Photo Credit: Lehigh Valley Phantoms
First Period
The Phantoms and Senators both played less than twenty-four hours ago, Belleville visited Hershey and Lehigh Valley hosted Cleveland. Not trying to show any sign of tiredness both teams were firing. A tight game called by the officials. The Phantoms who weren’t on the Penalty Kill (PK) at all the night prior had to kill off a Sens power play which they failed to do. Egor Sokolov netted the power play goal at 3:34. Just thirteen seconds later, Garret Pilon the former Hershey Bear put Belleville up 2-0 early taking full advantage of the turnover right in front of the net. Alexis Gendron responded right back less than a minute later, his first professional goal an unassisted goal at 4:20. Cooper Marody knotted things up short-handed, his second goal in less than twenty-four hours, a minute thirty-eight after the Gendron tally. Before the halfway mark of the frame, five penalties were called. The Phantoms took the lead taking advantage of the 5-on-3 power play, Tanner Laczynski sniped the power play goal, past the glove of Mandolese to put Lehigh Valley up 3-2. The period ended just like it started, the Phantoms were on the PK, and the power play would carry over to the second.
Second Period
The Phantoms come out strong to start the frame, despite being shorthanded. Adam Ginning notched the short-handed tally extending Lehigh Valley’s lead to two and forcing a goaltending substitution. Mads Sogard who shutout the Bears the night before came in relief to Kevin Mandolese. Another busy period in the penalty column, with eight penalties called in the period. Louie Belpedio was responsible for two roughing minors and a fighting major through two periods. Saulnier as he did in front of the Lehigh faithful when he played for the Phantoms showed his physical and tenacious side, jumping Belpedio forcing them both to sit, and putting Lehigh Valley on the man advantage that they would fail to convert onGinning’s goal was the lone goal in the frame to extend the Phantoms lead. Shots for the period were 14-9 in favor of Lehigh Valley, shot total for the game was 24-21 also in favor of the Phantoms.
Third Period
Mads Sogard as he did against Hershey shut down the Phantoms’ stopping all 11 shots he faced in the period and all 22 shots he faced across the 36:39 he played. Parker Cahagen also settled in after giving up those two goals on three shots thirteen seconds apart back in the first. Not shocked a few more penalties were called in the frame, the Phantoms ended up scoring their third short-handed goal this one an empty netter at 19:32 off the stick of Rhett Gardner.
Phantoms scored three short-handed goals for the first time in Lehigh Valley history, tying the franchise record for most short-handed tallies in franchise history.
Final: 5-2 Lehigh Valley
Shots: BEL 30 – 35 LHV
Power Play
Senators: 1 / 6
Phantoms: 1 / 6
(BEL) Kevin Mandolese – 8 Saves on 12 Shots (L)
(BEL) Mads Sogard – 22 Saves on 22 Shots
(BEL) EN – 1 GA
(LHV) Parker Cahagen – 28 Saves on 30 Shots (W)
3 Stars of the Game
- Cooper Marody – 1 G, 1 A (LHV)
- Tanner Laczynski– 1 G, 2 A (LHV)
- Parker Cahagen – 28 Saves (LHV)
Time of Game: 2:36 | 1:18 PM – 3:54 PM
Attendance: 4,586
PPL Center, Allentown PA
