Nina Weiss/The Home News

I'll be live from PPL Center tonight with full coverage of tonight's Phantoms game against the Springfield Falcons. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. ET, but make sure you're following me on Twitter -> @TonyAndrock and now on Facebook (be sure to like the Facebook page!) for all the latest updates and information this evening.

You can also help keep me on the road covering the team by making a donation via my GoFundMe page. Stay tuned here online after the game for a recap of the action complete with player reaction.

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (23-25-2-1) finish their five-game home stand this weekend with a pair of home contests before a road trip on Sunday to complete a crucial three-game weekend. Tonight, it's a match up against the Springfield Falcons - a team the Phantoms are 2-0 against this season and will also face on Sunday evening in southern Massachusetts.

The Phantoms have no time to waste in attempting to put together a final push towards postseason contention. With the 25 games left on their schedule. the Phantoms trail 4th place Providence by nine points with one more game played than the Bruins. The 5th place Bridgeport Sound Tigers are 10 points ahead of the Phantoms and visit the PPL Center for a Saturday night showdown.

All of the regular news, notes, stats and more to get you ready for tonight's game in a full preview after the jump.

By The Numbers

LV: 51 games played, 23-25-2-1 = 49 points

7th Place - Atlantic Division

Last 10 Games: 6-4-0-0

Streak: 0-2-0

SPR: 49 games played, 19-23-3-4 = 45 points

8th Place - Atlantic Division

Last 10 Games: 4-3-2-1

Streak: 1-0-0

Special Teams

Power Play

LV: 17.1% - 14th in AHL

SPR: 14.1% - 27th in AHL

Penalty Kill

LV: 82.9% - 15th in AHL

SPR: 77.5% - 30th in AHL

Leading Scorers (Active)

LV: Taylor Leier (46GP,15G-19A), Chris Conner (35GP, 12G-21A), Danick Martel (43GP, 18G-11A), Petr Straka (41GP, 17G-9A)

SPR: Dustin Jeffrey (39GP, 12G-26A), Greg Carey (44GP, 20G-11A), Alex Grant (49GP, 9G-22A), Craig Cunningham (37GP, 12G-15A)

Starting Goaltenders

LV: Anthony Stolarz (15-11-3, 2.52 GAA, .914 SV%, 0 SO)

SPR: Marek Langhamer (4-4-1, 3.76 GAA, .877 SV%, 0 SO)

Season Series

This is the 3rd of 4 scheduled meetings between Lehigh Valley and Springfield this season. The Phantoms are 2-0 against the Falcons this season, taking it to them in Springfield in their 2nd game of the season and holding off a late rally to win in a shootout at home back on December 12th.

Head to Head Scoring Leaders

LV: Petr Straka (2GP, 1G-3A), Chris Conner (1GP, 1G-2A), Danick Martel (2GP, 2G-0A)

SPR: Steven Delisle (2GP, 1G-2A), Ross Mauermann (2GP, 0G-2A), Laurent Dauphin (2GP, 0G-2A)

Goalies Head to Head Stats

LV: Anthony Stolarz (2GP, 2-0-0, 2.40 GAA, .912 SV%, 0 SO)

       Jason LaBarbera - No Stats

SPR: Marek Langhamer - No Stats

         Josh Robinson - No Stats

Season Series Schedule

Friday 10/16, Lehigh Valley - 4 at Springfield - 1

Saturday 12/12, Springfield - 4 at Lehigh Valley - 5 (SO)

Friday  2/19, Springfield at Lehigh Valley - 7:05 p.m. ET

Sunday 2/21, Lehigh Valley at Springfield - 5:00 p.m. ET

Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Roster Notes

Anthony Stolarz is expected to get the start in net tonight for the Phantoms after being pulled in his last start Saturday against Utica.

Andrew MacDonald was recalled by the Philadelphia Flyers before the Phantoms took the ice for warm up last weekend. He was the team's leading scorer, while leading all AHL defensemen in assists (31) at the time of his recall.

Pavel Padakin was reassigned to Reading on Wednesday and played one game with the Royals Wednesday night before re-joining the Phantoms on Thursday.

Padakin might be in the lineup tonight for Lehigh Valley, as it was reported that Colin McDonald will miss tonight's game with an undisclosed injury. Phantoms' play-by-play Bob Rotruck noted the injury is minor & McDonald isn't expected to be out long term.

Scratches: Kevin Sundher (lower body since 12/27), Colin McDonald (upper body), Michael Parks (upper body since 10/17), Pavel Padakin (healthy), Tim Brent (hand/wrist surgery), Jay Rosehill (healthy) and Logan Pyett (out indefinitely)

Lines (Starters in Bold/Italics)

Petr Straka - Cole Bardreau - Pavel Padakin
Taylor Leier (A) - Phil DeSimone - Chris Conner (A)

Danick Martel - Kevin Goumas - Aaron Palushaj

Tyrell Goulbourne - Joe Rehkamp - xxxxxxxxxxxx

Davis Drewiske (A) - Robert Hagg

Sam Morin - Mark Alt

Christian Marti - Max Lamarche

Adam Comrie

Anthony Stolarz - Jason LaBarbera

Recent Transactions

2/18: RW Pavel Padakin recalled from loan to Reading (ECHL)
2/17: RW Pavel Padakin returned on loan to Reading (ECHL)
2/13: D Andrew MacDonald recalled from loan by Philadelphia (NHL)
2/11: G Anthony Stolarz returned on loan by Philadelphia (NHL)
2/11: G Martin Ouellette loaned to Reading (ECHL)
2/5: C Nick Cousins recalled from loan by Philadelphia (NHL)