By Michael Heilman

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms finished up their five-game homestand Saturday night at the PPL Center against the Rochester Americans. Hours before game time, the Phantoms got back Mark Friedman from the Flyers. Right-winger Chris Stewart was in the lineup for the Phantoms and playing his first game in the AHL in eight years.

Five minutes and twenty-seven seconds into the first period, The Phantoms were going on their first power play of the game after a hooking call against Rochester’s defenseman William Borgen. Twenty-one seconds later, the Phantoms jumped to a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal by Greg Carey (11) with assists from Morgan Frost (10) and Cal O’Reilly (15). With six minutes and twenty-eight seconds left to play in the first period, the Phantoms added another goal, this time by Max Willman (2) to put the Phantoms up 2-0 with assists from Kyle Criscuolo (6) and Chris Bigras (9). The Phantoms played disciplined hockey and did not commit any penalties in the first period and led 2-0 at the end of the first period.

The Phantoms gave Rochester a couple of chances early in the second period committing two penalties, a tripping call against Mikhail Vorobyev forty-nine seconds into the second period, and a hooking call against James De Haas at six minutes and twenty-eight seconds. The Phantoms killed off both penalties. With nine minutes and thirty-two seconds left in the second period, the Phantoms extended the lead 3-0 as Greg Carey (12) got his second goal of the game with assists from David Kase (5) and Tyler Wotherspoon (12). There was an off-setting penalty against both teams, for roughing and Max Willman served the penalty for Isaac Ratcliffe. The Phantoms were skating well on the ice and led 3-0 at the end of the second period.

Mark Friedman committed a roughing penalty eight minutes and two seconds into the third period putting Rochester on the power play. The Phantoms were able to kill that one off. With six minutes and twenty-three seconds left in the third period, the Phantoms went back on the power play after a tripping call against Rochester’s center Sean Malone. The Phantoms appeared to have scored on the power play; however it wasn’t called until the referees reviewed the play and awarded the goal to Phantoms forward Mikhail Vorobyev (7), which put the Phantoms up 4-0 with assists from Isaac Ratcliffe (7) and German Rubtsov (10). That would be all the Phantoms needed as they defeated the Rochester Americans 4-0 ending their five-game homestand on a five-game winning streak.

The Phantoms finished the night with twenty-three shots on goal, and Rochester had twenty. The Phantoms went two for four on the power play while Rochester went zero for three. Phantoms goalie Jean Francois-Berube earned his second shutout of the season-saving all twenty shots. Rochester’s goalie Andrew Hammond finished his night with nineteen of twenty-three saves allowing four goals.

The three stars of the game were Phantoms left-winger Max Willman with one goal, Phantoms goalie Jean Francois-Berube with twenty saves, and Phantoms left-winger Greg Carey with two goals.

The Phantoms will now begin a five-game road trip starting Wednesday night at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center to take on the Providence Bruins at 6:05 pm.

(players total for the year)