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AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Point Streak at 5 After OT Loss

November 24, 2023 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Lehigh Valley Phantoms News Release


Lehigh Valley Phantoms' Nick Lappin
Lehigh Valley Phantoms' Nick Lappin
(Lehigh Valley Phantoms)

Allentown, PA - The Lehigh Valley Phantoms largely dominated the play in the team's return home on Friday night. But a season-high 42-shot barrage wasn't enough to overcome goaltender Brandon Bussi and also seven Providence power plays in a 2-1 overtime loss at PPL Center. Olle Lycksell (12th) had tied the game at 1-1 with a power-play goal with 5:48 remaining but Fabian Lysell (5th) cashed in 4-on-3 style in the extra period for the additional standings point.

Bussi was phenomenal. But Cal Petersen was very good as well with a number of strong stops of his own in the Lehigh Valley crease.

Lehigh Valley (8-6-3) couldn't buy a break for the first 54 minutes as Bussi repeatedly denied the Phantoms on try after try.

The Phantoms enjoyed a 14-1 shots advantage to open the game which naturally included several strong Bussi denials. Lehigh Valley was zipping the puck around very smartly on its consecutive power plays but Bussi had the answer every time. It was eventually Providence who drew first blood on a Jayson Megna (5th) strike from the left boards on its own power play via a shot through a net-front screen that eluded Petersen for a 1-0 lead with just 58 seconds remaining in the period.

Providence (7-8-3) ended a four-game losing slide with the hard victory. And the Bruins also found their game a bit in the second period partly thanks to some additional penalty decisions going against the Phantoms. But Petersen was solid in keeping the Phantoms within a goal.

Victor Mete's connection with Wade Allison in the middle was Lehigh Valley's best chance in the second period. Bussi made a strong save on Allison's first try and then kicked out his left leg for a sparkling denial off the rebound effort in the close-range showdown of former Western Michigan teammates.

The Phantoms were repeatedly on the verge of breaking Bussi's shutout bid in the third period and finally did on their own power play with 5:48 left as Lycksell was knocked down at the net front but was still able to push a puck past Bussi on a goal assisted by Samu Tuomaala and Tanner Laczynski. Lycksell moves out of a second-place tie in the league for most goals and is now all alone in second with 12, just one behind Adam Gaudette of Springfield. Lycksell's sixth power-play goal of the season is tied with Gaudette for most in the AHL.

Tuomaala's assist on the play moves him into a tie for the league lead for most helpers by a rookie and he is tied for fifth in points among rookies.

A hooking penalty against Mete provided the Bruins with their seventh power play of the game and they converted at 2:15 of overtime on Lysell's sharp-angle strike from the bottom of the left circle to steal the win for the visitors.

The Phantoms are back in action on Saturday when the Rochester Americans come to PPL Center on Flyers Night featuring the return of GRITTY! Fans are encouraged to stay after the game for a postgame photograph session with the Phantoms players. The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are also going to celebrate the 2-Millionth Phantoms Fan at PPL Center.

SCORING SUMMARY

1st 19:02 - PRO, J. Megna (5) (A. Regula, A. Richard) (PP) (0-1)

3rd 14:12 - LV, O. Lycksell (12) (S. Tuomaala, T. Laczynski) (PP) (1-1)

OT 2:25 - PRO, F. Lysell (5) (G. Merkulov, J. Boqvist) (PP) (1-2)

Shots:

LV 42 - PRO 28

PP:

LV 1/3, PRO 2/7

Goaltenders:

LV - C. Petersen (OTL) (3-3-1) (26/28)

PRO - B. Bussi (W) (5-4-2) (41/42)

Records:

Lehigh Valley (8-6-3)

Providence (7-8-3)

UPCOMING

Saturday, November 25 (7:05 p.m.) - Rochester Americans at Lehigh Valley Phantoms - Flyers Night with GRITTY! Plus postgame photos with Phantoms players

Friday, December 1 (7:00 p.m.) - Lehigh Valley Phantoms at Hartford Wolf Pack

Saturday, December 2 (7:00 p.m.) - Lehigh Valley Phantoms at Hartford Wolf Pack

Sunday, December 3 (3:05 p.m.) - Lehigh Valley Phantoms at Providence Bruins

Friday, December 8 (7:05 p.m.) - Providence Bruins at Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Saturday, December 9 (7:05 p.m.) - Charlotte Checkers at Lehigh Valley Phantoms - 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), Twitter (@lvphantoms), and Instagram (@lehighvalleyphantoms).

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Lehigh Valley Phantoms' Nick Lappin
Lehigh Valley Phantoms' Nick Lappin
   



American Hockey League Stories from November 24, 2023


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