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| Photo: Nina Weiss/Highland Park Hockey |
I'll have full coverage of tonight's Phantoms game against the Hershey Bears. 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.
After a penalty-filled 6-2 win for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (24-9-2) last night at home against rival Hershey (18-9-9), the two teams reconvene at the Giant Center in Hershey tonight to finish the home and home series in what should be another physical battle between bitter rivals in the Atlantic Division.
It's a tough as well as crucial portion of games coming up on the schedule, as after the Phantoms face Hershey twice this weekend they have four games next week including a three-in-three weekend against the other top three teams in the Atlantic Division in succession with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Providence at home on Friday and Saturday nights and another game in Hershey next Sunday.
A good outcome in the next two weeks worth of games could vault the Phantoms atop the division, but a poor showing could have them in the middle of the pack. It should make for some great games in the coming days.
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: 35 games played, 24-9-2-0 = 50 points
2nd Place Atlantic Division
Streak: 3-0-0-0
Last 10 Games: 7-2-1-0
HER: 36 games played, 18-9-7-2 = 45 points
4th Place Atlantic Division
Streak: 0-3-2-0
Last 10 Games: 3-4-3-0
Special Teams
Power Play
LV - 40-for-174: 23.0% = 5th in AHL
HER - 34-for-161: 21.1% = 9th in AHL
Penalty Kill
LV - 112-for-133: 84.2% = 8th in AHL
HER - 147-for-176: 83.5% = 10th in AHL
Leading Scorers
LV: Jordan Weal (33GP, 12G-22A), T.J. Brennan (35GP, 11G-19A) and Chris Conner (35GP, 9G-19A)
HER: Travis Boyd (36GP, 10G-22A), Chris Bourque (36GP, 8G-23A) and Christian Thomas (33GP, 16G-10A)
Expected Starting Goaltenders
LV: Alex Lyon (24GP, 16-6-2, 2.58 GAA, .913 SV%, 2 SO)
HER: Joe Cannata (17GP, 9-3-0, 3.06 GAA, .882 SV%, 0 SO)
LV: Jordan Weal (33GP, 12G-22A), T.J. Brennan (35GP, 11G-19A) and Chris Conner (35GP, 9G-19A)
HER: Travis Boyd (36GP, 10G-22A), Chris Bourque (36GP, 8G-23A) and Christian Thomas (33GP, 16G-10A)
Expected Starting Goaltenders
LV: Alex Lyon (24GP, 16-6-2, 2.58 GAA, .913 SV%, 2 SO)
HER: Joe Cannata (17GP, 9-3-0, 3.06 GAA, .882 SV%, 0 SO)
Season Series
Tonight marks the eighth of 12 regular season meetings between the Phantoms and Bears. Lehigh Valley is 4-3 against Hershey this season, having defeated the Bears 6-2 last night at the PPL Center.
Season Series Schedule
Sunday, October 30th: Lehigh Valley - 2 at Hershey - 3
Sunday, November 13th: Lehigh Valley - 3 at Hershey - 1
Friday, December 2nd: Hershey - 4 at Lehigh Valley - 3
Saturday, December 3rd: Lehigh Valley - 3 at Hershey - 2 (OT)
Friday, December 16th: Hershey - 2 at Lehigh Valley - 3 (SO)
Monday, December 26th: Hershey - 5 at Lehigh Valley - 2
Monday, December 26th: Hershey - 5 at Lehigh Valley - 2
Friday, January 13th: Hershey - 2 at Lehigh Valley - 6
Saturday, January 14th: Lehigh Valley at Hershey - 7:00 p.m. ET
Sunday, January 22nd: Lehigh Valley at Hershey - 5:00 p.m. ET
Friday, March 10th: Hershey at Lehigh Valley - 7:05 p.m. ET
Sunday, April 2nd: Lehigh Valley at Hershey - 5:00 p.m. ET
Wednesday, April 5th: Hershey at Lehigh Valley - 7:05 p.m. ET
Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Roster Notes
Alex Lyon will get the start in net tonight for Lehigh Valley. Anthony Stolarz picked up the win last night against Hershey.
Mark Alt played in two of the team's three games last weekend and is expected to see his first back-to-back game action this weekend. Reece Willcox looks to be the odd man out on the back end.
It's been a rotating 13th forward for Lehigh Valley as of late. In last weekend's three-game set, Corban Knight (Friday), Radel Fazleev (Saturday) and Mark Zengerle (Sunday) each sat out one game as a healthy scratch. Friday against Hershey, it was Nicolas Aube-Kubel's turn.
Danick Martel was injured and did not return for the third period Friday vs. Hershey, so his status for tonight's game remains unknown.
Boyd Gordon has cleared waivers and was assigned to Lehigh Valley this afternoon. Time will tell if he's going to be in Hershey for tonight's game.
Expected Scratches: Danick Martel (injured) and Reece Willcox (healthy)
Expected Lines:
Taylor Leier - Scott Laughton - Colin McDonald (C)
Nicolas Aube-Kubel - Jordan Weal - Mark Zengerle
Greg Carey - Andy Miele - Chris Conner
Cole Bardreau - Radel Fazleev - Mark Zengerle
T.J. Brennan - Mark Alt
Will O'Neill - Robert Hagg
Sam Morin - Travis Sanheim
Alex Lyon - Anthony Stolarz
Recent Transactions
1/6: ADD - D Mark Alt loaned from Philadelphia (NHL)
1/3: DEL - G Martin Ouellette returned on loan to Reading (ECHL)
1/3: ADD - G Anthony Stolarz returned on loan from Philadelphia (NHL)
1/2: DEL - D Max Lamarche returned on loan to Reading (ECHL)
1/2: DEL - F Steven Swavely returned on loan to Reading (ECHL)
1/1: ADD - F Taylor Leier returned on loan from Philadelphia (NHL)
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