PREVIEW: Phantoms at Americans, Game #39

Lehigh Valley Phantoms (18-14-6) vs. Rochester Americans (22-10-3)
Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, NY
Friday, January 17, 2025 (7:05 p.m.) – Game #39

TONIGHT – The Lehigh Valley Phantoms open a two-game, home-and-home weekend series against the Rochester Americans beginning tonight in western New York. The two teams will rematch on Saturday night at PPL Center

Lehigh Valley (18-14-6) has moved into a fourth-place tie in the Atlantic Division with the Providence Bruins having gone 5-1-1 to begin 2025. The Phantoms are just two points back of second-place Charlotte and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton as the Phantoms have also secured points in 11 of the last 15 games (9-4-1) over the past month since December 14.

Rochester (22-10-3) is tied for first place in the North Division with the Laval Rocket. The AHL affiliate of the Rochester Americans have eight of their last 10 and recently had a seven-game winning streak. The Amerks have cranked out 3.5 goals per game to rate fourth in the AHL.

Tomorrow night’s rematch in Allentown is Air Products Night including a Children’s Book DOnation Drive.

LAST TIME – The Phantoms got off to a hot start and then held on from there in posting a 3-2 win against the Belleville Senators on Wednesday at PPL Center. Helge Grans (5th) and Rodrigo Abols (9th) provided Lehigh Valley with a 2-1 lead in the first period. Anthony Richard pinballed a power-play shot off the goaltender and then a defender and into the goal for the game-winner in the third period. It was his first goal since returning from a month-long layoff due to injury. Lehigh Valley’s penalty kill was crucial and held Belleville to 1-for-7 on the power play including several key kills in the third.

MEDIA MATERIALS – Fans can browse rosters and Media Materials for tonight’s game here: https://www.phantomshockey.com/media-materials/

TRANSACTION – The Lehigh Valley Phantoms have recalled goaltender Keith Petruzzelli from the Reading Royals of the ECHL. Petruzzelli, 25, has gone 6-12-3, 3.37, .893 with Reading this season. Last year in the AHL with Toronto he was 6-8-2, 3.55, .867. In 98 career pro games in the ECHL and AHL with Newfoundland, Reading and Toronto he has combined totals of 48-38-8, 2.98, .900.

PHANTASTIC –
– The Phantoms had a five-game point streak (4-0-1) to open 2025 and now have points in six of the last games going 5-1-1 in January. Lehigh Valley also has points in 10 of the last 14 games (9-4-1) since December 14.

– The Phantoms are 13-5-6 in one-goal decisions and their 24 total one-goal games out of 38 games played is tied for the most in the AHL with Hershey. Lehigh Valley is 8-0-3 at home in one-goal games and leads the AHL in most one-goal wins on home ice.

IMPENDING MILESTONES
– Garrett Wilson, 396 pro points
– Anthony Richard, 497 AHL games

ROCK ON IN ROCHESTER – It’s a home-and-home weekend-series showdown with the North Division first-place Rochester Americans (22-10-3) who recently had their seven-game streak snapped in a 6-2 pasting at Syracuse. 21-year-old first rounder Isak Rosen (14-14-28) is in his third season with the Amerks and cranked out 20-30-50 last season. Penn State product Brett Murray (16-11-27) is in his sixth season with Rochester. 19-year-old second-rounder Anton Wahlburg (5-6-11) has returned from World Juniors where he scored 4-4-8 in helping Sweden to a bronze medal.

The weekend also marks the return of Felix Sandstrom (6-4-1, 2.96, .894) to PPL Center. The former Philadelphia third-rounder played in parts of six different seasons with the Phantoms and Flyers. In 88 career games with Lehigh Valley, Sandstrom was 39-29-13, 2.95, .899 while he also played in 30 games with Philadelphia from 2021-24.

Phantoms Scoring Leaders
Samu Tuomaala 8-17-25
x – Olle Lycksell 9-15-24
Jacob Gaucher 14-9-23
Rodrigo Abols 9-10-19
Alexis Gendron 11-7-18
Anthony Richard 7-10-17

Rochester
Isak Rosen 14-14-28
Brett Murray 16-11-27
Lukas Rousek 6-19-25
Zachary Metsa 2-22-24
Kale Clague 7-13-20

Special Teams:
Lehigh Valley – PP 17.9%, 11th / PK 83.2%, 16th
Rochester – PP 15.8%, 25th / PK 82.5%, 20th

COMING UP –  The Phantoms go back-to-back with the first-place team in the North Division in a Saturday rematch in Allentown on Air Products Night with the team’s Children’s Book Drive to benefit Community Services for Children.

UPCOMING

Friday, January 17 (7:05) – Phantoms at Rochester Americans

Saturday, January 18 (7:05) – Rochester Americans at Phantoms – Air Products Night, Children’s Book Donation Drive

Friday, January 24 (7:05) – Springfield Thunderbirds at Phantoms

Saturday, January 25 (7:05) – Bridgeport Islanders at Phantoms – meLVin Youth Jersey Night

Sunday, January 26 (3:05) – Phantoms at W-B/Scranton Penguins

 

 

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