Game 46 Preview: Binghamton at Lehigh Valley

The Phantoms will be without two of their top forwards tonight pictured above in the most recent meeting between the Phantoms and BSens. Photo: Nina Weiss/Highland Park Hockey

Editor's Note: I'll have full coverage of tonight's Phantoms game against the Binghamton Senators, live from the PPL Center! The puck drops at 7:05p.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.

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (30-13-2) kick off a three-game week with a Wednesday night matchup against the Binghamton Senators (19-23-3).

Former Phantoms forward Jason Akeson tallied his 100th career AHL goal over the weekend with the BSens, and has 24 points (seven goals, 17 assists) in 27 games since signing an AHL contract with Binghamton after the season started.

The Phantoms look to put last Saturday's 7-1 drubbing in Wilkes-Barre behind them as they begin three in a row and five of their next six games on home ice at the PPL Center.

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.

Written by: Tony Androckitis, Twitter/Facebook

By The Numbers

LV: 45 games played, 30-13-2-0 = 62 points
2nd Place Atlantic Division
Streak: 0-1-0-0
Last Ten Games: 6-4-0-0

BNG: 45 games played, 19-23-2-1 = 41 points
6th Place North Division
Streak: 1-0-0-0
Last Ten Games: 5-5-0-0

Special Teams

Power Play

LV - 52-for-220: 23.6% = 4th in AHL
BNG - 23-for-164:14.0% = 28th in AHL

Penalty Kill

LV - 142-for-173: 82.1% = 16th in AHL
BNG - 113-for-144: 78.5% = 26th in AHL

Leading Scorers

LV: Jordan Weal (42GP, 15G-30A), T.J. Brennan (45GP, 13G-24A), Chris Conner (45GP, 13G-23A) and Greg Carey (45GP, 22G-12A)

BNG: Phil Varone (39GP, 12G-19A), Jason Akeson (27GP, 7G-17A), Max McCormick (38GP, 12G-9A) and Jack Rodewald (36GP, 13G-7A)

Expected Starting Goaltenders

LV: Alex Lyon (29GP, 19-8-2, 2.67 GAA, .911 SV%, 2 SO)
BNG: Chris Driedger (19GP, 9-8-2, 2.84 GAA, .908 SV%, 1 SO)

Season Series

Tonight marks the fifth of six scheduled meetings between the Phantoms and Senators this season. The Phantoms are 4-0 on the season against Binghamton, but three of those four wins were one-goal games.

Season Series Schedule

Wednesday, November 23rd: Lehigh Valley -1 at Binghamton - 0

Friday, November 25th: Binghamton -3 at Lehigh Valley - 4
Wednesday, January 25th: Binghamton - 2 at Lehigh Valley - 7
Friday, January 27th: Lehigh Valley - 2 at Binghamton - 1
Wednesday, February 8th: Binghamton at Lehigh Valley - 7:05 p.m. ET
Saturday, April 15th: Lehigh Valley at Binghamton - 7:05 p.m. ET

Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Roster Notes

Alex Lyon is expected to get the start in net tonight against Binghamton, with Anthony Stolarz coming off a 7-1 loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last weekend.

Taylor Leier will miss his third straight game with an undisclosed injury. After Saturday night's loss to the Penguins in Wilkes-Barre, head coach Scott Gordon offered very little as to what kept him out of action over the weekend:

He just.. uh, he's.. uh, going to take today off & we'll see where he is on Monday.

Leier didn't practice this week and everyone has been tight-lipped on his status moving forward. 

Colin McDonald, who left Saturday's game against the Penguins and didn't return, also didn't practice this week and is likely to miss tonight's game. Gordon said he didn't think McDonald's injury was serious initially, just that there was no need to rush him back into a lopsided game.

Expected Scratches: Taylor Leier (undisclosed injury), Mark Alt (healthy) and Colin McDonald (undisclosed injury)

Expected Lines:

Greg Carey - Andy Miele - Chris Conner
Danick Martel - Jordan Weal - Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Corban Knight - Scott Laughton - Mark Zengerle

Cole Bardreau - Boyd Gordon - Radel Fazleev

T.J. Brennan - Robert Hagg

Will O'Neill - Mark Alt

Sam Morin - Travis Sanheim

Alex Lyon - Anthony Stolarz

Recent Transactions

2/2: DEL - F Kevin Sundher released from his standard player contract (SPC)
1/24: DEL - G Mark Dekanich returned on loan to Reading (ECHL)

1/21: ADD - G Mark Dekanich recalled from loan to Reading (ECHL)

1/21: ADD - D Reece Willcox reassigned by Philadelphia (NHL)  from Reading (ECHL)

1/21: ADD - F Radel Fazleev reassigned by Philadelphia (NHL)  from Reading (ECHL)