LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa-Another big game presented itself Friday night in Allentown as the Hartford Wolf Pack came knocking on the Phantoms door. Hartford, the AHL affiliate of the New York Rangers, are one of the teams the Phantoms have to leapfrog to get into a playoff spot. With only two points separating the two teams at the start of the game, both sides would look to make moves early to get themselves going in the right direction.
The early part of the first period saw the Wolf Pack take control of the game. Getting the better of the chances and more zone pressure than Lehigh Valley, it was up to Anthony Stolarz between the pipes to keep the Pack at bay. Stolarz and his adversary Magnus Hellberg were both very strong during the frame, each seeing nine shots a piece. But, only Lehigh Valley would break thro
LV Phantoms vs Hartford Wolfpack 02/26/16
ugh the net minders in the first. A shot from Davis Drewiske at the far side dot caught Hellberg leaning his way, and deflected off his right pad. The big rebound came right to Danick Martel, who one timed the puck into the yawning cage to put Lehigh Valley up 1-0 with just 1:15 left in the period.
It would not take long for the Wolf Pack to come roaring back, as just 5:23 into the second they would solve Stolarz to tie the game. A tic-tac-toe play from below the goal line would be what would lead to the goal, with Nick Tarnasky being the one to cash in. Shawn O’Donnells’ back hand try would be deflected behind the net by the defending Maxim Lamarche, who would then look for an outlet up ice. Before he could get the chance, O’Donnell was there and got the puck to Chris McCarthy, who would find the aforementioned Tarnasky with a beautiful cross crease feed to tie it.
Before the second period was over, we would also see our first penalty. The refs had been letting the guys play for much of the game, but an incident in the near side corner in the Phantoms end seemed to change that. Drewiske would end up getting his stick up high on a Hartford player, seemingly cutting him, and the refs would make no call on the play. The Wolf Pack bench was irate, but would get a make up call just seconds later. With Hartford pressuring yet again, Phil DeSimone would get his stick in tight on a man and get called for a slash with just 21 seconds left in the period.
LV Phantoms vs Hartford Wolfpack 02/26/16
Most of the time, carry over power plays are not effective, for one reason or another. Hartford would cash in though, on a play the NHLs Minnesota Wilds’ Thomas Vanek would be proud of. A point shot from Mat Bodie would get deflected from Vaneks’ usual spot in the high slot, with Travis Oleksuk doing the honors to put his team ahead. The game would kind of settle down for a bit after, with Hartford taking chances to extend their lead, but also sitting back when they needed.
Then, an altercation in front of the Wolf Pack bench would change that. Ryan Bourque would not take kindly to being checked by Taylor Leier a few seconds prior in his own zone, and came to tell Leier about it after the whistle. Leier stood his ground, but never dropped his gloves however, while Bourque did and started to tee off on Leier. The fray would end with both players going off, each getting a 5 minute major for fighting. Bourque would draw the extra minor for roughing, to give Lehigh Valley a much needed power play of their own.
“Well they were either going to call a two minute roughing and no penalty for Taylor, or they were going to call two and then the five each, either way were getting a power play” Head Coach Scott Gordon said when asked about the incident. Either way, the Phantoms red hot power play would get a chance to tie the game, and they would. Chris Conner would skate across the circles to the near side drawing Hellberg out toward him. Then he would feed Colin McDonald on the other side of the ice with a yawning cage to look at to tie the game at 2. The game would need Overtime.
LV Phantoms vs Hartford Wolfpack 02/26/16
In the extra session, the Phantoms would get another chance for their red hot man advantage, and it was a big one. Oleksuk, who scored Hartfords second of the game, would get called for a high stick on Leier. Leier would be cut on the play, resulting in a double minor and 4 minutes of power play time for the Phantoms just 1:05 into OT. Giving Lehigh Valley the entire period to be up a man. Despite this, the Phantoms just could not cash in. Every play they tried to make, a Hartford stick was in their way. Lehigh Valley only came away with four shots in the extra frame, even with being up a man the whole time. Hellberg would stand his ground, and a shootout would be needed to decide the game.
Leier would shoot first for the Phantoms, and get stopped by Hellberg. Nicklas Jensen would shoot first for Hartford, and would score using Peter Forsbergs famous Olympics move from the 1994 Gold Medal Game. Petr Straka would go next for Lehigh Valley, and would shoot the puck over the net. Brian Gibbons would go next for Hartford, and would beat a diving Stolarz for the win.
The Phantoms gained a huge point out of the loss, but giving Hartford back two still keeps them three now back of the Wolf Pack. The team both Lehigh Valley and Hartford are chancing, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers lost Friday night, so each team got a little help there. This leaves the Phantoms six points out with twenty-one games remaining this season. Things do not get any easier for the Phantoms, with games against Utica, a team they havent been able to figure out all year Saturday, and Hartford again in Hartford Sunday.
Images by Steve.Rusyn@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.