ALLENTOWN— The Phantoms scored two in two minutes late in the game, forcing overtime for the second-consecutive game,and 22nd time this season. But Lehigh Valley was unable to keep its perfect record over Norfolk, losing to the Admirals 3-2 in overtime on Saturday.
Nearly 51 minutes of scoreless hockey ticked by after Norfolk made it a 1-0 game in the first, but the Phantoms caught a glimmer of hope as Kevin Goumas tied the game with less than three minutes to play. Goumas grabbed a rebound from Oliver Lauridsen, and sent a shot that deflected off of a Norfolk skate and in for the game-tying goal.
But just 28 seconds later Norfolk’s Brandon Montour poked a shot through Stolarz’s legs to give the team a one-goal lead late. The initial shot from Joesph Sgarbossa was caught in Stolarz’s left arm, but fell between his legs and poked through just as the whistle blew the play dead.
Forty-five seconds later Jones handles the puck in a scramble in front of Ryan Faragher who was unintentionally pushed into the net with the puck on him for the game-tying goal with 45 seconds left in regulation.
Max Friberg would score midway through the overtime period off a shot from the right circle to lock in the Norfolk win.
- Despite being off for the better part of nine games, Anthony Stolarz entered Saturday’s contest with the right mindset. With a little bit of rust to shake off, Stolarz came into his own throughout the game. The rookie goaltender left the ice at the end of the second after spending the last 20 seconds on his back without a stick as Norfolk’s power play unit sent shots his way. Somehow Stolarz kept pucks out of the net. Stolarz saved 31-of-34 shots faced.
- With the sting of last night’s shootout defeat still on Norfolk’s mind, the game started with some hostility, as extra-curriculars started early, Saturday. Just over a quarter of the way through the first period two fights ensued after a crosscheck by Jay Rosehill. Nathan Mclver tangled with Rosehill while Derek Mathers and John Kurtz dropped the gloves in the neutral zone. Tempers continued to flair as the Phantoms found trouble getting the puck to the net.
- Twenty-year-old Danick Martel took to the ice Saturday night in his pro debut after arriving in Lehigh Valley at 11p.m Friday. Martel, who is listed as 5-8, was easily the smallest player on the ice but he said he was “not impressed” with the size of the defensemen he was up against. The speedster spent some time in his first AHL overtime period, Friday, which fit his fast-style perfectly. Martel said Saturday’s game was the fastest he ever saw.
- Martel is the third ATO to sign with the Phantoms this season and make their pro debut in the last three weeks.
- After traveling to Philadelphia on an emergency recall Saturday morning, where he sat on the bench as a healthy scratch in the Flyers finale vs. Ottawa, Mark Alt made the trek back to Lehigh Valley in time to take warm-ups with his team. He played on the second-pair D with his usual partner Adam Comrie.
- The Flyers announced Saturday afternoon that the team has returned Nick Cousins and Brandon Manning, who spend the last 12 and eight games in Philadelphia, respectively. With their return, head coach Terry Murray said two players will be sent down to the Reading Royals just before the ECHL affiliate begins their playoff run. According to Jason Guarente of the Reading Eagle, Adam Comrie and Andrew Johnston are the only two players eligible to return to Reading.
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