Phantoms Go Extra-Time to Win....Again
January 3, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Lehigh Valley Phantoms News Release
Norfolk, Va. - The Phantoms have been no strangers to overtime and shootouts this year...and the Lehigh Valley crew went extra-time yet again in a 3-2 shootout victory at the Norfolk Admirals on Saturday night to sweep the two-game weekend series.
Jason Akeson scored the only goal in the three-round shootout against the Norfolk Admirals while Zack Stortini (5th) and Petr Straka (8th) converted goals in regulation to push Lehigh Valley to a second consecutive away victory for the first time this season. But the star of the show was goaltender Rob Zepp who won for the second night in a row with a terrific 34-save performance that featured a number of 10-Bell stops.
Zepp's best of the night preserved a 2-2 tie with 4:14 remaining in the third period when he kicked out the right-leg to deny a big one-timer on the back-door from former NHL All-Star Dany Heatley. A large number of fans at Norfolk Scope Arena had risen to their feet on that one under the impression that Heatley's drive simply HAD to be a goal. But Zepp almost miraculously pushed across from post-to-post for the spectacular stop.
Emerson Etem (4th) scored 5-on-3 early in the second period and William Karlsson (4th) scored even-strength early in the third period to stake the Admirals to leads of 1-0 and 2-1.
Zack Stortini's goal on the power play late in the second period to tie the score at 1-1 came on a scramble in the crease following a big blast from the left point by Blair Jones that handcuffed Admirals goaltender Jason Labarbera.
Petr Straka's goal came 62 seconds after Karlsson had put Norfolk back in front. His interception from center-point of an errant clearing try resulted in a top-shelf conversion from the high slot.
The Phantoms have defeated Norfolk three times in the past week with all three of the tightly contested battles going to extra-time. Lehigh Valley is 4-0 on the season-series with the Admirals.
The Phantoms went to extra-time for a 12th occasion this year which is the most of any team in the Eastern Conference and second-most in the 30-team American Hockey League trailing only the Oklahoma City Barons who have engaged in 13 late-night battles of their own.
Both teams were 1-for-5 on the power play while the Phantoms outshot the Admirals 42-36. Lehigh Valley improved to 16-12-5 with the weekend-series sweep and moved to within one point of Providence for the 8th place position in the Eastern Conference nearing the midway point of the 2014-15 campaign.
Lehigh Valley returns to action next Saturday at 6:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) at St. John's and again on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. as the Phantoms tangle with the IceCaps in the final games of their five-game road swing.
The Phantoms return to PPL Center on Friday, January 16 and Saturday, January 17 against the Albany Devils and Binghamton Senators. The January 17 game is Legends Night featuring one of hockey's all-time greats, Bobby Clarke, making a live appearance at the game. Tickets for both weekend contests are going fast as the team aims for their 8th and 9th PPL Center sellouts of the season. purchase tickets in advance at PPLCenter.com or by calling 610-347-TIXX (8499).
Check it out! Group outings are a fun and affordable way to enjoy all the excitement of Phantoms hockey. For more information on group rates and fan experiences at PPL Center call the Phantoms front office today at 610-224-GOAL (4625)!
American Hockey League Stories from January 3, 2015
- Admirals Stop Dogs, Snap Skid - Milwaukee Admirals
- Leighton Slams Door Shut on Wolves - Rockford IceHogs
- Admirals Grab Two Points Despite Losses to Phantoms - Norfolk Admirals
- Falcons Slip Past Sharks, 4-3, in Shootout - Springfield Falcons
- Winless Streak Hits Three For Bridgeport - Bridgeport Islanders
- Rockford Spoils Sopel's Night - Chicago Wolves
- Marchessault Nets OT Winner, Blunden Draws - Syracuse Crunch
- Admirals Top Bulldogs 4-1 - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Phantoms Go Extra-Time to Win....Again - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- B-Sens' Comeback Falls Short, Lose 5-4 in OT - Binghamton Senators
- Szwarz Nets SO Goal, McKenna Shuts out Bruins - Portland Pirates
- Sharks Stumble Late in 4-3 Shootout Loss in Springfield - Worcester Sharks
- Barons Win 7th Straight, 5-2 over Lake Erie - Oklahoma City Barons
- Checkers' Skid Continues with 4-1 Trouncing by Texas - Charlotte Checkers
- Amerks Come up Empty-Handed in 4-0 Loss to Flames - Rochester Americans
- Penguins Fall in Shootout to Bears - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Comets Edged 2-1 by the Wild - Utica Comets
- Wolf Pack beaten by IceCaps - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Monsters Fall to OKC 5-2 - Cleveland Monsters
- The P-Bruins Fall to Portland Pirates 1-0 in Shootout - Providence Bruins
- Albany Devils Erupt for Road Win - Albany Devils
- Laxdal Earns 500th Coaching Win in Stars 4-1 Triumph over Charlotte - Texas Stars
- IceCaps Whip Wolf Pack 7-3 - St. John's IceCaps
- Bears Battle Past Penguins in Shootout - Hershey Bears
- Wild Takes Down North Division Leading Utica 2-1 - Iowa Wild
- Rampage Notch 4-3 Overtime Win over Marlies - San Antonio Rampage
- Dallas Reassigns Jokipakka, Honka - Texas Stars
- Marlies Fall in Overtime 4-3 to Rampage - Toronto Marlies
- Monarchs Recall Kitsyn from Ontario - Manchester Monarchs
- Canucks Assign Tom Sestito to Comets - Utica Comets
- IceCaps Re-Sign Defenceman Parent to PTO - St. John's IceCaps
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.
