PREVIEW: Phantoms at Wolf Pack, Game #17

Lehigh Valley Phantoms (6-6-4) at Hartford Wolf Pack (8-7-2)
XL Center, Hartford, CT
Wednesday, November 27, 2024 (7:00 p.m.) – Game #17

TONIGHT – The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (6-6-4) conclude a three-game road swing through New England as they tangle with the Hartford Wolf Pack (8-7-2), AHL affiliate of the New York Rangers. The Phantoms and Wolf Pack have split a pair of extra-time decision so far in the season series. This is Game 3 out of 6 between the Atlantic Division foes this season.

The streaky Phantoms are aiming to end a skid of four straight winless on the other of a seven-game point streak and three-game win streak. Hartford has lost back-to-back on the other side of a three-game winning streak.

LAST TIME – Lehigh Valley earned a standings point with an overtime loss but the Providence Bruins completed the weekend sweep on Saturday night via Georgii Merkulov’s breakaway goal in overtime. Ethan Samson (3rd) gave the Phantoms the initial lead with his power-play blast just 4:44 into the game. But the Bruins equalized in the second period on Riley Tufte’s goal. Parker Gahagen (25 saves) was solid between the pipes in his season debut for the Phantoms while Michael DiPietro (22 saves) earned the win for Providence.

MEDIA MATERIALS – Fans can browse rosters and Media Materials for both teams and the AHL at the following link.

https://www.phantomshockey.com/media-materials/

BRINGING THE RIZZ – Last Friday night’s game marked the belated pro debut of rookie center Massimo Rizzo who centered Lehigh Valley’s fourth line. The two-time national champion at the University of Denver was a seventh-round selection of the Carolina Hurricanes before he was acquired in a trade by the Flyers two summers ago. Rizzo had an appendectomy surgical procedure following the final preseason game which sidelined him for approximately six weeks before he was able to play in his first AHL game.

RICHARD RETURNS – The Philadelphia Flyers have loaned forward Anthony Richard to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Richard has played in seven games with Lehigh Valley scoring 4-5-9 with his most recent game coming on November 2 at Springfield when he scored 1-2-3. He played in seven games with the Flyers on his recall scoring 2-4-6 including a four-game point streak from November 9 through November 16. The 27-year-old from Trois-Rivieres, Quebec was leading the Phantoms in scoring at the time of his recall and carries a five-game point streak back with the Phantoms having scoring 3-4-7 since October 25. Richard scored 25 goals for Providence last year and 30 goals for Laval the season before that. In 488 career AHL games, Richard has over 300 points on 148 goals and 161 assists for 309 points.

PHANTASTIC

– Lehigh Valley has played in seven overtime games this year, almost half of the 16 games total. That’s second-most in the AHL trailing only Toronto (8). Lehigh Valley is 2-3 in overtime decisions and 1-1 in shootouts. The Phantoms have two overtime games each against Hartofrd and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

– Second-year defenseman Ethan Samson has scored two goals in the last three games and has three goals on the season including a pair of power-play markers. The 21-year-old right-handed shooter has taken on extra duties this season with his power-play time and it’s paying off. The product of the WHL Prince George Cougars was a sixth-round selection of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2021.

– Olle Lycksell leads the AHL with 71 shots on goal. Lycksell (3-8-11) has moved up to second on the team in scoring. Last year, he averaged over a point-per-game while tying for the team in goals when he scored 19-20-39 in just 38 games played with the Phantoms while also playing in 18 NHL games with the Flyers last year.

– Defenseman Hunter McDonald is second among AHL rookies with a +9 rating. The Round 6 selection in 2022 out of Northeastern University has also shown his toughness with three fighting majors this season.

– The Phantoms are third in the AHL on the power play at 25.5% trailing only Charlotte (35.8%)

– Lehigh Valley is second in the AHL with 33.1 shots per game trailing only Rochester (34.3). The Phantoms have 30 or more shots on goal in 11 out of 16 games this season

HANGING OUT WITH HARTFORD – The Hartford Wolf Pack (8-7-2) have dropped two straight following a three-game win streak including a 4-1 setback to the last-place Bridgeport Islanders on Sunday. Alex Belzile (4-8-12) had a hat trick plus a shootout goal against the Charlotte Checkers last week in a 5-4 win. Brett Berard (7-6-13) has been recalled to the New York Rangers as has big 6’8″ center Matt Rempe (2-1-3). Bo Groulx (7-5-12) is a former Anaheim Ducks prospect who scored an overtime goal against the Phantoms on October 25. Dylan Garand (5-2-1, 2.59, .911) is off to a strong start again. First-rounder Brennan Othmann scored 2-3-5 in the first three games of the season but has been sidelined since then.

Both of the previous encounters between the Phantoms and Wolf Pack have gone to overtime. Lehigh Valley won in a shootout 4-3 on Opening Night at PPL Center on October 12 when the Phantoms lit the lamp for three power-play goals while racking up 49 shots against Louie Domingue before Olle Lycksell scored the shootout winner. Hartford defenseman Casey Fitzgerald (3-7-10) had the tying goal with just 1:05 left in that game. The Wolf Pack got revenge on October 25 back in Hartford with a 4-3 overtime win.

SCORING LEADERS
Lehigh Valley
Samu Tuomaala 6-10-16
Olle Lycksell 3-8-11
Jacob Gaucher 6-4-10
Anthony Richard 4-5-9
Rodrigo Abols 3-5-8
Oscar Eklind 4-4-8

Hartford
x – Brett Berard 7-6-13
Bo Groulx 7-5-12
Alex Belzile 4-8-12
Casey Fitzgerald 3-7-10
Adam Sykora 3-7-10

Special Teams:
Lehigh Valley – PP 25.5%, 2nd / PK 83.9%, 13th
Hartford – PP 10.8%, 31st / PK 75.8%, 29th

SEASON SERIES
Oct 12 – Win – Hartford 3 at Lehigh Valley 4 (SO)
Oct 25 – OTL – Lehigh Valley 3 at Harford 4 (OT)
Nov 27 at Hartford
Jan 10 at Lehigh Valley
Jan 11 at Hartford
Feb 8 at Lehigh Valley

COMING UP –  The Phantoms return to PPL Center for a pair of games next weekend including Phantoms Hat Night from Service Electric on Friday against Hershey and then Flyers Night with GRITTY on Saturday against Laval.

UPCOMING

Wednesday, November 27 – Phantoms at Hartford Wolf Pack

Friday, November 29 – Phantoms vs. Hershey Bears – Phantoms Ballcaps from SECTV. WFMZ-69 Phantoms Coat Drive

Saturday, November 30 – Phantoms vs. Laval Rocket – Flyers Night with GRITTY!

Wednesday, December 4 – Phantoms vs. Rockford IceHogs – Pregame Happy Hour with $2 Draft Specials

Saturday, December 7 – Phantoms vs. Hershey Bears – Teddy Bear Toss presented by Big Woody’s

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