The Lehigh Valley Phantoms had a huge 2-1 victory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in their first playoff game in the best out of three series.
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms emerged triumphant with a 2-1 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, a crucial victory in the best-out-of-three series for the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs.
Late in the first period, Adam Brooks started the scoring by getting the puck past Penguins goalie Joel Blomqvist during a four-on-four sequence. At first, the referees didn't give the Phantoms the goal. Eventually, after a video review, the goal was credited to Brooks. The Phantoms took a 1-0 lead after a chippy start to the contest.
The momentum of the goal scored by Brooks continued into the second frame. Rhett Gardner gave the Phantoms a 2-0 lead not even a minute into the second period. Ville Koivunen put the Penguins on the board to prevent a shutout late in the second frame.
Cal Petersen was in the net for the Phantoms, stopping 21 of the 22 shots he faced. Petersen's excellent goaltending gave the Phantoms a solid safety cushion, as the Penguins were aggressive early on offensively, but were kept from capitalizing on most of their shots on goal.
Last night, Flyers GM Danny Briere, President of Hockey Operations Keith Jones, head coach John Tortorella, and more were in attendance for the first playoff game, likely keeping an eye on Bobby Brink, Ronnie Attard, Olle Lycksell, and Adam Ginning, who were loaned out to the Phantoms after the conclusion of the Flyers NHL season and spent a good part of the 2023-24 campaign moving between the Flyers and the Phantoms.
The Phantoms have the opportunity to win the series against the Penguins this Friday, as they return to Allentown to play on home ice.
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