TONIGHT – The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (6-5-3) are back in New England as they open a three-game road-trip with Game 1 at the Providence Bruins (6-7-2). Tonight’s game is the first of a two-game weekend series between the two teams as the Phantoms will be back in Rhode Island tomorrow night for a rematch against the P-Bruins.
Tonight is the first meeting of the season between the Phantoms and Bruins and this weekend represents the lone visit to Providence of the season. The Bruins will be in Allentown on Wednesday, December 18.
Lehigh Valley has dropped two straight on the other side of a seven-game point streak and three-game win streak. The P-Bruins are in a three-game winless skid on the other side of a four-game point streak.
LAST TIME – The Phantoms were rallying again but the visiting Hershey Bears broke a 3-3 tie midway through the third period on a goal by the appropriately named Ethan Bear as the Chocolate and White picked up a 6-3 win at PPL Center last Saturday night. Rodrigo Abols and Ethan Samson scored goals in the third period just three minutes apart to overcome a 3-1 deficit for Lehigh Valley. Samu Tuomaala contributed a three-point effort with one goal and two assists. Goaltender Eetu Makiniemi left the game midway through the second period with an injury and Cal Petersen stepped up in short-notice relief with a number of strong saves to keep the Phantoms in the game. Hershey received goals from three former Phantoms including Garrett Roe (Adirondack Phantoms), Mike Vecchione and Matt Strome (empty net goal).
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/
HAPPY FOR HELGE – Defenseman Helge Grans made his NHL debut on Monday night with his first-ever NHL recall conveniently coming while his parents were visiting from Sweden. Grans recorded an assist for his first NHL point and also had a couple strong shots on goal in Philadelphia’s 3-2 loss to Colorado. The fourth-year pro is in his second season with the Phantoms after beginning his career with the Ontario (Cal.) Reign as a second-round draft choice of the Los Angeles Kings. Grans has played in 185 career AHL games including 70 games with the Phantoms. The 22-year-old becomes the second Phantom this season to receive a recall for his NHL debut joining Alexei Kolosov and is now the 45th prospect all-time to work his way up to the big club from Lehigh Valley.
SAMU STYLE – Second-year winger Samu Tuomaala is heating up again while enjoying a career-best five-game point streak (3-5-8) since November 8. Tuomaala is coming off a season-high three-point effort his last time out and has consequently raced to a tie for 10th in the league in scoring while leading the Phantoms with 6-10-16. The Round 2 selection of the Flyers in the 2021 NHL Draft scored 15-28-43 in 69 games while representing the Phantoms at the AHL All-Star Classic in his rookie season.
TRANSACTIONS –
– Nov 18 – Helge Grans (D), Recalled to Philadelphia
– Nov 18 – Parker Gahagen (G), Recalled to Phantoms from Reading (ECHL)
– Nov 18 – Matt Brown (F), Loaned by Phantoms to Reading (ECHL)
– Nov 21 – Sawyer Boulton (F), Loaned by Phantoms to Reading
– Nov 21 – Mason Primeau (F), Loaned by Phantoms to Reading
– Nov 21 – Sam Sedley (D), Recalled to Phantoms from Reading
PHANTASTIC
– Olle Lycksell had a three-game goal streak, longest on the Phantoms this season, and is currently on a four-game point streak (3-3-6). Lycksell leads the AHL with 61 shots on goal. Lycksell recorded his 100th career pro point (in North America) with a goal on Friday at Springfield.
– Defenseman Hunter McDonald is tied for second among 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. McDonald recently had a four-game point streak from November 2 through November 9.
– The Phantoms are second in the AHL on the power play at 26.1% trailing only Charlotte (36.1%).
– Lehigh Valley is second in the AHL with 34.0 shots per game trailing only Rochester (34.8). The Phantoms have 30 or more shots on goal in 10 out of 14 games this season
BRING ON THE BRUINS – Providence (6-7-2) has had a bumpier start this season. The Bruins have gone three games without a win on the other side of a three-game winning streak. Veteran Vinni Letteri (8-5-13) leads the offense and Georgii Merkulov (2-9-11) has been returned from Boston after playing in three games with the big club. Patrick Brown (3-5-8) is in his second season with Providence after playing two seasons for the Philadelphia Flyers (2021-23) scoring 6-10-16 in 87 games among his 150 games total in his NHL career. The former Charlotte captain won a Calder Cup with the Checkers in 2019.
First-rounder Fabian Lysell (1-5-6) is in his third season with Providence while Harvard product John Faranacci (3-2-5) is beginning his second pro campaign. Big lefty goalie Brandon Bussi (1-5-0, 4.11, .857) has been stunningly ineffective compared to his first two pro seasons including his sensational rookie campaign when he was one of the top goalies in the AHL going 22-5-4, 2.40, .924. Almost exactly one year ago, Bussi’s 41-save effort was one of the best performances ever seen at PPL Center as the P-Bruins prevailed in overtime 2-1 on November 24, 2023. 25-year-old Michael DiPietrro (5-2-2, 2,20, .921) has picked up the slack while Bussi has faltered. Ryan Mougenel is in his fourth season as head coach of Providence and has posted 42 or more wins in each of the last two seasons. This weekend marks the lone Providence appearance for the Phantoms
SCORING LEADERS
Lehigh Valley
Samu Tuomaala 6-9-14
Olle Lycksell 3-8-11
Jacob Gaucher 6-4-10
x – Anthony Richard 4-5-9
Rodrigo Abols 3-5-8
Providence
Vinni Lettieri 8-5-13
Georgii Merkulov 2-9-11
x – Marc McLaughlin 5-5-10
Tyler Pitlick 4-6-10
Patrick Brown 3-5-8
Special Teams:
Lehigh Valley – PP 26.1%, 2nd / PK 84.2%, 12th
Providence – PP 14.3%, 27th / PK 81.8%, 19th
COMING UP – The Phantoms and Bruins are back at it in a Saturday night rematch in Rhode Island then the Phantoms head over to Hartford for a Thanksgiving Eve clash with the Wolf Pack. 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
Friday, November 22 – Phantoms at Providence Bruins
Saturday, November 23 – Phantoms at Providence Bruins
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!
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