The Phantoms are back on the ice tonight at 7:05 as they close out their weekend doubleheader against the Admirals after a shootout victory, Friday. Tonight is the seventh meeting between Lehigh Valley and Norfolk with their series finale scheduled for later this week.
The Phantoms (32-32-6-1) are a perfect 6-0 over the Admirals (25-38-6-4) with each game decided by one goal, including three shootout decisions.
Friday night was no exception as the Phantoms forced overtime and eventually took the game in a 2-1 shootout victory after the Admirals took an early one-goal lead. Scott Laughton was the game’s first star Friday after netting the Phantoms game-tying goal to force overtime, and the shootout winner.
Norfolk has now dropped 16 of their last 19 contests and is at the bottom of the heap in the Eastern Conference. But despite their location in the standings, the Admirals played with speed on Friday, challenging the Phantoms defense early, especially in front of Zepp.
- According to head coach Terry Murray, backup goaltender Anthony Stolarz will start in net tonight against the Admirals. Friday, Rob Zepp started in his ninth straight game, where he averaged more than 30 shots faced in the last three weeks. The 33-year-old made incredibly athletic saves Friday, and said he’s felt fine through his marathon of starts, but with just five games remaining in the regular season, Murray said it’s Stolarz’s time.
- The Flyers front office announced Friday afternoon that the team would recall a Phantoms for Saturday’s afternoon tilt against Ottawa, but did not release the information until 9:30 a.m. Forward Jason Akeson and defenseman Mark Alt were recalled for the 12:30 puck drop. Akeson played 13:21 minutes in Philadelphia Saturday while Alt was a healthy scratch. It is likely that Alt will travel back to Lehigh Valley to play tonight for the Phantoms.
- The Phantoms signed another ATO Saturday with just five games remaining in the season. Danick Martel, who signed a three-year entry level contract with the Flyers in March, recently concluded his season with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League where he earned 103 points and scored 48 goals in the 2014-2015 season. Martel was ranked second in the league in scoring and third in goals.The forward will be available for the Phantoms, wearing No. 18. , and he is expected to make his AHL debut tonight.
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