By Michael Heilman

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms were back in action Wednesday night at the PPL against the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins. Earlier in the day, the Flyers called up forward Connor Bunnaman and defensemen Mark Friedman. Subsequently, the Phantoms called up Eric Knodel from the Reading Royals. Alex Lyon got the start at goal, and the scratches for the game were Andy Welinski, German Rubtsov, and Chris Stewart. The Phantoms were looking to snap a four-game losing streak.

Alex Lyon made a terrific save on the breakaway by Penguins Adam Johnson with 12:01 left in the first period to keep it a scoreless game. The Phantoms went on the power-play after a tripping call against Penguins center Cole Cassels. The Phantoms were unable to take advantage of the power-play as both were still scoreless 0-0 as the first period ended. The Penguins led the shots twelve to eight.

Alex Lyon continued to make some great saves in the second period. With 4:40 to go in the second period, the Penguins broke the scoreless tie on a goal from Kevin Roy (14) to put the Penguins up 1-0. Adam Johnson (24) and Cole Cassels (18) assisted Roy’s goal. The Penguins committed two-penalties that resulted in a five on three for the Phantoms. The Phantoms could not find a way to tie the game as the Penguins remained in the lead 1-0 as the second period ended. The shots were twelve to eleven for the Penguins.

The Penguins controlled the early third period and were close to extending their lead as Alex Lyon was stopping any shots the Penguins took. The Phantoms were able to tie the game 1-1 with 7:06 left in the third period off of the faceoff when Mikhail Vorobyev (16) won the faceoff to Chris Bigras (14). Bigras took the shot that hit the stick of Kurtis Gabriel (5) for the goal. Gabriel was credited with the goal. The game remained tied 1-1 as the third period ended with the shots ten to six for the Penguins.

Kurtis Gabriel (@kurtisgabriel) nets his fifth goal of the season on this deflection in front of the net. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/HaCFIsjdN4 — LehighValleyPhantoms (@LVPhantoms) March 12, 2020

Fifty-five seconds into the overtime, the Penguins sealed the game as Phil Varone (15) made a backhand pass to Riley Barber (16) for the goal to give the Penguins a 2-1 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The Phantoms have now lost five straight games.

The total shots for the game were thirty-five to twenty-five for the Penguins. Despite the loss, Alex Lyon had a good game going thirty-three of thirty-five saves allowing two goals. Penguins goalie Dustin Tokarski also played a good game going twenty-four of twenty-five saves, allowing one goal.

The three stars of the game were Phantoms right-winger Kurtis Gabriel with one goal, Phantoms goalie Alex Lyon with thirty-three saves, and Penguins right-winger Riley Barber with one goal. These two teams will play again at the PPL Center Friday at 7:05 pm.