Photo Credit: Lehigh Valley Phantoms
First Period
Not the start the Lehigh Valley faithful inside the PPL Center hoped nor anticipated, just 31 seconds into the Phantoms’ 10th anniversary season the Monsters found twine. Trey Fix-Wolansky was the goal scorer, firing the puck past Petersen on the rebound right in the slot. Jake Christiansen added on before the TV timeout came into play. Christiansen threw the puck on goal from the goal line in the right corner and somehow it found it squeezed its way in at 3:17. Tyler Angle extended Cleveland’s lead to three, telling Petersen not so fast and took full advantage of a turnover right in front of his net. Lehigh Valley would have two power-play chances in the period but failed to convert on them both. Shots for the frame 11-8 in favor of Cleveland, the Monsters would hold a 3-0 lead going into the second period.
“We didn’t manage the puck properly. Started with the first play. And when your best players are doing that it kinda trickled down. We just need to be better.”
Head Coach, Ian Laperiere on the First Period
Second Period
A frustrating period to say the least for the Phantoms. Lehigh Valley’s Cooper Marody kicked things off by firing the puck past Greaves for the Phantoms’ first goal of their 10th-anniversary season. Lehigh Valley thought they cut things just to one goal but were mistaken as the official waved things off on a controversial no-goal keeping the deficit at two. After the controversial call, the Monsters took full advantage of a frustrated Phantoms club, Carson Meyer just 18 seconds later found twine putting Cleveland back up by three, on a sharp angle wrister at 11:18. The Phantoms would have a huge power play opportunity, with a 5-on-3 man advantage but couldn’t find the back of the net moving to 0-for-4 on the power play for the night. The pest of the game proclaimed by the Phantoms, Trey Fix-Wolansky would find the back of the net yet again his second of the night with a wrister over the glove of Petersen to take a 4-goal lead. Despite the score, Lehigh Valley outshot the Monsters in the frame 14-12, and the shot total 23-22.
Third Period
Elliot Desnoyers kicked things off but not in the score column. Desnoyers had just 16 penalty minutes last season, this season he’s the first Phantom to drop the mitts, his dancing partner Billy Sweezey who’s more known for his physicality. Sweezey last season in 56 games had 0 goals, 11 assists, 70 penalty minutes, and a +/- of -14. A few minutes later after the fight off-setting roughing minor penalties were assessed to Dmitri Voronkov and Helge Grans. The Phantoms late in the frame at 17:04 received their 5th power play chance. This time Lehigh Valley took advantage, Samu Toumaala found the back of the net for his first professional goal on the power play. That would wrap things up for the home opener.
Final: 5-2 Cleveland
(CLE) Jet Greaves – 29 Saves on 31 Shots (W)
(LHV) Cal Petersen – 27 Saves on 32 Shots (L)
3 Stars of the Game
- Trey Fix-Wolansky – 2 G, 2 A (CLE)
- Cooper Marody – 1 G (LHV)
- Samu Toumaala – 1 G (LHV)
Time of Game: 2:28 | 7:16 PM – 9:44 PM
Attendance: 8,449
PPL Center, Allentown PA
