LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa – The Lehigh Valley Phantoms gave their fans the ultimate prize on Fan Appreciation Night, a big 2-1 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack. This was the first time the Phantoms have had back to back wins since February 28th and March 2nd. The pairs of back to back wins book mark that season high 8 game win-less streak the 
team was more than happy to put behind them. Much like Friday nights tilt against Providence, it would be stellar play from goalie Martin Ouellette and quick start that would lead to the favorable outcome.
Fast start would be an understatement on this night, as the Phantoms would open the scoring just 33 seconds into the contest. The team immediately established pressure in the Hartford zone off the opening face-off. A play below the goal line on the far side would see Danick Martel escape to near the side of the net and try to center the puck. After getting through a maze of bodies, it would end up on the tape of Davis Drewiske, who after settling it down would snap a shot past Magnus Hellberg to make it 1-0. Drewiskes goal, his 5th, was his second in as many nights.
The early goal would set the tempo, as Lehigh Valley would control most of the play in the first, even out shooting Hartford 16 to 9. The Phantoms would extend their lead to two at the 11 minute mark of the first when a Sam Morin shot would deflect of Hellberg and sit in the slot. Tyrell Goulbourne would back hand a shot on net, and the puck would get deflected in by Pavel Padakin to extend the lead. The first, and most of the game rather, would see a lot of physical play with bodies flying everywhere. Lead by team captain Colin McDonald, the Phantoms hit parade was out in full force on Saturday night.
The second period would see something shift in the game. Momentum seemed to all but completely change for the middle frame, with Hartford getting the majority of the chances and even taking the lead in the shots on goal category. Backed by two opportunities on the power play, the Wolf Pack peppered Ouellette with 17 shots, all of which Marty would turn aside. The offensive outburst would have Hartford outshooting the Phantoms 26 to 20 through 40 minutes despite being down 2-0. The hitting would keep up for the middle frame as well, with Hartford trying to battle back in the game to get a much needed two points in their chase for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Another barrage of shots would come from Hartford sticks in the third, as the Phantoms would give up the ground yet again. Another man advantage chance would go by the way side for the Wolf Pack, who just could not solve Ouellette. Both Teams would end up going 0 for 3 on the power play on the night, with both penalty kills showcasing their strength. More hitting and after whistle scrums would come due to both teams frustrations boiling over, and would result in four on four hockey for a bit in the third. Tyler Brown and Cole Bardreau would get off setting minors for high-sticking and cross checking respectfully at 11:33. Tempers would cool from then on till about the final minute, and thats when things would get crazy again.
Hartford would get on the board after pulling Hellberg for the extra attacker at 19:44. A cross ice feed, circle to circle, from Jason Megna to Marek Hrivik for a one timer that Hrivik blew past Ouellette to end the shutout bid. Hartford would immediately call a time out to try to draw up the tying goal. After the ensuing face off, the Wolf Pack would dump the puck into the Phantoms zone and go in with one last chance to tie the game.
Ouellette and Lehigh Valley would be wise to that, and the final 16 seconds would bleed off the clock to the Phantoms first back to back wins in almost a month. After the final horn blew, a scrum would break out to the right of the Phantoms net, with Sam Morin and a few others ending up with their gloves laying on the ice. All in all it turned out to be a big win against the Phantoms, helping to play spoiler in Hartfords playoff hopes.
With the win tonight, the Phantoms are now 12 points out of the final spot with 8 games left to go. All but mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, the Phantoms will have to take pride trying to spoil some other teams chances at the big dance. Holding Hartford from keeping pace with Portland who won tonight is a start, but they face more tough opponents ahead.
Next weekend, the Phantoms head to St. Johns for two games against NHL All Star MVP John Scott and the Ice Caps, before heading to rival Wilkes-Barre the following weekend. They finish that weekend with a Saturday to Sunday home and home with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. All the Phantoms remaining games are against teams either battling for or in playoff spots, which should be a great test for this team going into the off-season and going toward next year.
Two quick notes:
-The PPL Center was sold out again Saturday night, the 22nd time on the year and 11th in a row.
-Earlier Saturday, the Phantoms signed Flyers prospect Oscar Lindblom to an Amatuer Try-Out Contract for the remainder of this season. The 19 year old Forward from Gavle, Sweden was playing at the Swedish Elite Leagues highest level with Brynas. He recorded 8 goals and 17 assists in 48 games this year.
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