Lehigh Valley Phantoms Find Ways To Win

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“We have a very offensive-minded team,” John Snowden noted about the Lehigh Valley Phantoms after their Oct. 24 5-4 win over the Hershey Bears. To start the season, the Phantoms were built on great offense but struggled defensively. “When you have an offensive-minded team, when you get to the D-Zone it’s ‘I don’t wanna be in the D-Zone, I wanna be in the O-Zone, ’” Snowden added.

The team has plenty of skill and can run up the score on most teams in the American Hockey League (AHL). It’s the defensive end where they are learning new systems and allowing opponents to beat them. The Phantoms have proven lately that they can win on both ends. “We can score and we’ll be able to score, and if we can keep pucks out of our end and out of our net, it will give us a chance to win every night,” Snowden noted after the recent victory. Their 4-2 win on Nov. 19 over the Rochester Americans was a testament to their improvements as they limited one of the league’s best offenses to cap off a six-game stretch where they’ve allowed only 15 goals.

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The Phantoms winning games with their defense is noteworthy, as it’s a sign that they are a complete team. They’ll pile up the wins in the AHL but more importantly, they can become a top team with eyes on a Calder Cup title, something the Lehigh Valley has never witnessed. There’s a cliche in sports that defense wins championships, and the Phantoms have a defense now that can do just that.

The Buy In From The Phantoms

For a team to be great on defense, it needs the forwards to do their part. The Phantoms needed Alex Bump, Denver Barkey, and the skilled skaters to backcheck and use their speed to defend. It’s become an overlooked yet valuable part of the forward group in recent games as they close in on loose pucks and win battles to not only create turnovers but keep the offense going as well.

Everyone knows the Barkey, Bump, and Lane Pederson line has plenty of skill, with the three skaters scoring 16 goals and adding 20 assists to the offense. It’s their defense that goes unnoticed but is setting up that offense and the scoring chances to follow. “I think there’s a commitment to wanting to defend and understanding that if we defend the right way and we take care of our end, we’re going to have more time with the puck,” Snowden noted after the recent win.

Along with the speed and the motor, most notably from Barkey and Bump, there’s the buy-in to block shots. The standard is set with the Zayde Wisdom line, which often also features veteran Garrett Wilson, another forechecking forward. However, the Phantoms as a team have bought into blocking shots and playing the shooting lanes.

“Our coaches have done a great job. Schultzy has done a great job. Just doing our systems the right way,” defenseman Christian Kyrou noted after the game against the Americans, one where they limited an offense that averages 3.40 goals per game. The “Schultzy” that Kyrou referenced is assistant coach Nick Schultz, who was a longtime defenseman in the NHL who preaches a shot-blocking style that makes the other team uncomfortable. That’s how the “Amerks” felt against the Phantoms as they couldn’t find the open looks or generate much pressure.

The Best Defense is Offense

Another hockey cliche is that the other team can’t score when they don’t have the puck. When Snowden was hired in the summer, he talked about winning the puck and keeping it, especially in the offensive zone. “I want the puck, I don’t want to give it away, I want to hold on to it,” he stated during his introductory presser. It’s why Barkey and Bump, in some ways, embody the type of players Snowden wants on his roster as they win puck battles and maintain possession.

The Phantoms have been a great puck control team since the start of the season. That Oct. 24 win over the Bears saw them make the smart plays to move the puck up the ice and avoid the opponent’s forecheck. Instead of looking for the big pass up the ice, they’ll carry the puck to the blue line or make the small pass to set up the offense. “We know that we have that offensive scoring power but defense leads to offense, and that’s what we’ve been preaching and that’s what we’re going to continue to preach all year,” Barkey added after the recent game.

It’s also why Kyrou has been such a valuable addition to the defense. He’s a puck-moving defenseman who can exit the defensive zone and enter the offensive zone. Kyrou will handle the puck in the defense zone and, by default, help out the defense the way many two-way players do in the modern game.

Stability in the Net Helps Lehigh Valley

The Phantoms wouldn’t be a great defensive team without their goaltending tandem stepping up. Aleksei Kolosov has delivered all season with a .917 save percentage (SV%) and a 2.44 goals-against average (GAA) while his 23-save performance secured a 4-2 win over the Amerks. Likewise, Carson Bjarnasson has found his footing in the AHL with a .905 SV% and a 2.76 GAA in a backup role.

The defense is built around the goaltending, which is something the Philadelphia Flyers are implementing as well. Rick Tocchet is building the defense around Dan Vladar, where he can see the puck and make the initial save while the skaters clean up loose pucks and eliminate second chances. The Phantoms do the same thing and notably look to eliminate the goals from quick shots, which plays into Kolosov’s strengths as a goaltender.

The defense is catering to the goaltending, yet the Phantoms have gotten a big boost from their duo. Last season, their goaltending was a liability, costing them games throughout the season. Now, it’s a vital part of their success and rounding out an already talented roster.

It’s Music to the Flyers’ Ears

The front office attended the recent game with Daniel Briere, Keith Jones, and the rest of the staff, keeping a close eye on the prospects (something Briere’s done throughout this season). The Flyers haven’t played in five days, and the extra time between games provided a great excuse to drive to Allentown and watch the Phantoms.

The goals by Barkey and Kyrou are what most fans will remember from the game. Both moments were highlight-worthy and certainly went into the notebooks (or laptops) of Briere and Jones. However, the defensive showing was a pleasant sight for them to see as well.

The Flyers need defensemen, and if they can’t find them, they need forwards who defend. The Phantoms have both, and the way they’ve shut teams down stands out. Emil Andrea starred on the Phantoms’ blue line before the call-up, and Kyrou’s play makes him on the shortlist to join the NHL roster as well. On top of that, the skilled forwards are defending well, providing a positive outlook for the Flyers and their ability to win games with their defense.