Game 30 Preview: Lehigh Valley at Rochester

Photo: Nina Weiss/Highland Park Hockey

 Phantoms Finish 2016 in Rochester

I'll have full coverage of tonight's Phantoms game against the Rochester Americans. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. ET, but make sure you're following along on Twitter -> @TonyAndrock & 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.

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (20-8-1) look to finish the calendar year on a high note with two games this week in Rochester, New York against the Americans (12-17-1).

After the jump, a preview full of the latest news and notes to get you ready for 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. 

Written by: Tony Androckitis, Twitter/Facebook

By The Numbers

LV: 29 games played, 20-8-1-0 = 41 points
2nd Place Atlantic Division
Streak: 0-1-0-0
Last 10 Games: 7-3-0-0

RCH: 30 games played, 12-17-0-1 = 25 points
6th Place North Division
Streak: 0-2-0-0
Last 10 Games: 5-4-1-0

Special Teams

Power Play

LV - 32-for-141: 22.7% = 7th in AHL
RCH - 22-for-123: 17.9% = 15th in AHL

Penalty Kill

LV - 89-for-106: 84.0% = 8th in AHL
RCH - 103-for-126: 81.7% = 16th in AHL

Leading Scorers

LV: Jordan Weal (27GP, 10G-19A), T.J. Brennan (29GP, 10G-14A) and Greg Carey (29GP, 14G-8A)
RCH: Cole Schneider (25GP, 11G-17A), Cal O'Reilly (28GP, 5G-23A) and Paul Carey (30GP, 12G-9A)

Starting Goaltenders

LV: Alex Lyon (20GP. 13-6-1, 2.75 GAA, .909 SV%, 1 SO)
RCH: Linus Ullmark (23GP, 11-11-1, 2.95 GAA, .911 SV%, 0 SO)

Season Series

Tonight marks the third of four scheduled meetings in the regular season between the Phantoms and Americans. These two teams face off at Blue Cross Arena again tomorrow night to conclude the regular season series. Lehigh Valley enters tonight's game leading the season series 2-0 with a pair of wins at home earlier this month.

Season Series Schedule

Friday, December 9th: Rochester - 3 at Lehigh Valley - 4
Saturday, December 10th: Rochester - 2 at Lehigh Valley - 4
Wednesday, December 28th: Lehigh Valley at Rochester - 7:05 p.m. ET
Friday, December 30th: Lehigh Valley at Rochester - 7:05 p.m. ET

Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Roster Notes 

Alex Lyon is expected to get the start in net tonight against Rochester. He's started all but one of the team's last 18 games entering tonight's tilt.

Defenseman Will O'Neill will sit out tonight's game to serve his one-game suspension from the left-handed swat at a Hershey player after the final horn in Monday's loss to the Bears. Taking his place will be Max Lamarche.

Mark Alt is nearing a return to the Phantoms' lineup after a shoulder injury in NHL preseason action resulted in surgery and a lengthy absence. He hasn't been officially reassigned from Philadelphia yet, though he did travel with the Phantoms to Rochester.

Corban Knight had some travel delays that resulted in him being held out of Monday night's game, but he's expected to re-enter the lineup tonight up front.

Expected Scratches: Will O'Neill (suspension) and Steven Swavely (healthy)

Phantoms Lines 

Cole Bardreau - Scott Laughton - Colin McDonald (C)

Danick Martel - Jordan Weal - Nicolas Aube-Kubel

Greg Carey - Andy Miele - Chris Conner

Steven Swavely - Radel Fazleev - Mark Zengerle

T.J. Brennan - Reece Willcox

Sam Morin - Travis Sanheim

Robert Hagg - Max Lamarche

Alex Lyon - Martin Ouellette

Recent Transactions

12/21: ADD - G Martin Ouellette returned from loan to Reading (ECHL)

12/19: DEL - G Martin Ouellette returned on loan to Reading (ECHL)

12/11: ADD - F Steven Swavely returned from loan to Reading (ECHL)

12/11: ADD - D Max Lamarche returned from loan to Reading (ECHL)

12/11: DEL - F Kevin Sundher returned on loan to Reading (ECHL)

12/9: ADD - F Kevin Sundher returned from loan to Reading (ECHL)

12/9: DEL - D Max Lamarche returned on loan to Reading (ECHL)

12/9: DEL - F Steven Swavely returned on loan to Reading (ECHL)

12/5: ADD - C Scott Laughton loaned from Philadelphia (NHL)
12/5: DEL - F Taylor Leier recalled from loan by Philadelphia (NHL)