LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa – The Bridgeport Sound Tigers came roaming into PPL Center the night after Christmas not looking to spread cheer to the Phantoms, and they did just that by handing Lehigh a 2-1 loss in their first game back from the break. In a game that saw a combined 15 power plays, ugly to say the least, the Sound Tigers would hold on to keep the Phantoms at bay to come out with a win.
The Sound Tigers would open the scoring just 5:24 into the first, off a turnover in the neutral zone. Taylor Beck, who had just come out of the box after serving a hooking minor, would take advantage, skating down the far side and pulling up at the circle. He 
would then pick a corner top shelf on Anthony Stolarz glove side to pot his eighth of the year to give Bridgeport the lead. The Phantoms would get their opportunities throughout Saturday nights contest, including four straight power plays after the Bridgeport goal. Unfortunately, the Phantoms would only generate nine shots in the period, all of which were stopped by Christopher Gibson, and go into the room trailing by one after 20.
The second period started with Bridgeport getting their own man advantage streak, when they would get three straight and have some five-on-three time in the middle of it. They too would be unable to get another one past Stolarz to this point, and the Phantoms would then counter with back to back power plays of their own. Lehigh would only generate five shots in the period, even with having three man advantage opportunities, and after the last one expired, they would give the momentum right back to Bridgeport. Just 11 seconds after the last power play expired, defenseman Robert Hagg would lose an edge that would lead to a three on one break for the Sound Tigers. Sebastian Collberg, who again, had just gotten out of the box(see a pattern???) would slide a pass through the legs of Sam Morin to a waiting Joe Whitney who tapped it in to extend the lead to two. Despite making 12 saves on 13 shots in the period, and an odd man rush being the only shot that got past him, Stolarz still needed to step up big to keep his team in it and stop the flurry of Bridgeport shots. At the other end, however, Gibson was having a fairly easy night, having only seen 14 shots through the first 40 minutes.
The final 20 would bring much of what the first 40 minutes brought. 5 more penalties would be given out in the third, giving each team nine (Lehigh) and six (Bridgeport) power plays. The Phantoms penalty killing unit, which had been one of the worst in the league for much of the first part of this season, looked impressive and held the Tigers off the board on all six of their man advantages. And while it would take them nine chances, the Phantoms would finally get on the board late in the third. A power play chance would come after a tripping minor was assessed to Beck and Lehigh would go to work. Robert Hagg would score his first goal of the season off a point shot on said power play to cut the lead in half and give the Phantoms a fighting chance to close the game on a high note. Unfortunately, a miscue by the team while trying to get Stolarz off for the extra attacker would cost them, as they would get whistled for too many men on the ice at the 18:23 mark to pretty much seal the deal. Both goalies stood on their heads infront of 8,886 people Saturday, but it would be Gibson who would take home the W and first star honors on the evening. Stolarz was just as every bit as good, stopping 27 of 29 shots but the offense just couldn’t tie the game.
Sunday afternoon the Phantoms will travel north to face a team their goal scoring has not shown up to play in a long time. The Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins will welcome them in for a Sunday match up, and with open arms at that. Having lost 5-0 to Hershey last night, coupled with WBS’s recent dominance of the Phantoms, it should be one heck of a ride. The Phantoms will not only be looking for their first post-holiday break win, but their first goal against Wilkes-Barre in six periods dating back to the 18th of this month. An important game standings wise for the Phantoms to win becomes their next task in a season of never ending uncertainty.
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