The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are moving on.
After defeating the Providence Bruins 4-3 in overtime in Game 4 of the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs, the Phantoms will play the Charlotte Checkers in the second round. The Checkers swept the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the first round.
The Phantoms won Game 1, 3-2, on the power of Danick Martel’s two goals, before losing to Providence in Game 2. The rest of the series was played in Allentown, and the Phantoms quickly disposed of Providence.
They won Game 3, 4-1, with Oskar Lindblom having himself a game, and Game 4, 3-0. Lehigh Valley got a huge boost after Oskar Lindblom and Travis Sanheim were sent down following the Philadelphia Flyers’ elimination.
In Game 3, Lindblom scored twice, and Sanheim recorded an assist on Lindblom’s second. The future is imminent.
Tonight, the Phantoms recorded three goals in the first period. T.J. Brennan scored his first goal of the playoffs to make it 1-0 before Chris Conner scored his first two goals to make it 3-0.
The Bruins clawed their way back, scoring twice in the final eight minutes of the third to force overtime.
Maxim Lamarche became the hero and scored with 1:24 left in overtime, with Conner picking up his third point of the night on the assist, to send the Phantoms to the Second Round.
“Here comes Mad Max!”
The @LVPhantoms are heading to the next round of the #CalderCup playoffs! #LVvsPRO pic.twitter.com/V9WW6oK1hY
— AHL (@TheAHL) April 29, 2018
Alex Lyon came up huge for the Phantoms all game long. He made 49 saves on 52 shots, including 14 in a lopsided overtime. He allowed the Phantoms to pull out the win.
This is the first time the Phantoms have advanced to the second round since 2008, when Craig Berube was their head coach. The Berube-led Philadelphia Phantoms 46-27-0-4 that season before losing to the Wilkes/Barre-Scranton Penguins in five games.
The Phantoms will continue to Rally the Valley in the Second Round.
Photo by Casey Liberatore/Sons of Penn
Originally published on SonsOfPenn.com