Phantoms ride 5-game winning streak, Sanheim heats up
- 8-6 WIN vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers (highlights)
3-2 WIN vs. Hershey Bears (highlights)
7-1 WIN vs. Providence Bruins (highlights)/
Wednesday’s bout with Bridgeport got kind of crazy with LHV jumping to a seemingly insurmountable 5-1 lead at the beginning of the 2nd period. Chris Connor (2), Travis Sanheim (2 & 3), Mark Zengerle (5) and Greg Carey (12) were the early heroes. Then things went south quickly after the Phantoms and Alex Lyon surrendered 4 straight goals to tie the game going into the 3rd period. Thankfully, T.J. Brennan (9) and Radel Fazleev (3) gave the goals that the Phantoms needed to close out the game. Cole Bardreau (5) provided the ENG. Alex Lyon stopped 30 of 36 attempts.
LHV settled down on Friday evening to a more defensive affair. Greg Carey scored a 1st period goal (13) and T.J. Brennan tied the game in the second 2-2 with his 10th of the season. With that goal, Brennan is now tied for 4th all-time in goals by a defenseman in the AHL. At 123 goals, he could easily move up to 2nd all-time (129) by the end of the season. It’s hard to see him catching the immortal John Slaney (166) for first anytime soon. A winner couldn’t be decided in regulation or overtime, so we were graced with the wondrous shootout. And just like the Flyers (circa 2016), they won! Alex Lyon stopped all attempts and Andy Miele scored on the Phantoms third opportunity. Lyon was 21 for 23 in the game overall.
The Phantoms improved to 3-0 against Providence following their win on Saturday. Scoring came courtesy of Danick Martel (6 & 7), Chris Connor (7), Greg Carey (14), Scott Laughton (3), Travis Sanheim (4) and Colin McDonald (12). Boston Bruins prospect, Malcom Subban, was responsible for all 7 goals. The scary thought is the game could have been a lot worse had the Phantoms not gone 0-5 on their power play. Lehigh Valley is the first AHL team to 20 wins, have a 0.732 win percentage (2nd best) and have scored the most goals (7 more then the next highest team). The Phantoms go on a winter break from here on out and will return to action December 26th against the Hershey Bears at home.
Travis Sanheim (D), 3 goals, 9 shots, 4 PIM
2014 1st Round Pick, 17th overall
Make that 4 goals in his last 5 games. The offensively talented Sanheim is looking just fine after opening the season with 0 goals in his first 23 games. The reports on Sanheim from coaching staff and local media have been very high. Now that the scoring has been ignited and his defensive game is coming along, it isn’t hard to see what makes him so exciting as a prospect.
Jordan Weal (C), 3 assists, 6 shots, 4 PIM
2010 3rd Round Pick, 70th overall
It’s hard not to mention Weal after another 3 point week. His 29 points are 2nd most in the AHL. Weal will just have to bide his time until his chance comes with the Flyers, but with moves like this, it’s hard to see that coming anytime soon.
Notable junior performances this week
Connor Bunnaman (LW/C), Kitchner Rangers (OHL)
2016 4th Round Pick, 109th overall
Bunnaman breaks out of a minor scoring rut with an assist on Friday. He has just one point in his last 4 games. On the bright side, last year he had 38 points (16G, 22A) in 68 games and already has 24 points (14G, 10A) in 30 games this season.
- 12/16 – 1 assist, 3 for 6 FOW
- 12/17 – 2 shots, 5 for 6 FOW/
Anthony Salinitri (C), Sarnia Sting (OHL)
2016 6th Round Pick, 172nd overall
Look, another hat-trick for Salinitri! His first hatty this season was scored back on 10/20. In his 3rd season with Sarnia, Salinitri is just 1 goal away from his career-high from last season (17) in 30 less games.
- 12/15 – 10 for 12 FOW
- 12/17 – 3 goals, 5 shots, 12 for 20 FOW
- 12/18 – 1 shot, 9 for 19 FOW/
Carsen Twarynski (LW), Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
2016 3rd Round Pick, 82nd overall
- A two-point week for Twarynski giving him 18 points (9G, 9A) in 29 games this season.
- 12/17 – 1 assist
- 12/18 – 1 assist/
Samuel Dove-McFalls (C), Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
2015 4th Round Pick, 98th overall
Dove-McFalls was part of a wild game in the Sea Dogs 8-2 win vs. Charlottetown on Saturday. After a slow start, he has been on a nice little hot streak. He is up to 24 points (6G, 18A) in 31 games, just 10 points off his career-high two seasons ago.
- 12/17 – 1 goal, 3 assists, 4 shots, 2 PIM, 2 for 2 FOW/
Pascal Laberge (RW/C), Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
2016 2nd Round Pick, 36th overall
Laberge is quite good when healthy, but that has been quite tricky this season. Since returning (again) from a concussion, he has 4 points (2G, 2 A) in 5 games. Overall he has 9 points in 14 games.
- 12/16 – 1 goal, 2 shots
- 12/17 – 2 shots, 2 PIM, 1 for 3 FOW/
Junior Notes: No updates for Carter Hart (G) and Philippe Myers (D) as both were selected to participate and won starting roles for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships.
Notable college performances this week
Mark Friedman (D), Bowling Green State University
2014 3rd Round Pick, 86th overall
Friedman scored his 5th goal of the season, giving him 14 points in 21 games. He leads all defensemen on the team in goals and points.
- 12/16 – 1 goal (PP)
- 12/17 – 2 PIM/
NCAA Notes: Tanner Laczynski, Merrick Madsen, Terrance Amorosa and Wade Allison are all off until after the holidays.
