LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa – On Saturday, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms came into Saturday looking to continue last weekend’s momentum of a win against Binghamton and a strong effort in Hershey. Thanks to Jason Akeson, that’s exactly what happened. Akeson scored a power play goal 48 seconds into overtime to push the Phantoms’ over top of Bridgeport Saturday night at PPL Center. 
After a first period where noone scored, there were only three penalties total, and the most interesting part of the period was when Harry Zolnierczyk left his feet to deliver a crushing blow to Mark Alt along the far boards, things picked up in the second. Brett Hextall notched his fifth of the season at 2:18 to give the home team the lead. Steven Delisle ringed the puck around the boards to Jay Rosehill behind the net, and Rosehill found Hextall wide open in the slot. Hextall, seemingly stunned, blistered a wrist shot past Kevin Poulin to give Lehigh Valley the lead.
About seven minutes later, Rob Zepp preserved the lead when he stoned a wide-open Colton Gillies at the edge of the crease after giving up a rebound to a point shot. After two periods, the visitors led in shots, 17-14.
In the third, both teams played punch/counterpunch and eventually, the SoundTigers evened the score. Dustin Jeffrey scored two seconds after a Jesper Pettersson delay of game penalty and it was 1-1. The inability of the Phantoms’ to clear the zone was what led to the goal. Bridgeport started shooting from everywhere, and Zepp stood on his head. But after Oliver Lauridsen fell into his goaltender, Jeffrey tucked a rebound into the back of the net.
The Phantoms had a chance to end it in regulation, but Zack Stortini couldn’t find the handle to find the net after Poulin overskated the play and left the four by six opening gaping. In overtime, Jason Akeson scored a near carbon-copy goal to the one Brandon Manning scored last weekend to end the Phantoms seven game home losing streak. With Bridgeport’s Kevin Czuczman penalized for high-sticking, Nick Cousins had the puck down low and got the puck to Manning. After playing catch with Akeson at the blue line, he (Akeson) cranked the puck off the bottom of the crossbar and into the net to seal the victory.
Notes: Phantoms’ Forward Scott Laughton was scratched moments before faceoff with an illness. Defenseman Mark Alt returned after missing last weekend’s back to back with an illness. Dustin Jeffrey scored his first goal for the New York Islanders’ organization after being acquired from the Vancouver Canucks at the NHL Trade Deadline. Brett Hextall on the goal: “We had a D-man jump down, I looked and we had three guys down below their goal line…which, typically, you don’t wanna do. I was pretty tight to the pile and decided I needed to back out in case we turned the puck over or whatever and Rosie (Jay Rosehill( threaded a needle through a few of their guys and found my stick.” Head Coach Terry Murray on the play of Rob Zepp and how much of a workload Zepp will have going forward: “ Zepp was good. He was square, he was comfortable. He was really focused and moved the puck well to our defensemen from behind the net. He made a huge save in the third when the score was 1-1. He came up big for us and we look for him to come up big. We look for good, veteran leadership and he’s one of our key guys.” “I’m always a big believer in going with your best players. We have, I have an obligation to our players to do that. To play, to win every night and right now Zepp looks dialed in. I’ll lean on him pretty heavily.” 3 Stars: 3) BRI-Dustin Jeffrey (Goal) 2) LV-Brett Hextall (Goal) 1) LV-Jason Akeson ( Game-winning Overtime goal)
You must be logged in to post a comment.