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Phantoms Weekly - Phantoms Set for Rivalry Showdown in Hershey this Saturday

January 19, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Lehigh Valley Phantoms News Release


Lehigh Valley Phantoms Right Wing Chris Conner vs. the Hershey Bears
Lehigh Valley Phantoms Right Wing Chris Conner vs. the Hershey Bears
(Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Credit: JustSports Photography)

This Week

Saturday, January 23 (7:00 p.m.) - Lehigh Valley Phantoms @ Hershey Bears

Upcoming

Coming off a convincing 4-1 victory over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers to close last week, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (18-21-2-1, 39 pts.) enter the week just three standings points back of the Providence Bruins for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division.

Lehigh Valley's push toward the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs continues this Saturday, January 23 when the Phantoms invade the Giant Center in Hershey for a rivalry showdown with the Bears. Hershey (21-13-2-5, 49 pts., 3rd Atlantic Division) won two of three games last week to stay within playoff contention in the Atlantic Division. Hershey claimed a 4-3 decision in Lehigh Valley last Friday before earning a 4-3 shootout triumph at home over the Springfield Falcons on Saturday. The Falcons exacted a little revenge on Sunday though as Springfield rallied for a 3-2 overtime win at Giant Center on Sunday. The Bears enter the week having won five of their last eight games overall and are 14-5-1-3 when skating at Giant Center this season.

Saturday's contest will mark the ninth of 12 total meetings during the 2015-2016 regular season between Lehigh Valley and Hershey with the Phantoms holding a 5-3 record head-to-head against their in-state foes. Lehigh Valley has claimed three of the last four rivalry showdowns and is 2-1 in three previous tilts in Hershey. The Bears will first visit Binghamton on Friday for a 7:05 p.m. tilt with the Senators before welcoming the Phantoms to town on Saturday.

Be sure to catch all of Saturday's action live on FOX 1470-AM, online at www.fox1470.com or via the iHeartRadio app beginning with "Countdown to Faceoff" at 6:20 p.m.

Phantoms By The Numbers

Center Nick Cousins enters the week tied for eighth among all AHLers in total scoring with 33 points (10 goals, 23 assists). One of Lehigh Valley's two All-Stars, the 22-year-old pivot is currently 20th on the Phantoms all-time scoring list with 119 total points.

Goaltender Anthony Stolarz enters the week seventh among all AHL goaltenders in both goals-against average (2.31) and save percentage (.920). Lehigh Valley's other All-Star representative, the second-year netminder will celebrate his 22nd birthday on Wednesday.

Forward Danick Martel is currently second among all Phantoms and tied for fourth among all AHL rookies with 14 goals this season.

Winger Chris Conner enters the week having scored a goal in each of his last three games. In 25 games this season, the 32-year-old forward has notched eight goals and 12 assists and enters the week sixth among all Phantoms with 20 total points.

Defenseman Andrew MacDonald is currently first among all Lehigh Valley blueliners and tied for sixth among all AHL defenders in total scoring with 24 points (5 goals, 19 assists). Third among all Phantoms in scoring, the 29-year-old defenseman has tallied 14 points (4 goals, 10 assists) over his last 16 games.

Last Week

Friday, January 15: Hershey Bears 4 - Lehigh Valley Phantoms 3

The Phantoms posted a season-high 45 shots, including a jaw-dropping 27-1 margin in the 3rd period, but the Hershey Bears were able to escape with a 4-3 decision in front of 8,793 fans at PPL Center. Chris Conner and Colin McDonald both found the back of the net for Lehigh Valley while All-Star Nick Cousins also scored to become the third Phantoms player this season to reach the double-digit goal mark.

The standing room-only sellout was Lehigh Valley's fourth consecutive capacity crowd and ninth overall this season.

Saturday, January 16: Hartford Wolf Pack 2 - Lehigh Valley Phantoms 1

All-Star goaltender Anthony Stolarz authored a spectacular 26-save performance and Chris Conner netted his second goal of the weekend but the Hartford Wolf Pack were able to withstand a Lehigh Valley surge en route to a 2-1 win in front of 9,046 fans at PPL Center. The tightly-contested showdown came in front of a record-setting crowd as Phantoms fans produced the team's fifth straight standing room-only sellout and 10th overall this season.

Sunday, January 17: Lehigh Valley Phantoms 4 - Bridgeport Sound Tigers 1

Chris Conner scored his third goal in as many games and Taylor Leier converted to become the fourth Phantoms player this season to record double-digit goals as the Phantoms earned a convincing 4-1 victory over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Danick Martel and Kevin Goumas also found the back of the net for Lehigh Valley while veteran goaltender Jason LaBarbera was spectacular between the pipes matching a team season-high with 42 saves.

Broadcast Coverage

Service Electric's TV2 Sports will be broadcasting live all of the Phantoms' 17 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' 17 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].

In the midst of their 20th season of operation, the Phantoms are coming off their Inaugural Season as the Lehigh Valley Phantoms playing at the state-of-the-art PPL Center. Established in 1996, the Philadelphia Phantoms spent their first 13 seasons at the Spectrum before re-locating to Glens Falls, New York in 2009 where the team spent the next five seasons as the Adirondack Phantoms. A new era of Phantoms hockey began in the fall of 2014 when the Lehigh Valley Phantoms began play at the state-of-the-art PPL Center. Through 18 incredibly successful campaigns, the Phantoms have captured two Calder Cup Championships (1998, 2005), two Conference Championships (1998, 2005), two Regular Season Titles (1996-97, 1997-98) and four Division Championships (1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, 2003-04).

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Images from this story

Lehigh Valley Phantoms Center Nick Cousins vs. the Hershey Bears
Lehigh Valley Phantoms Center Nick Cousins vs. the Hershey Bears
(JustSports Photography)		 Lehigh Valley Phantoms Right Wing Chris Conner
Lehigh Valley Phantoms Right Wing Chris Conner
(JustSports Photography)		 Lehigh Valley Phantoms Right Wing Chris Conner vs. the Hershey Bears
Lehigh Valley Phantoms Right Wing Chris Conner vs. the Hershey Bears
(JustSports Photography)



American Hockey League Stories from January 19, 2016


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.

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