Phantoms Post-Game EXTRA! 2019-20 Season: Belleville - 2 at Lehigh Valley - 1
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ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (8-6-5) fell to the Belleville Senators (10-8-1) 2-1 on Saturday night at PPL Center. Here are some of my thoughts after the loss.
Tonight's Game Story -> http://insideahlhockey.com/article/game-story-2019-20-season-belleville-at-lehigh-valley-112319
Three Things
1. You Can’t Win Them All
Even though they lost, the Phantoms were clearly the better team, especially in the second half of the game. In the third period, the Orange and Black led the Senators in shots 16-3 and carried play throughout the frame.
“Other than a few mistakes in our zone, and obviously the goals, we spent a large portion of [the game] in the offensive zone in all three periods,” Phantoms coach Scott Gordon said after the contest.
Unfortunately for the Lehigh Valley, Belleville’s goaltender Filip Gustavsson was outstanding throughout the tilt. The 21-year-old Swede stopped 37 shots including an incredible glove save on a Carsen Twarynski shot from the circle.
2. Power Play Continues to Struggle
The Phantoms actually scored a power play goal -- their only goal of the game -- with 14 seconds remaining in the third period. However, the unit still didn’t look great in the game.
“We got the one on the 6-on-4, but tonight was probably a night where if the power play comes through, maybe it's a 3-2 game or maybe changes the momentum of the game,” Gordon said.
After tonight’s performance, Lehigh Valley have converted on just eight of their 72 opportunities with the extra man which ranks 27th in the AHL.
3. The Quarter-Season Mark
Through 19 games, the Phantoms’ season has been a bit of a mixed bag, just like their performance on Saturday night.
While it may be too early to look at the standings still -- although I’d argue it’s never too early -- the Phantoms currently sit in fifth place in the Atlantic Division, just three points out of second place. They’ve lost 11 of their 19 games but fortunately for them, nearly half of their losses have come in overtime.
They’ve done this while a handful of key players have failed to find the scoresheet at the rate of which they hoped. There have also been many positives, too. Stay tuned next week for a more in-depth recap of the first fourth of the team’s schedule.
Post-Game Reaction
Head coach Scott Gordon
On dominating large portions of play despite taking the loss
"Even the first period, other than the few mistakes in our zone and obviously the goals, we spent a large portion of it in the offensive zone all three periods. [Their] goalie played pretty [well]."
On tonight's loss being more or less frustrating
"My feeling is, the work ethic was there and some nights the puck just doesn't go in for you. This was one of those nights. The only other area we could have been better in was our power play. We got the one on 6-on-4 but tonight was probably a night where if the power play comes through maybe it's a 3-2 game or maybe it changes the momentum."
