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AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Checkers Rally in Potential Playoff Preview

April 3, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Lehigh Valley Phantoms News Release


Lehigh Valley Phantoms Goaltender Dustin Tokarski stops a Charlotte Checkers' scoring attempt
Lehigh Valley Phantoms Goaltender Dustin Tokarski stops a Charlotte Checkers' scoring attempt
(Lehigh Valley Phantoms)

Charlotte, NC - Dustin Tokarski did everything humanly possible, and perhaps even beyond that standard. But eventually the Charlotte Checkers broke through for a comeback 3-1 victory on Tuesday night over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The two teams' current alignment in the standings in the first and fourth positions of the Atlantic has this matchup as a potential playoff rematch in a couple weeks.

Tokarski stayed extremely hot and, in fact, perhaps played his most spectacular game of the season despite the end result. He preserved the Phantoms 1-0 lead into the third period while facing a barrage of point-blank chances for the high-flying Checkers who are the second-highest scoring team in the conference behind only the Phantoms.

Tokarski was coming off a magnificent month of March in which the 28-year-old from Watson, Saskatchewan went 6-1-1 with three shutouts and a 1.94 goals-against average and .931 save percentage. For awhile it looked like "Tick" was potentially in line to pick up his sixth shutout of the season which would have moved him into a tie for the league lead.

Radel Fazleev (4th) scored shorthanded in the first period to provide the Phantoms the opening lead. But eventually the Checkers rallied for three goals in the third period for the victory. It was the first time in two years that the Phantoms took a regulation loss when holding the lead after 40 minutes. The team's record when leading after two now stands at 31-1-4.

The game also marked the professional debut of 20-year-old forward Carsen Twarynski who had just joined the team on an Amateur Tryout Contract. It was also the second pro game for new defenseman David Drake out of the University of Connecticut.

The Phantoms sustained just their 18th loss of the regular season which is tied with the Toronto Marlies for the fewest in the American Hockey League. It was also Lehigh Valley's second loss in the last eight games (6-2-2) and third loss in the last 15 games (10-3-2).

Charlotte came out flying to begin the game and out shot the Phantoms 14-3 in the first period. But Aube-Kubel's steal neatly set up Fazleev for a shorthanded snipe to the left post for a 1-0 lead. The second shortie of the season for Fazleev was also the 11th for the Phantoms. Fazleev had just been denied on a breakaway mere moments earlier.

Charlotte thought they had scored on a bar-down shot on their third power play of the opening period but the referee's original call of no goal was upheld by video-review despite the red light being signaled by the goal judge.

The Phantoms improved their overall play in the second period but still required some significant acrobatics by Tokarski to bail them out.

Finally the Checkers broke through in the third period with Andrew Poturalski's 20th of the season just two minutes into the third period capping a 2-on-1 with Greg McKegg on a shot that was almost saved on a sprawling effort by Tokarski. The pass across from McKegg was very nearly blocked by Mark Friedman who was the lone player back.

Charlotte eventually took the lead with 4:02 remaining on a back-door slam from the left of the cage by NHL veteran Marcus Kruger following a spectacular backhand spinorama pass from the right boards by Sergei Tolchinsky.

Mike Ferrantino's empty-netter from the left boards with 48 seconds left completed the scoring.

The Phantoms Magic Number to clinch the Atlantic Division remains at six points over the second-place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Five games remain in the regular season.

Charlotte out shot the Phantoms 39-22. Both teams finished 0-for-5 on the power play.

Lehigh Valley and Charlotte will rematch on Wednesday night at Bojangles' Coliseum.

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms return to PPL Center for their final home games of the regular season on Friday, April 13 against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Saturday, April 14 against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Tickets for the final Phantoms home engagements before the exciting Calder Cup playoffs are available.

Lehigh Valley Phantoms 1 at Charlotte Checkers 3 - Status: Final

Tuesday - Bojangles' Coliseum

Lehigh Valley 1 0 0 - 1

Charlotte 0 0 3 - 3

1st Period-1, Lehigh Valley, Fazleev 4 (Aube-Kubel), 15:47 (SH). Penalties-Carey Lv (slashing), 6:51; Stortini Cha (hooking), 10:32; Bardreau Lv (hooking), 14:02; O'Neill Lv (roughing), 16:26.

2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Finn Cha (cross-checking), 1:30; Gauthier Cha (holding), 6:19; Martel Lv (slashing), 12:32; Tolchinsky Cha (high-sticking), 12:39.

3rd Period-2, Charlotte, Poturalski 20 (McKegg), 1:58. 3, Charlotte, Kruger 2 (Tolchinsky, Kichton), 15:58. 4, Charlotte, Ferrantino 3 (Roy, Robertson), 19:12 (EN). Penalties-Kichton Cha (holding), 6:42; Martel Lv (goaltender interference), 10:58.

Shots on Goal-Lehigh Valley 3-7-12-22. Charlotte 14-8-17-39.

Power Play Opportunities-Lehigh Valley 0 / 5; Charlotte 0 / 5.

Goalies-Lehigh Valley, Tokarski 19-8-6 (38 shots-36 saves). Charlotte, Smith 10-13-1 (22 shots-21 saves).

A-4,443

Referees-Chris Brown (86), Furman South (44).

Linesmen-Bevan Mills (53), Ryan Townsend (2).

Check out the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Statistics




Images from this story

Lehigh Valley Phantoms Goaltender Dustin Tokarski fends off the Charlotte Checkers
Lehigh Valley Phantoms Goaltender Dustin Tokarski fends off the Charlotte Checkers
 Lehigh Valley Phantoms Defenseman David Drake fights through the Charlotte Checkers
Lehigh Valley Phantoms Defenseman David Drake fights through the Charlotte Checkers
 Lehigh Valley Phantoms vs. the Charlotte Checkers
Lehigh Valley Phantoms vs. the Charlotte Checkers
Lehigh Valley Phantoms Goaltender Dustin Tokarski stops a Charlotte Checkers' scoring attempt
Lehigh Valley Phantoms Goaltender Dustin Tokarski stops a Charlotte Checkers' scoring attempt
   



American Hockey League Stories from April 3, 2018


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