By Michael Heilman

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms headed to Binghamton, NY, Saturday afternoon to clash with the Devils. Alex Lyon got the start at goal, and the scratches for the game were Maksim Sushko, German Rubtsov, Chris Bigras, and Chris Stewart. Bigras was suspended by the AHL for two games for his hit last night against the Sound Tigers.

Thirty-four seconds into the first period, Phantoms defenseman Mark Friedman headed to the penalty box on a high-sticking call to put the Devils on the power-play. The Phantoms penalty-killing unit held off the Devils to keep the game scoreless. The Devils would break the scoreless tie with 3:31 left in the first period as Mikhail Maltsev (9) stole the puck from Tyler Wotherspoon to find Fabian Zetterlund (8) for the goal to put the Devils up 1-0. The Devils remained in the lead 1-0 as the first period ended. The shots were twelve to eight for the Devils.

The second period saw the Phantoms on the power-play as Matt Tennyson was called for cross-checking. While on the power-play, the Devils took a 2-0 lead on a shorthanded goal when Egor Sharangovich (8). Ryan Schmelzer (15) and Josh Jacobs (11) assisted Sharangovich’s goal.

Phantoms defenseman Tyler Wotherspoon was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty to put the Devils on the power-play with under five minutes left in the second period. The Devils extend their lead 3-0 as Matt Tennyson (8) found Julian Melchiori (11) for the shot that hit the stick of Ryan Schmelzer (7) and in for the power-play goal. Schmelzer was awarded the goal. The Devils led 3-0 as the second period ended with the shots fourteen to ten for the Phantoms. The Phantoms had a couple of chances to end the scoring drought on the power-play but couldn’t find a way to score.

It was the same story to start the third period as an interference call against Nate Prosser sent the Devils to their third power-play of the game. The Devils added another goal with 16:23 left in the third period as Nathan Bastian (21) passed the puck to Brett Seney (25) who would take the shot but needed Mikhail Maltsev (11) to finish the play for the goal to go up 4-0.

The Phantoms would finally get on the board with 8:30 left in the third period as Mark Friedman (15) made a long pass to Carsen Twarynski (7) for the breakaway goal to cut the Devils lead 4-1. Friedman, along with Nate Prosser (9), assisted Twarynski’s goal.

Carsen Twarynski (@CTwarynski) nets his second goal in as many games to get the #LVPhantoms on the board in the third period. pic.twitter.com/DS30lvAHn2 — LehighValleyPhantoms (@LVPhantoms) March 7, 2020

Alex Lyon was pulled shortly after the goal, but Tyler Wotherspoon turned the puck over, and Nathan Bastian (15) scored the empty-net goal to seal the game in a 5-1 win over the Phantoms. The shots in the third period were thirteen to twelve for the Phantoms. The Phantoms have now lost three straight games.

The Phantoms edged the Devils in shots total thirty-five to thirty-four. Alex Lyon finished the afternoon twenty-nine of thirty-three saves, allowing three goals while Devils goalie Zane McIntyre almost had a shutout with thirty-four of thirty-five saves allowing one goal. The Phantoms were zero for four on the power-play while the Devils went two for four. The Phantoms gave the Devils opportunities to score, and the Devils cashed in.

The three stars of the game were Devils left-winger Mikhail Maltsev with one goal and one assist, Devils center Ryan Schmelzer with one goal and one assist, and Devils goalie Zane McIntyre with thirty-four saves.

The Phantoms will be back in the PPL Center Sunday at 3 pm against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

(player stats for the year)