Phantoms Earn Standings Point But Bruins Prevail in OT
November 23, 2024 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Lehigh Valley Phantoms News Release
Lehigh Valley Phantoms' Ethan Samson in action
(Lehigh Valley Phantoms)
Providence, RI - The Lehigh Valley Phantoms struck early at the Providence Bruins on a first-period power-play goal by Ethan Samson (3rd) but Michael Dipietro slammed the door on the Phantoms the rest of the way as the host P-Bruins rallied for a 2-1 overtime victory on Georgii Merkulov's breakaway goal in the extra period.
Lehigh Valley (6-6-4) earned a standings point in the weekend series finale while Parker Gahagen (25 saves) certainly played well enough to deserve the win in his first game of the season with the Phantoms following his recall last week from the ECHL Reading Royals.
Samson cranked up a big one-timer from the top of the left circle that was perfectly teed up by Louie Belpedio for a power-play strike at 4:44 into the game. Oscar Eklind also recorded an assist on the goal which was Samson's second tally in the last three games.
The Phantoms are second in the AHL on the power play at 25.5%.
Providence equalized early in the second period with Vinni Letteri maintaining enough control of the puck up the right boards to connect with big Riley Tufte (4th) who finished the play at 3:51 to forge a 1-1 tie.
Parker Gahagen and Michael DiPietro matched each other save for save the rest of the way. Lehigh Valley won the opening draw in overtime but the Providence Bruins deflected it away and eventually Ian Mitchell connected up ice with Merkulov who buried his breakaway backhander past the left pad of Gahagen for the game-winner.
Lehigh Valley is 2-3 in overtime games this season and and 3-4 in decisions past regulation while the Providence Bruins picked up their first overtime win of the campaign.
The Phantoms do not return to Providence this season. The Bruins will visit PPL Center on December 18.
Lehigh Valley wraps up its three-game road swing on Wednesday night at the Hartford Wolf Pack.
The Phantoms return to PPL Center over Thanksgiving Weekend with Phantoms Ballcap Night on Friday presented by Service Electric when the Phantoms take on the rival Hershey Bears. Saturday against the Laval Rocket features an appearance by GRITTY who will also be available for a pregame Meet and Greet.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st 4:44 - LV, E. Samson (3rd) (L. Belpedio, O. Eklind) (PP) (1-0)
2nd 3:51 - PRO, R. Tufte (4th) (V. Lettieri, M. Callahan) (1-1)
OT 0:55 - PRO, G. Merkulov (3rd) (I. Mitchell) (1-2)
Shots:
LV 23 - PRO 27
PP:
LV 1/2, PRO 0/2
Goaltenders:
LV - P. Gahagen (OTL) (0-0-1) (25/27)
PRO - M. DiPietro (W) (6-5-2) (22/23)
Records:
Lehigh Valley (6-6-4)
Providence (8-7-2)
UPCOMING
Wednesday, November 27 - Phantoms at Hartford Wolf Pack
Friday, November 29 - Phantoms vs. Hershey Bears - Phantoms Ballcaps from SECTV. WFMZ-69 Phantoms Coat Drive
Saturday, November 30 - Phantoms vs. Laval Rocket - Flyers Night with GRITTY!
Wednesday, December 4 - Phantoms vs. Rockford IceHogs - Pregame Happy Hour
Saturday, December 7 - Phantoms vs. Hershey Bears - Teddy Bear Toss presented by Big Woody's
Stay current with the latest Phantoms news with the Phantoms 365 app available for Apple and Android devices and at www.phantomshockey.com
Follow the team on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lehighvalleyphantoms), X (@lvphantoms), and Instagram (@lehighvalleyphantoms).
Images from this story
 Lehigh Valley Phantoms' Ethan Samson in action |
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from November 23, 2024
- Roadrunners Route Calgary 6-2 To Complete The Sweep - Tucson Roadrunners
- Reign Win Over Gulls, 4-1 - Ontario Reign
- Silver Knights Held Scoreless by Abbotsford - Henderson Silver Knights
- Bourgault Tallies Lone Sens' Goal in 3-1 Loss to Laval - Belleville Senators
- The Canucks Shut Out The Henderson Silver Knights In A 2-0 Victory - Abbotsford Canucks
- Stars Shine in Overtime - Texas Stars
- Bears Cap Road Trip with 5-4 Shootout Win Over Crunch - Hershey Bears
- IceHogs Earn Point in OT Loss to Stars - Rockford IceHogs
- McAllister, Driedger Step up in Shootout to Help Checkers Snap Skid - Charlotte Checkers
- Checkers Edge Islanders, 3-2, in Shootout - Bridgeport Islanders
- Syracuse Crunch Fall to Hershey Bears, 5-4, in Shootout - Syracuse Crunch
- Phantoms Earn Standings Point But Bruins Prevail in OT - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Merkulov's Overtime Goal Lifts P-Bruins Past Phantoms - Providence Bruins
- Amerks Tripped Up By Comets - Rochester Americans
- Wolf Pack's Winning Streak Snapped by Thunderbirds in 4-2 Defeat - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Monsters Win Streak Continues After 4-1 Win over Admirals - Cleveland Monsters
- Admirals Can't Scare off Monsters - Milwaukee Admirals
- Peca Nets Pair; T-Birds Win 4th Straight - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Comets Win Again, Beat Americans 5-1 - Utica Comets
- Moose Flip Script on Chicago - Manitoba Moose
- Barracuda Muted by Marlies 3-0 - San Jose Barracuda
- Wolves Downed by Moose 4-2 - Chicago Wolves
- Game #15: Tucson Roadrunners (7-7-0-0) vs Calgary Wranglers (13-4-1-0) - Tucson Roadrunners
- Anthony Richard Returned to Phantoms - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Kings Recall Copley, Loan Portillo to Ontario - Ontario Reign
- Wolf Pack Battle Thunderbirds on 'Hockey Fights Cancer' Night - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Islanders Host Checkers on 'Hockey Fights Cancer' Night - Bridgeport Islanders
- Game Preview: Bears at Crunch, 7 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Wolf Pack Recall Case McCarthy from Loan to Bloomington Bison - Hartford Wolf Pack
- IceHogs Look to Sweep Series with Texas - Rockford IceHogs
- Silver Knights Defeated by Abbotsford Canucks, 7-1 - Henderson Silver Knights
- Firebirds' Point Streak Moves to Seven with Overtime Win Over Gulls - Coachella Valley Firebirds
- Roadrunners' Captains Lead the Way in 5-3 Victory Over Calgary - Tucson Roadrunners
- The Abbotsford Canucks Take Their First Game Against The Henderson Silver Knights, 7-1. - Abbotsford Canucks
- D'Amato Is the Hero as Condors Win 2-1 - Bakersfield Condors
- Colorado Falls to Condors 2-1 in Overtime - Colorado Eagles
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Lehigh Valley Phantoms Stories
- Phantoms Power Play Presented by Provident Bank
- Ty Murchison Joins on ATO
- Phantoms Rocket Past Laval
- Preview: Phantoms at Rocket, Game #65
- Luchanko Debuts. Belleville Rallies Against Phantoms
