WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – Adam Brooks and Rhett Gardner scored playoff-style goals Wednesday night as part of a bitter rivalry showdown at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, leading to a 2-1 victory. Louie Belpedio had two assists and Cal Petersen made 21 saves on 22 shots to prevent the win. The Phantoms currently hold a head-to-head advantage in the best-of-three series and have a chance to eliminate the Penguins on Friday night when the series arrives at his PPL Center in Allentown.
Get the puck online. Then go to the net and chase the puck. Those basics were enough to lead the Pack to twice defeat AHL All-Rookie Team goaltender Joel Blomqvist in low-scoring playoff showdowns. And two goals were enough for the victory.
A strong contingent of orange-clad fans made their way up the Northeast Extension to cheer on their team. And they did not disappoint. After all the competitiveness ended in a Phantoms victory, Ole Rixel and the other players paid tribute to the fans and the support they received. Phantoms fans couldn't miss it.
Philadelphia Flyers management and coaches also enjoyed the contest, including Daniel Briere, Keith Jones, John Tortorella, Rocky Thompson and others. One imagines that they were mostly satisfied with what they saw in the contest.
In a physical battle befitting the first game of the postseason, the Phantoms constantly pushed and pushed the Penguins back, and collision after collision was as expected in the 13th meeting between the two teams in less than four months. This was the result.
Cal Petersen had to get into the game early. A 2-on-1 chance between Wilkes-Barre and Scranton nearly led to the first goal of the game when Matt Filipe stepped forward, but his shot to the left side of the cage was missed by the Phantoms' left-handed netminder. It bounced off his glove and was probably his best record. End of the night. Sam Poulin also had a chance on the backdoor, but it went into the back of the net as Pietersen spun quickly to cut the angle.
The Phantoms scored first, taking a sneaky shot on the move that Adam Brooks found the back of the net from a sharp angle. Joel Blomqvist took a 1-0 lead when the puck hit his shoulder and bounced straight down to the line with just over five minutes left in the first. But it took a while. Officials initially disallowed the Phantoms' goal. While Adam Brooks celebrated the conversion, Rixell pointed to the puck and showed the officials where it went. The video review that followed was quick, and his 4-for-4 scoring gave the Phantoms a 1-0 lead.
Towards the start of the second period, the Phantoms were quick to score as well. Louie Belpedio's shot from the center point handcuffed the AHL All-Rookie Team goaltender, swung several times on a bouncing biscuit, and then Gardner dove into the goal, past Blomqvist's right pad and into the net. gave the Phantoms a 2-0 lead. .
Phantom wasn't finished. Lehigh Valley dominated most of the second period, but somehow couldn't land the knockout punch and extend their lead further. Gardner had chances up front, but the puck bounced in odd directions at times and he couldn't get a shot off. Helge Glans moved to the right of goal and fired a shot from the top corner, but it disappeared. Emil Andre also had a chance. Phantom had a baby pen hanging on the rope. But somehow Wilkes-Barre/Scranton fell through.
But the Penguins pushed back and finally found a second wind after giving the Phantoms multiple near misses and close calls. Petersen made a big save on Corey Andonofksi's short breakaway. With less than two minutes left in the game, Sam Poulin found rookie Vir Koivunen, making his professional debut, in the left corner and scored a crucial goal from the underside of the top of the cage, effectively pulling the home side back into the game. Ta.
Both teams exchanged chances in the third period. Bobby Brink had perhaps the best chance after a Cooper Marody set up in the corner and a nifty touch from center Rhett Gardner. But Blink's quick thump resulted in Lehigh Valley denting the iron for the second time.
On the other side of the ice was a bit of an obstacle for Lehigh Valley. As well as lessons on competition level and denial of space. The Phantoms' stifling defense frustrated the Penguins, eventually cutting the clock to zero and giving the Phantoms an opening-game victory.
The Phantoms will look to close out the series in Allentown on Friday night as playoff hockey returns to PPL Center for the first time in six years. If Lehigh Valley wins the series against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, its next opponent will be the No. 1 and defending champion Hershey Bears in a best-of-five series in early May.
