By Michael Heilman

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms returned from the All-Star break to resume their road trip Friday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Casey Plaza against the Wilkes Barre/ Scranton Penguins. Phantoms goaltender Alex Lyon and forward Connor Bunnaman were called up to the Flyers yesterday, so the Phantoms brought up Felix Sandstrom from the Reading Royals to back up Berube.

The Penguins struck first six minutes and thirty-four seconds into the first period as Phantoms defender Reece Willcox attempted to control the bouncing puck; however, Jake Lucchini (5) intercepted the puck and shot it over the shoulder of Jean Francois-Berube and in for the goal to put the Penguins up 1-0.

The Penguins added another goal with twelve minutes and forty-seconds left in the first period as Pierre-Olivier Joseph (8) shot the puck that hit Berube and then was rebounded by Jan Drozg (3). Drozg made a backhand shot that banked off of Berube and in for the goal to extend the Penguins lead 2-0. Joseph Blandisi (7) also assisted Drozg’s goal. The Phantoms were playing sloppy defense in the early go in the first period.

The Phantoms responded after the Penguins attempted to get the puck to the Phantoms zone to make a line change, but Kyle Criscuolo (9) intercepted the puck and made a long pass to Andy Andreoff (6). Andreoff was alone with the only the Penguins goalie Casey DeSmith in the way and he shot the puck that went under the legs of DeSmith for the goal to cut the Penguins lead 2-1. Late in the first period, the Phantoms created numerous chances for themselves to tie the game, but the horn sounded and the Phantoms were down 2-1 at the end of the first period. The Phantoms defense played better late in the first period. The Phantoms led the Penguins eleven to nine in shots.

The Penguins were able to get their two-goal lead back as the Penguins won the faceoff David Warsofsky (21) got the puck, skated around three Phantoms players to find Jake Lucchini (6), who had an open-net goal for his second goal of the game to put the Penguins up 3-1 with twelve minutes and twenty-six seconds left in the second period. Jamie Devane (3) assisted in Lucchini’s goal. Berube had no chance as he didn’t see the puck go to Lucchini.

The Phantoms were able to create more chances to get back into the game late in the second period. They were going to have to play catch up down 3-1 at the end of the second period. The Penguins outshot the Phantoms sixteen to eleven.

The game did not get better for the Phantoms in the third period as fifty-three seconds in Sam Lafferty (3) went around three Phantoms players and Berube for the goal to increase the Penguins lead 4-1. After the goal, Phantoms coach Scott Gordon substituted Berube for Felix Sandstrom. Jon Lizotte (15) and Cole Cassels (9) assisted Lafferty’s goal.

The Phantoms did all they could do to get back into the game, but the Penguins were simply playing good hockey all around. The Phantoms go down to the Wilkes Barre/ Scranton Penguins 4-1.

The shots total was thirty-four to thirty in favor of the Penguins. The Phantoms were zero for three on the power play while the Penguins went zero for two. Phantoms goalies Jean Francois-Berube was twenty-three of twenty-seven saves allowing four goals, and Felix Sandstrom made all seven saves. Penguins goalie Casey DeSmith was twenty-nine of thirty saves allowing one goal.

The three stars of the game were Penguins right-winger Jan Drozg with one goal, Penguins goalie Casey DeSmith with twenty-nine saves, and Penguins left-winger Jake Lucchini with two goals.

The Phantoms will wrap up the road trip tomorrow at the Giant Center to take on the Hershey Bears at 7 pm.

(player totals for year)