PREVIEW: Phantoms at Monsters, Game #36

Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
Lehigh Valley Phantoms (16-14-5) at Cleveland Monsters (14-16-4)
Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, Cleveland, OH

TONIGHT
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms begin a three-game road stretch in the opener of a two-game series at the Cleveland Monsters, AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Lehigh Valley (16-14-5) had points in four out of five games (2-1-2) in 2023 but had a four-game point streak snapped the last time out on Saturday against Syracuse.
Cleveland (14-16-4) is working to climb out of the cellar of the North Division.
The Phantoms took three of four points from Cleveland during Opening Weekend at PPL Center October 22-23.
The team officially reaches the midway point of the season following tonight’s game having played 36 contests with 36 remaining.

LAST TIME
Saturday, January 14, 2023
Crunch 5 – Phantoms 2
Elliot Desnoyers tucked one in behind the goalie for his team-leading 13th goal of the season and Kevin Connauton converted from the point for his first of the year. But an early three-goal surge in the first period for visiting Syracuse held up the rest of the way. The Phantoms had a strong push through much of the third trying to cut into a 4-2 deficit including a 6-on-4 and 6-on-5 attack late in the game. But the Crunch sealed the win with a late empty-netter as Lehigh Valley’s four-game point streak to commence 2023 came to an end.

FIVE FOR FELIX
Goaltender Felix Sandstrom is back with the Phantoms on a two-week conditioning loan designed to provide him maximum opportunities to play and he has taken advantage of his stretch with Lehigh Valley having started all five games since his arrival. He has two games left in his conditioning stint. Sandstrom has gone 2-1-2, 2.97, .894. His best game of the stretch was likely last Wednesday at Bridgeport when he turned aside 35 Bridgeport Islanders shots, including 18 in the third period, to preserve a 3-1 win.
He’s been the backup goalie with the Philadelphia Flyers this season and recorded his first NHL win on November 8 with 27 saves in a 5-1 win over the St. Louis Blues. The Flyers’ third-round selection in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft has played in 14 career games with the Flyers including nine this season.

TRANSACTIONS
Forward Zayde Wisdom and defenseman Adam Karashik both returned to the Phantoms following quick stays with the Reading Royals. Both played three games in the ECHL prior to rejoining Lehigh Valley.
Goaltender Pat Nagle was recalled to the Phantoms…