Game 57 Preview: Lehigh Valley at Providence

Photo: Nina Weiss/Highland Park Hockey

Phantoms continue three-game weekend road trip in Hartford

Editor's Note - I'll have full coverage of tonight's Phantoms game against the ProvidenceBruins, live from Highland Park Hockey HQ!

• The puck drops at 3:05 p.m. ET, but make sure you're following along on Twitter -> @TonyAndrock and Facebook (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 players.

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (36-17-3) look to sweep their three-game weekend road trip with their final game this afternoon against the Providence Bruins.

Phantoms' Playoff Update - The Phantoms enter today's game tied in points with Providence with one less game played, keeping Lehigh Valley, at least for now, in second place in the Atlantic Division - four points behind first place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with one game in hand.

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms' magic number to clinch a berth in the 2017 Calder Cup Playoffs is currently at 33 points. You can also keep track of the playoff races in the AHL's daily Playoff Primer.

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

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Written by: Tony Androckitis, Twitter/Facebook

By The Numbers

LV: 56 games played, 36-17-3-0 = 75 points
2nd Place Atlantic Division

Streak: 2-0-0-0
Last Ten Games: 5-4-1-0

PRO: 57 games played, 33-15-5-4 = 75 points
3rd Place Atlantic Division
Streak: 0-1-0-0
Last Ten Games: 6-3-0-1

Special Teams

Power Play

LV - 62-for-274: 22.6% = 5th in AHL
PRO - 37-for-207: 17.9% = 14th in AHL

Penalty Kill

LV - 182-for-217: 83.9% = 8th in AHL
PRO - 176-for-207: 85.0% = 4th in AHL

Leading Scorers

LV:  T.J. Brennan (56GP, 17G-31A), Chris Conner (56GP, 19G-28A), Greg Carey (56GP, 26G-16A) and Andy Miele (45GP, 6G-34A)

PRO: Jordan Szwarz (53GP, 14G-29A), Wayne Simpson (57GP, 14G-24A), Alex Grant (52GP, 12G-21A) and Jake DeBrusk (55GP, 12G-20A)

Expected Starting Goaltenders

LV: Anthony Stolarz (20GP, 13-7-0, 3.02 GAA, .908 SV%, 1 SO)
PRO: Zane McIntyre (19GP, 15-1-1, 1.73 GAA, .942 SV%, 1 SO)

Season Series

This is the fifth of six scheduled meetings between the Phantoms and Bruins this season. The Phantoms are 3-1 against Providence this season, but their most recent matchup ended with an embararssing 9-1 loss to the PBruins while on home ice at the PPL Center.

Season Series Schedule

Friday, November 4th: Lehigh Valley - 4 at Providence - 2

Friday, November 18th: Lehigh Valley - 4 at Providence - 3 (OT)

Saturday, December 17th: Providence - 1 at Lehigh Valley - 7

Saturday, January 21st: Providence - 9 at Lehigh Valley - 1

Sunday, March 5th: Lehigh Valley at Providence - 3:05 p.m. ET

Friday, April 14th: Providence at Lehigh Valley - 7:05 p.m. ET

Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Roster Notes

Anthony Stolarz is expected back in net for the Phantoms this afternoon against Providence. Alex Lyon stopped 32 of the 33 shots he faced Saturday in Hartford.

Defenseman Robert Hagg and forward Danick Martel both exited with injuries in the second period Friday night in Springfield. Neither are expected to play the rest of this weekend.

Tyrell Goulbourne was called up to Lehigh Valley and joined the team in Hartford this morning. giving the Phantoms 12 healthy forwards. Reece Willcox had been the team's extra defenseman, but with Hagg's injury will slot back into the lineup alongside T.J. Brennan.

Steven Swavely blocked a shot during the third period in Utica two weekends ago, and left the game. It's safe to say Swavely will likely miss several weeks as he was seen at last Thursday's practice with his left hand/wrist in a cast.

Taylor Leier (concussion) will miss his 12th straight game, having not played since the AHL All-Star challenge on January 30th. Leier skated briefly with the team at practice last Thursday at PPL Center, but was the only skater wearing a green jersey and he exited the ice about 15-20 minutes after I arrived for the 10:30 practice. There are no updates being given on Leier's status or a timetable for his return from Phantoms' head coach Scott Gordon.

Boyd Gordon, who left in a Wednesday home game against Binghamton on [date] after a sliding BSens' forward crunched into his legs in the corner boards, is expected to miss a few weeks with a knee injury.

Expected Scratches: Robert Hagg (lower body), Steven Swavely (upper body), Danick Martel (undisclosed), Taylor Leier (concussion) and Boyd Gordon (lower body)

Expected Lines:

Cole Bardreau - Scott Laughton - Colin McDonald

Greg Carey - Corban Knight - Nicolas Aube-Kubel

Mark Zengerle - Andy Miele - Chris Conner

Tyrell Goulbourne - Chris McCarthy - Radel Fazleev

T.J. Brennan - Reece Willcox

Will O'Neill - Mark Alt

Sam Morin - Travis Sanheim

Anthony Stolarz - Alex Lyon

Recent Transactions

3/4: ADD - F Tyrell Goulbourne recalled from loan to Reading (ECHL)

3/1: DEL - F Jordan Weal recalled from loan by Philadelphia (NHL)

3/1: ADD - F Jordan Weal returned on loan from Philadelphia (NHL)

2/13: ADD - D Reece Willcox reassigned by Philadelphia (NHL) from Reading (ECHL)
2/12: DEL - D Reece Willcox reassigned by Philadelphia (NHL) to Reading (ECHL)
2/11: ADD - F Steven Swavely recalled from loan to Reading (ECHL)
2/10: ADD - F Chris McCarthy recalled from loan to Reading (ECHL)
2/10: DEL - F Jordan Weal recalled from loan by Philadelphia (NHL)