Second Period Surge Pushes Providence Past Phantoms
Published on February 20, 2015 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Lehigh Valley Phantoms News Release
Lehigh Valley, PA - Petr Straka netted his 13th goal of the season and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms enjoyed their 13th sellout of the season but a four-goal second-period surge by the Providence Bruins was too much to overcome Friday evening as the Phantoms were handed a 5-1 setback at PPL Center.
Nick Cousins picked up yet another point in the contest as the reigning CCM/AHL Player of the Month for January produced his 12th point in just eight February outings to increase his team-leading point total to 46 on the year. The Belleville, Ontario native has now registered 16 goals, 30 assists and 46 points this season and has recorded a whopping 29 points (nine goals, 20 assists) in 21 games since January 1st.
It was another packed house at PPL Center as 8,590 fans braved the bitterly cold temperatures outside to enjoy another edition of Phantoms hockey in downtown Allentown. The standing room-only sellout crowd marked the 13th capacity crowd this season for Lehigh Valley and the 16th time more than 8,000 supporters have crossed the turnstiles.
Ryan Spooner and Colin Stuart led the offensive charge for Providence with two goals apiece while David Warsofsky, Seth Griffith and Zach Trotman each chipped in a pair of assists.
Jeremy Smith earned the victory in goal for the Bruins with 26 saves on 27 shots while Anthony Stolarz and Martin Ouellette combined for 27 denials on 32 total Providence offerings.
The defensive efforts for both sides were in fine form in the opening period as neither the Phantoms nor the Bruins were able to find the back of the net in the first frame despite a combined 16 shots on goal. Lehigh Valley opened the contest with a bullish effort on the forecheck as the Phantoms used a physical presence below the goal line to generate the game's first scoring opportunities but Smith was up to the early challenges.
Then it was Stolarz's turn to show off between the pipes for Lehigh Valley. Just past the midway point of the opening period and with Robert Hagg in the penalty box following a hooking infraction, Stolarz spearheaded a perfect Phantoms' penalty kill which featured four saves in quick succession including a dazzling right-pad denial on a one-time opportunity from the slot.
The Bruins were able to break the scoreless deadlock early the second period when Spooner darted in on the left wing before snapping his seventh goal of the season just over Stolarz's outstretched glove. Steve Eminger and Stuart assisted on the even strength strike netted just eight seconds into the middle stanza.
Lehigh Valley nearly leveled the contest a little over eight minutes later when a right wing shot by Austin Fyten produced a rebound off Smith that was swatted in by the left arm of Jay Rosehill. After video review, it was determined the puck was illegally directed in by Rosehill's arm negating the Phantoms' bid to even the tilt.
Providence then doubled its advantage roughly three minutes later when, while on the power play, Trotman's blast from the right point produced a rebound atop Lehigh Valley's goal crease that was punched in by Stuart amidst a goal mouth scramble. Warsofsky grabbed the secondary assist on Stuart's seventh tally of the season.
The Bruins then stretched their advantage to a 4-0 lead with a pair of goals just a minute apart in the closing minutes of the middle stanza. First, Andrew Cherniwchan slipped behind the Phantoms' defense before sending in his fourth conversion of the season. Then, exactly 60 seconds later, Spooner connected with a right wing one-timer on the power play for his second goal of the night and eighth of the year.
Stuart picked up his second tally of the night and eighth of the season as well less than six minutes into the third period before Straka got the Phantoms on the board with his 13th tally. After a Lehigh Valley faceoff win in the attacking end by Cousins, both Cousins and Straka battled for a loose puck atop the Providence goal crease before Straka was able to send it over the goal line.
The Phantoms conclude their busy week at home on Saturday when they welcome the New York Rangers' affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, to PPL Center for the final time this season. A limited number of tickets for Saturday's tilt are available now at the Mealey's Furniture Box Office at PPL Center (701 Hamilton), by calling 610-347-TIXX (8499) or online at pplcenter.com.
Check it out! Reserve your season tickets now for the 2015-2016 season of Lehigh Valley Phantoms hockey. For more information on how to reserve your seat at PPL Center to the hottest ticket in town call the Phantoms front office today at 610-224-GOAL (4625)!
American Hockey League Stories from February 20, 2015
- Another Overtime Win Pushes Griffins' Point Streak to Eight Games - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Strong Second Leads Sens Past Bears - Binghamton Senators
- Second Period Surge Pushes Providence Past Phantoms - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Crunch Cash in at Home with 3-1 over Devils - Syracuse Crunch
- Monsters Top Rockford 3-2 - Cleveland Monsters
- Late OT Goal Hands Monarchs 4-3 Loss - Manchester Monarchs
- Sharks Stomp the Admirals 5-2 in Return to DCU Center - Worcester Sharks
- Amerks Fall to Defending Champion Stars - Rochester Americans
- Wolf Pack Makes Quick Work of Springfield in Overtime - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Admirals Routed in Worcester, 5-2 - Norfolk Admirals
- Wolf Pack Skirt Past Falcons, 3-2, in Overtime - Springfield Falcons
- Comets Power-Play Carries Utica Past Marlies 5-2 - Utica Comets
- Senators Snap Bears' Lengthy Streak - Hershey Bears
- Griffins Edge Bulldogs 3-2 in OT - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Marlies Defeated in Utica 5-2 - Toronto Marlies
- IceCaps Notch Second Straight OT Win - St. John's IceCaps
- Devils Downed by Crunch - Albany Devils
- Dowling's Hat Trick Leads Texas past Rochester, 5-2 - Texas Stars
- Spooner's Second Period Pair Launches P-Bruins over Phantoms - Providence Bruins
- Comets Game Tonight vs. Marlies Sold Out; 18th of the Year - Utica Comets
- Springfield Falcons Release Defenseman Mike Little from PTO - Springfield Falcons
- Amerks Sign Defenseman Cameron Burt to PTO - Rochester Americans
- Wings Recall Kindl, Griffins Recall Czarnowczan - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Chicago Wolves' Bordson Visits Crystal Lake Library on February 24 - Chicago Wolves
- Folin Recalled to Minnesota, Bickel Reassigned to Iowa - Iowa Wild
- IceCaps, Purolator Shut out Hunger Events Successful - St. John's IceCaps
- Sound Tigers Sign Reid to PTO - Bridgeport Islanders
- Islanders Recall Mouillierat - Bridgeport Islanders
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.
