A Gritty Battle for Pennsylvania by: Corey Welk

In a clash that echoed the fervor of an NHL matchup, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins faced off in a fiercely contested game that exemplified the spirit of Pennsylvania hockey. The intensity was palpable from the moment the puck dropped, as both teams engaged in a physical battle that would set the tone for the entire night.

1st Period:

The opening period showcased the physicality of both squads, with Givani Smith nearly hitting the scoreboard as he rang a shot off the crossbar from the bottom of the circle. The line of Abols, Grebenkin, and Bump emerged as a formidable trio, creating multiple scoring chances. However, the period took a turn when Helge Grans was sent to the penalty box for high sticking, giving the Penguins a chance on the power play.

The Phantoms' penalty kill stood tall, allowing only one scoring chance during Grans' absence. Shortly thereafter, Alex Bump was taken down after a burst of speed past Ville Koivunen, earning the Phantoms a power play of their own. Despite a solid effort, including a blue-line shot from Andrae just 18 seconds into the advantage, the Penguins successfully killed off the penalty, allowing four shots on goal.

As the period wound down, goaltender Parker Gahagen made an outstanding save on Vasily Ponomarev, preserving the scoreless tie. The horn sounded to end the first, but not before some rough stuff erupted as both benches met at center ice, highlighting the rivalry’s intensity. The shots on goal favored the Phantoms, 12-11.

2nd Period

The second period began with more physical play, as Gahagen took a slap shot off the head but remained composed. The Penguins' Luchenko received a questionable tripping call, putting the Phantoms on the penalty kill. Gahagen showcased his skills with a glove save reminiscent of the great Patrick Roy, maintaining a scoreless game as the Phantoms successfully killed off the penalty.

Despite a valiant effort, the Phantoms struggled to generate shots on their ensuing power play after Sam Poulin was penalized for high sticking Hunter McDonald. However, with 5:26 remaining, the Phantoms finally broke the deadlock as Anthony Richard scored his second playoff goal, assisted by Luchenko and Wilson.

Just moments later, the Phantoms found themselves short-handed again when Hunter McDonald was called for hooking. In a dramatic turn, the Penguins capitalized on the power play, with Tristan Broz scoring their first goal of the playoffs with just seven seconds left on the penalty. The Phantoms' shot-blocking efforts were commendable, with seven shots blocked during that penalty kill. The shots on goal after the second period favored the Penguins, 27-22.

3rd Period

With just over a minute into the third period, the Phantoms were awarded a power play when Sebastian Aho was penalized for holding. The situation quickly escalated to a 5-on-3 advantage when Owen Pickering was called for slashing, but the Phantoms could only muster two shots during this critical moment.

The Penguins struck first in the period, as Harrison Brunicke scored off their second shot of the period, giving them a 2-1 lead. However, the Phantoms responded quickly, with Jacob Gaucher netting a rebound goal just over a minute later, assisted by Zayde Wisdom and Olle Lycksell.

With just over six minutes remaining, Wisdom was tripped at the top of the circle, granting the Phantoms another power play opportunity. Unfortunately, this advantage was short-lived as Richard was penalized for hooking. In a dramatic conclusion, Helge Grans scored the go-ahead goal with just two minutes left, assisted by Richard and Jett Luchenko.

As the Penguins pulled their goalie with 1:13 remaining, the Phantoms held strong, ultimately securing a 3-2 victory. The final shots on goal totaled 33-31 in favor of the Penguins, but it was the Phantoms who emerged victorious.

Three Stars of the Game

3. Parker Gahagen

2. Anthony Richard

1. Helge Grans

With this hard-fought win, the Phantoms advance to face the Hershey Bears or the Charlotte Checkers in the next round of the playoffs, setting the stage for another thrilling chapter of AHL playoff hockey.

Corey Welk - Olde City Sports Network

Photo Credit - Corey Welk/Olde City Sports Network