AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Phantoms Weekly - Phantoms Return to PPL Center this Friday, Saturday

Published on November 24, 2015 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Lehigh Valley Phantoms News Release


Lehigh Valley Phantoms Defenseman Samuel Morin
Lehigh Valley Phantoms Defenseman Samuel Morin
(Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Credit: JustSports Photography)

Upcoming

One of the hottest teams in the American Hockey League, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (8-9-1-0, 17 pts., 6th Atlantic Division), enter the week having won four of their last six games and have claimed nine of a possible 12 standings points during their recent surge.

Lehigh Valley returns to action this Wednesday, November 25 when the team travels to Utica for its first-ever meeting with the Comets, the AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks. The defending Western Conference champions, Utica (6-8-1-1, 14 pts., 7th North Division) won just one of three outings last week but was able to snap a four-game losing skid with a 3-2 victory at the Hartford Wolf Pack on Sunday. Prior to that, the Comets absorbed a 3-2 setback at home against Hartford on Friday before falling in a 4-2 decision at home to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Saturday.

Photos courtesy JustSports Photography.

Wednesday's clash marks the first of four total meetings during the 2015-2016 regular season between Lehigh Valley and Utica. The contest also caps a four-game road swing for the Phantoms who won a pair of games at the Providence Bruins on Friday and Sunday around a 3-1 setback to the Wolf Pack on Saturday.

The Phantoms then return to PPL Center for a pair of Thanksgiving weekend showdowns.

First, on Friday, November 27, Lehigh Valley hosts the rival Hershey Bears for just the second time this season. Hershey (9-5-0-3, 21 pts., 3rd Atlantic Division) swept a weekend series with the Portland Pirates last week, earning a 3-2 victory at Giant Center on Friday before capturing a 4-2 home win on Saturday. The Bears enter the week in the midst of a three-game winning streak and will host Providence on Wednesday before heading to PPL Center on Friday.

Friday's game will be the third of 12 total meetings between the Phantoms and Bears this season. Lehigh Valley earned a 5-4 shootout win at Giant Center on November 1 before Hershey grabbed a 4-2 win in downtown Allentown on November 6.

Then, on Saturday, November 28, the Phantoms welcome the Providence Bruins to town. Providence (4-9-3-1, 12 pts., 8th Atlantic Division) earned a 4-1 triumph over the Springfield Falcons on Saturday in between a pair of setbacks to Lehigh Valley. The Bruins enter the week having dropped eight of their last nine outings and have garnered just four of a possible 18 standings points during that stretch.

Saturday's game, which marks the fifth of six total meetings this season between the Phantoms and Bruins, includes a post-game autograph session with Phantoms players along with a team poster giveaway. Tickets for Friday and Saturday's games are available now at pplcenter.com, by calling 610-347-TIXX [8499] or in person at the Mealey's Furniture Box Office at PPL Center.

Phantoms By The Numbers

Winger Petr Straka enters the week leading all AHL skaters with 12 goals. He's currently in the midst of a six-game goal-scoring streak, which is now just one game shy of the franchise record set by Shawn McCosh (1996-97) and Mike Maneluk (1999-2000). Straka has converted in 11 of 18 games this season and hasn't gone more than three straight games without finding the back of the net.

Center Nick Cousins enters the week first among all Lehigh Valley skaters and tied for fourth among all AHLers in total scoring with 18 points (5 goals, 13 assists). After recording an assist in each of the team's three games last week, the 22-year-old pivot has now registered at least one point in 11 of 14 games this season.

Goaltender Anthony Stolarz enters the week having started six straight games between the pipes for Lehigh Valley. The 21-year-old netminder is 4-1-1 during that stretch with a 2.00 goals-against average and .936 save percentage. In 12 total games this season, Stolarz is 7-4-1 with a 1.93 goals-against average (5th AHL) and .931 save percentage (8th AHL).

Lehigh Valley has been one of the most disciplined teams in the AHL through the season's first two months. The Phantoms enter the week averaging the fourth-fewest penalty minutes on a per-game basis (11.3).

Last Week

Friday, November 20: Lehigh Valley Phantoms 4 - Providence Bruins 1

Kevin Sundher scored twice and Anthony Stolarz stopped 29 of 30 shots as the Phantoms earned a 4-1 victory over the Providence Bruins inside Dunkin' Donuts Center. Danick Martel and Petr Straka also found the back of the net for Lehigh Valley while Ben Sexton landed the lone conversion for Providence.

Colin McDonald tallied an assist in his return to the lineup after missing 14 games due to injury while defenseman Mark Alt notched an assist to go along with a game-high plus-three rating.

Saturday, November 21: Lehigh Valley Phantoms 1 - Hartford Wolf Pack 3

Petr Straka scored in his fifth straight game and Anthony Stolarz, making his fifth consecutive start, registered 23 saves but the Hartford Wolf Pack were able to hang on for a 3-1 win over Lehigh Valley at XL Center. Luke Adam (goal, assist) and Jayson Megan (2 assists) led the offensive attack for the Wolf Pack who won their second straight game after snapping a seven-game winless skid.

Sunday, November 22: Lehigh Valley Phantoms 5 - Providence Bruins 2

Samuel Morin scored his first professional goal and Petr Straka netted his league-leading 12th tally as the Phantoms completed a weekend sweep of the Bruins with a 5-2 win in Providence. Straka's marker stretched his goal-scoring streak to six consecutive games while Kevin Goumas, Danick Martel and Tim Brent also found the back of the net for the Phantoms.

Making his sixth consecutive start between the pipes, Anthony Stolarz registered a season-high 33 saves en route to picking up his seventh win of the season. 12 different Phantoms found their way onto the scoresheet as Lehigh Valley's penalty kill went a perfect 4-for-4 in the victory.

Broadcast Coverage

Service Electric's TV2 Sports will be broadcasting live all of the Phantoms' 29 remaining regular season home games. If you can't make it out to the rink, be sure to catch all the exciting action live in HD quality with Steve Degler, Peter Zingoni, Doug Heater and Kristi Fulkerson! Pre-game coverage begins with "Phantoms Front and Center" 30 minutes before puck drop. And don't miss "Phantoms - Breaking the Ice" every Monday from 7:00 - 7:30 p.m. throughout the season live at Chickie's & Pete's at PPL Center!

Be sure to also catch each and every Phantoms game this season live on Fox Sports 1470 AM, online at Fox1470.com or via the iHeartRadio app! Join Voice of the Phantoms, Bob Rotruck, for all of the heart-pumping action of Lehigh Valley Phantoms hockey whether the team is at home or on the road. "Countdown to Faceoff" begins 45 minutes prior to puck drop.

Ticket Information

Tickets for all of the Phantoms' 29 remaining regular season home games are available now online at pplcenter.com, by calling 610-347-TIXX [8499] or in-person at the Mealey's Furniture Box Office at PPL Center (7th & Hamilton).

RISE UP! Don't miss the action and fun of Lehigh Valley Phantoms hockey at PPL Center in downtown Allentown! Contact the Phantoms Front Office for information on season tickets and groups for the 2015-2016 season of Phantoms hockey by calling 610-224-GOAL [4625].

This Week

Wednesday, November 25 (7:00 p.m.) - Lehigh Valley Phantoms @ Utica Comets

Friday, November 27 (7:05 p.m.) - Hershey Bears @ Lehigh Valley Phantoms

(Go & Grow presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network.)

Saturday, November 28 (7:05 p.m.) - Providence Bruins @ Lehigh Valley Phantoms

(Post-Game Autograph Session with Phantoms Players. Team Poster Giveaway.)

Check out the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Statistics

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Images from this story

Lehigh Valley Phantoms Team Poster
Lehigh Valley Phantoms Team Poster
 Lehigh Valley Phantoms in Front of Hershey Bears Goal
Lehigh Valley Phantoms in Front of Hershey Bears Goal
(JustSports Photography)		 Lehigh Valley Phantoms Goaltender Anthony Stolarz
Lehigh Valley Phantoms Goaltender Anthony Stolarz
(JustSports Photography)
Lehigh Valley Phantoms Take a Shot
Lehigh Valley Phantoms Take a Shot
(JustSports Photography)		 Lehigh Valley Phantoms Defenseman Samuel Morin
Lehigh Valley Phantoms Defenseman Samuel Morin
(JustSports Photography)		  



American Hockey League Stories from November 24, 2015


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