Game 13 Preview: W-B/Scranton at Lehigh Valley

Wednesday, November 16, 2016
The Flyers/Penguins rivalry extends into the American Hockey League. Photo: Nina Weiss/Highland Park Hockey
Phantoms Renew Rivalry With Penguins

Written by: Tony Androckitis, Twitter/Facebook

I'll have full coverage of tonight's Phantoms game against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins live from the PPL Center in downtown Allentown, Pa. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. ET, but make sure you're following along on Twitter -> @TonyAndrock and Facebook (be sure to like the Facebook page!) for all the latest updates and information.

Stay tuned here online after the game for a recap of the action. Don't forget to subscribe to Highland Park Hockey's YouTube channel for post-game interviews with AHL hockey players.

It's a battle between the top two teams in the American Hockey League's Eastern Conference tonight. Yes, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (8-3-1) host their bitter rival Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (10-2-1) tonight at 7:05 p.m. ET.

The Phantoms enter tonight's game on a season-high six-game winning streak after winning all three games in last weekend's set that included a 7-2 thrashing of North Division leading Toronto and a gritty 3-1 win in Hershey on Sunday.

The Penguins were the first team in the AHL to 10 wins this season, rebounding from a 3-0 loss to Toronto on home ice Friday with back-to-back wins over Providence and Hartford in a three-game weekend of their own last time out.

After the jump, a full preview of everything you need to know in advance of tonight's game.

You can help keep me on the road covering the Lehigh Valley Phantoms this season by making a donation via GoFundMe or PayPal.

By The Numbers

LV: 12 games played, 8-3-1-0 = 17 points
2nd Place Atlantic Division

WBS: 13 games played, 10-2-1-0 = 21 points
1st Place Atlantic Division

Special Teams

Power Play

LV - 15-for-60: 25.0% = 5th in AHL
WBS - 10-for-57: 17.5% = Tied-17th in AHL

Penalty Kill

LV - 39-for-46: 84.8% = 14th in AHL
WBS - 48-for-53: 90.6% = 1st in AHL

Leading Scorers

LV: Jordan Weal (12GP, 4G-11A), T.J. Brennan (12GP, 3G-9A) and Greg Carey (12GP, 7G-3A)
WBS: Jake Guentzel (13GP, 6G-7A), Oskar Sundqvist (12GP, 5G-5A) and Carter Rowney (13GP, 3G-7A)

Expected Starting Goaltenders

LV: Alex Lyon (4GP. 2-1-1, 2.99 GAA, .909 SV%, 0 SO)
WBS: Tristan Jarry (9GP, 6-2-1, 1.76 GAA, .935 SV%, 0 SO)

Season Series

This is the first of 12 meetings between the Phantoms and Penguins this season.

Season Series Schedule

Wednesday, November 16th: W-B/Scranton at Lehigh Valley - 7:05 p.m. ET
Friday, January 20th: W-B/Scranton at Lehigh Valley - 7:05 p.m. ET
Saturday, February 4th: Lehigh Valley at W-B/Scranton - 7:05 p.m. ET
Tuesday, February 14th: Lehigh Valley at W-B/Scranton - 7:05 p.m. ET
Saturday, February 25th: W-B/Scranton at Lehigh Valley - 7:05 p.m. ET
Wednesday, March 8th: Lehigh Valley at W-B/Scranton - 7:05 p.m. ET
Friday, March 17th: W-B/Scranton at Lehigh Valley - 7:05 p.m. ET
Saturday, March 18th: Lehigh Valley at W-B/Scranton - 7:05 p.m. ET
Saturday, March 25th: W-B/Scranton at Lehigh Valley - 7:05 p.m. ET
Saturday, April 1st: Lehigh Valley at W-B/Scranton - 7:05 p.m. ET
Friday, April 7th: W-B/Scranton at Lehigh Valley - 7:05 p.m. ET
Wednesday, April 12th: Lehigh Valley at W-B/Scranton - 7:05 p.m. ET

Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Roster Notes

With Anthony Stolarz called up to Philadelphia for the foreseeable future, the Phantoms will lean on Alex Lyon (STATS) to carry the load. After earning his first pro win Friday and his second two days later in Hershey (35 saves), Lyon has built up some confidence in his game. He'll need to be sharp tonight against a talented and deep Penguins team tonight.

Martin Ouellette has been called up to Lehigh Valley from Reading (ECHL) and will look to get his 1st AHL action this season. Ouellette, if you recall, played great down the stretch for the Phantoms before Stolarz re-joined the team from Philadelphia.

Andy Miele and Robert Hagg both remained out of practice, and Scott Gordon confirmed the two are getting closer to returning to practice and could be back as soon as next week. They won't play this week.

Expected Scratches: Robert Hagg (head), Tyrell Goulbourne and Andy Miele (upper body)

Expected Lines 

Taylor Leier (A) - Scott Laughton - Colin McDonald (C)
Greg Carey - Jordan Weal - Chris Conner
Danick Martel - Radel Fazleev - Corban Knight
Mark Zengerle - Cole Bardreau - Nicolas Aube-Kubel

T.J. Brennan - Reece Willcox
Sam Morin - Travis Sanheim
Will O'Neill (A) - Max Lamarche

Alex Lyon - Martin Ouellette

Recent Transactions

11/15: ADD - G Martin Ouellette recalled from loan by Lehigh Valley (AHL)
11/14: DEL - G Anthony Stolarz recalled from loan by Philadelphia (NHL)
11/10: DEL - F Roman Lyubimov recalled from loan by Philadelphia (NHL)
11/9: ADD - C Scott Laughton returned on loan from Philadelphia (NHL)
11/9: ADD - F Roman Lyubimov loaned from Philadelphia (NHL)
11/7: DEL - C Scott Laughton  recalled from loan to Philadelphia (NHL)
11/3: ADD - C Scott Laughton conditioning loan from Philadelphia (NHL)
10/27: ADD - LW Taylor Leier returned on loan from Philadelphia (NHL)

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