After tough back-to-back shutout losses to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the last six days, the Phantoms welcome last-place Norfolk as they try to continue a perfect series against their East Division foe in a double-header this weekend.
Friday kicks off a back-to-back battle versus the Norfolk Admirals (25-38-6-3) in Allentown, as the Phantoms (31-32-6-1) try to bounce back from a midweek loss. Lehigh Valley’s 3-0 loss to the Penguins on Wednesday pushed the Phantoms out of playoff contention, and allowed Wilkes-Barre to clinch the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Norfolk sits in the 15th and final place in the conference with 59 points, having won just three of their last 18 games. The Phantoms hold a perfect 5-0 record over the Admirals, claiming each victory by just one goal, including their most recent 3-2 win last week in Norfolk.
- With their playoff hopes done and just six games remaining in the regular season, it is likely that Anthony Stolarz will have more ice time, as Rob Zepp has started in eight straight games. Zepp, however, said Wednesday that he feels great, despite facing more than 30 shots on average in his last eight games.
- Despite allowing a power play goal Wednesday to Wilkes-Barre, snapping their 18-straight penalty kill streak, the Phantoms have killed 32-of-34 at home since the end of February, and 28-of-32 total in the last three weeks.
- Seven Phantoms veterans’ contracts come to a close at the end of the season, and with just six games remaining, Andrew Gordon, Zack Stortini, Jay Rosehill, Oliver Lauirdsen (RFA), Rob Zepp, Blair Jones and Jason Akeson (RFA) are playing for new contracts. The remaining Phantoms must continue to stay motivated while avoiding reckless play.
- Just today, the Flyers announced that they have re-signed Brandon Manning to a one-year contract extension. Manning played 58 games with the Phantoms this season (11 goals, 32 assists) and 10 games in Philadelphia (three assists)./
