Belleville, Canada – Goals on goals on goals! . Ronnie Attard and Tanner Laczynski each netted two goals in the onslaught. Gahagen stopped 32 of the 33 shots he faced between the pipes for Lehigh Valley. The Phantoms make it 3 straight wins.
The only event period in Ontario was the first frame. The Phantoms only scored one goal and shots were 12-10 in favor of Lehigh Valley. Tanner Laczynski netted the lone goal, a beautiful back-and-forth passing play with Tuomaala at the 19:02 mark of the first.
The Phantoms would carry the momentum they had late in the frame over to the second. Samu Tuomaala deflected the first shot of the period, and Attard’s wrister deflected through the pads of Merilainen just 10 seconds in. J.R. Avon forced a turnover and dished it in front to Furry who left it for Cooper Marody for his fifth of the season. Merilainen out of position had no chance to stop Marody at 5:43. Angus Crookshank put the Senators on the board, he tucked it under the bar he didn’t have a clue it went in and neither did the official. Upon review, Crookshank was granted the lone Sens goal and his fifth of the season. Emil Andrae with a long wrister past the glove of Merilainen. Andrae’s first of the season came on the power play at 15:36. Tanner Laczynski capped off the second period scoring with a highlight reel goal. Laczynski skated past the lost defenders, as he was falling down going backhand he slid it between his legs on the forehand and under the netminder’s pad. Tanner’s fourth of the season came at 17:28.
A goaltending change for the final 20 minutes, Kevin Mandoles came in relief for Merilainen. Belleville had chances to score, but Gahagen had all the answers. Another period that was all Phantoms. Lehigh Valley outshot Belleville 18-10 in the final frame. Ronnie Attard tallied the first of three Phantoms goals. Attard’s power play tally, a one-time blast put Lehigh Valley ahead 6-1 at 11:57. Wade Allison slid Mandolese out of his skates and the puck into the open cage. Allison’s second of the season came at 15:05. Ronnie Attard capped off the Phantoms offensive barrage with a wrister over the shoulder of Mandolese at 17:10.
Tanner Laczynski earned first-star honors with his two-goal night. Ronnie Attard also had two goals along with an assist he was chosen for the number two star. Samu Tuomaala earned the third star with a goal and an assist.
The Phantoms cap off their Canadian road trip in Toronto. Lehigh Valley looks to make it 4 in a row and sweep the road trip as they face off against the Marlies on Tuesday, November 22nd at approximately 7 p.m.
CAA Arena | Belleville Ontario, Canada
Cahagen?