The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (1-0-0) will look for the series sweep tonight as they take on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in Game 2 of their best-of-3 First Round matchup in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
The Phantoms cruised to a 5-2 victory in Game 1 on Wednesday night in Wilkes-Barre. Alex Bump recorded the first multi-goal game of his professional career, Olle Lycksell had a goal and assist, and Jett Luchanko racked up two beautiful assists to lead the way. Parker Gahagen also stopped 28 shots at the other end to seal the victory for the Phantoms in his first career playoff appearance.
When: 4/25/2025; 7:05pm/ET
Where: PPL Center; Allentown, PA
Broadcast Info: FloHockey; Phantoms365 (Posted Below)
This series is potentially shaping up to be a carbon copy of last season’s edition. The Phantoms went into Wilkes-Barre and took Game 1 before going home and finishing off the Penguins in a sweep in Game 2 on the back of a Jacob Gaucher overtime winner in 2024.
Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Alex Bump’s multi-goal performance was the highlight of Game 1 in a contest where there were plenty of positives for Lehigh Valley. He is now up to 3 goals and 1 assist in 3 AHL games this season including the regular season.
“It’s nice. Playoffs is the best time,” said Bump after being asked about jumping into a playoff series almost immediately out of college. “It’s the most fun playing hockey. I’m just trying to help the team in any way I can.”
The Phantoms were 4-7-1 in the regular season against the Penguins, but the playoffs are always a different story and anything can happen. 3 of those 4 victories came at PPL Center, however, so being back on home ice for Game 2 should provide a boost for the Phantoms.
Parker Gahagen is expected to start in goal again for Lehigh Valley. He went 12-4-3 with a .916 SV%, 2.39 GAA, and 1 shutout in the regular season and started in Game 1 on Wednesday. Gahagen has been one of the AHL’s top goaltenders since the league resumed from their holiday break and will look to keep his success going tonight.
Phantoms Projected Lineup
#15 Olle Lycksell – #56 Jacob Gaucher – #74 Zayde Wisdom
#29 Nikita Grebenkin- #18 Rodrigo Ābols – #21 Alex Bump
#17 Garrett Wilson – #77 Jett Luchanko – #90 Anthony Richard
#43 Oscar Eklind – #22 Rhett Gardner – #54 Givani Smith
#19 Hunter McDonald – #7 Louie Belpedio
#6 Emil Andrae – #5 Ethan Samson
#37 Adam Ginning – #3 Helge Grans
#31 Parker Gahagen
(#40 Cal Petersen)
#26 Tristan Broz – #61 Boris Katchouk – #41 Ville Koivunen
#22 Sam Poulin – #11 Vasily Ponomarev – #85 Avery Hayes
#47 Chase Stillman – #15 Joona Koppanen – #48 Valtteri Puustinen
#42 Zach Gallant – #84 Atley Calvert – #12 Mathias Laferrière
#38 Owen Pickering – #3 Jack St. Ivany
#25 Sebastian Aho – #6 Dan Renouf
#82 Filip Král – #45 Harrison Brunicke
#1 Sergei Murashov
(#33 Taylor Gauthier)
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