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Wolf Pack Best Phantoms in OT

Rizzo and Gendron Strike for Lehigh Valley

January 10, 2025

Allentown, PA – The Lehigh Valley Phantoms squared off at PPL Center for the first time in the new calendar year on Friday night against the Hartford Wolf Pack and dropped a 3-2 overtime tilt. Massimo Rizzo (3rd) and Alexis Gendron (11th) struck for the Phantoms, but Victor Mancini sealed the contest with an overtime winner at 1:41 of the extra session. The game marked Lehigh Valley’s 14th overtime affair of the regular season to lead the American Hockey League.

The Phantoms dawned their specialty black jerseys for the first time this season, and fans joined in on the Blackout theme with specialty knit caps courtesy of The Morning Call.

Lehigh Valley played on their toes to begin the first period and dictated the pace of play. Rizzo put forth a high-quality scoring chance from the low-slot five minutes into the game, and minutes later Gendron was denied on a breakaway chance by Hartford netminder Dylan Garand.

Poetically, Rizzo broke the ice and opened the scoring at 8:37 by maintaining a consistent presence at the net-front. Louie Belpedio blasted a shot from the center-point, and Rizzo on cue perfectly deflected the puck past Garand.

Despite Lehigh Valley possessing the better play and leading in shots by a lopsided 14-5 margin at first intermission, Hartford managed to draw even prior to the break. Alex Belzile rifled a perfect shot bardown past Cal Petersen with 1:21 left in the stanza.

The Pack grabbed a 2-1 advantage at 5:16 of the second period on Adam Sykora’s eighth goal of the campaign. After finding daylight from between the circles, Sykora received a perfect pass from Jaroslav Chmelar and beat Petersen low to the ice. Lehigh Valley came close to an immediate response while shorthanded, but Jacob Gaucher was denied on a shorthanded breakaway chance.

But the persistent Phantoms hit pay-dirt on a power play to once again even the score. Rodrigo Abols from the bumper spot at the low-slot fed Gendron at the bottom of the right circle to beat Garand moving to his left. The man-advantage dandy at 8:54 forced a 2-2 gridlock into the third period.

In the 3-on-3 sudden-death spectacle, Lehigh Valley’s three-game win-streak soon transformed to a four-game point-streak. Gaucher blew a tire with the puck in the offensive zone which sprung a 2-on-1 chance for Hartford. Mancini fired home the game-winner over Petersen’s glove hand to end overtime only 101 seconds into the extra session.

Both teams will conclude a home-and-home set Saturday, January 11, 2025, when the Phantoms and Wolf Pack rematch at XL Center in Hartford. The Phantoms will return home on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 against the Belleville Senators. Fans in attendance will be treated to a Pregame Happy Hour with $2 beers.

SCORING SUMMARY
1st 8:37 – LV, M. Risso (3) (L. Belpedio, E. Desnoyers) (1-0)
1st 18:39 – HFD, A. Belzile (11) (N. Sucese) (A. Sykora) (1-1)

2nd 5:16 – HFD, A. Sykora (8) (J. Chmelar, C. Fitzgerald) (1-2)
2nd 8:54 – LV, A. Gendron (11) (R. Abols, S. Tuomaala (PP) (2-2)

OT 1:41 – HFD, V. Mancini (3) (N. Sucese) (2-3)

Shots:
LV 30 – HFD 22

PP:
LV 1/6, HFD 0/2

Goaltenders:
LV – C. Petersen (OTL) (9-10-3) (19/22)
HFD – D. Garand (W) (11-4-2) (28/30)

Records:
Lehigh Valley (16-13-6)
Hartford (16-14-3)

UPCOMING

Saturday, January 11 (7:05) – Phantoms at Hartford Wolf Pack

Sunday, January 12 (5:00) – Phantoms at Bridgeport Islanders

Wednesday, January 15 (7:05) – Phantoms vs. Belleville Senators, Pregame Happy Hour, $2 Beers

Friday, January 17 (7:05) – Phantoms at Rochester Americans