Photo Credit: Joe Borek
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms here to be an improved team in their last 10, earning a 3-4-3 record. Of course, they looked to improve upon that mark in their next 10. Unfortunately for the Phantoms that did not start off on the right foot last night.
It appeared it was going to be a close contest to start as if was a nice back and forth, where Morgan Frost got a nice chance in the slot early to continue his good-looking play. In addition, he had a very good short-handed chance later in the period, which was stopped by Checker goalie Chris Gibson.
Max Willman had another good short-handed chance stopped by Chris Gibson, while German Rubstov made a few nice defensive plays. Plus for Willman, he and Frost seemed to be buzzing on the ice, as per usual. Both goalies in Gibson and Felix Sandström were sharp as well, other than two almost whoops moments playing the puck for Gibson. At the end of a good paced first period that had the Checkers on the Power Play twice and the Phantoms once, the Checkers led in shots 10-7. Overall, it was a a nice performed first period that when needed timely saves were made, for instance, on the Cooper Zech turnover Sandström stepped up and made the big save.
After the nice back and forth opening period in the first, the Phantoms came out very flat in the second period. They lost any of the back and forth momentum early in the game fully to the Checkers after they scored the first of their two short-handed goals in the period. Both scored by Max McCormick for the Checkers. That is just unacceptable for the Phantoms struggling Power Play to then add salt to the wound by allowing not just one, but two shorthanded goals on shorthanded rushes. Plus to boot they only got one good chance during their time on the Power Play in the second, which was a long time due to the five minute major by Gustav Olofsson on top of other penalties taken by the Checkers. The Phantoms really need to find a way on the Power Play to pot a goal and get going. Perhaps shooting it more and not being overly cute with the puck could go a long way. The Phantoms trailed 3-0 after leading in shots 14-7 in the second. Of course, that means nothing as they got outplayed overall and lost momentum giving up two short-handed goals and then the third tally to Logan Hutsko.
Now onto the third period, where the Phantoms did start a lot sharper generating chances in the offensive zone. This eventually led to a nice wrist shot goal by Max Willman keeping his hot streak going, and cutting the lead to 3-1. Then with 12:57 to go in the 3rd the Phantoms got another shot to get their bleak looking Power Play going. They didn’t get one on the Power Play that was still forcing some passes instead of shooting. However, the Phantoms did pot a goal shortly thereafter on a nice deflection by Cal O’Reilly to cut the lead to one. They came out with something to prove in the 3rd and looked a lot better throughout. With 7 to go in the 3rd, the Phantoms led in shots 30-20. They had the better pace of play throughout the 3rd and the better chances leading to coming fully back to tie it at 3. German Rubstov had the game tying goal for the Phantoms. A play that should have been ruled a kick but lucky it was not for the Phantoms. Then unfortunately after outplaying the Checkers the whole third period Connor Carrick scored to make it 4-3 on a slapper through Sandström’s five hole.
It was an unfortunate way to lose for a Phantoms team who well outplayed the Checkers in the 3rd. As we all know though it is key to play a good complete game in order to get a win and the Phantoms did not do such. It was a good back and forth pace first, followed by a very off second period for the Phantoms. Then, of course, they capped it off with a great 3rd period but were not able to take home the oh-so-desired win against the Checkers. Sandström was solid again and really not helped by his team at all giving up two shorthanded rushes. This is a game the Phantoms have to learn from the bad and take the good they showed for most of the 3rd into their next game. That next game will be Friday at 7:05 in Rochester. Time to bring that Ghostly energy into Rochester.
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