Phantoms Turnaround Due To Vet Adds

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are wrapping up the dog days of the American Hockey League (AHL) season. It’s this time of the year when the players are powering through the busy schedule and hoping to survive the three-in-three weekends. The All-Star break is around the corner, and with it, there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

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With the Bridgeport Islanders in Allentown, the Phantoms got a big win on Jan. 31, a statement 5-3 victory. The Islanders were a team that had the Phantoms number and matched up well against them, winning three of the previous four meetings. “We knew coming into the game that they are a volume-based team, so we needed to make the shots that were coming from up top and from bad angles,” head coach John Snowden noted after a complete team win led by one of the few two-way players on the team. 

Christian Kyrou is More Confident

It’s been a rollercoaster season for Christian Kyrou. The 22-year-old defenseman was traded from the Texas Stars to the Phantoms and was red hot with the new team, only to go cold for a stretch. In his first 11 games with the Phantoms, he had 14 points. In the next 17 games, he had two points. He scored a goal and added two assists in the recent game to fuel the victory and build off a stretch where he has six points in his last four games. 

“We know he’s a player who is going to push the offense,” Snowden noted afterwards, and it’s what the Phantoms got from Kyrou. More importantly, the goals gave him confidence, and he looked comfortable handling the puck and stepping up on the defensive side of things. “I thought today he was better on the defensive side of things. In the D-Zone, I thought he made good reads where he could get on guys quickly,” Snowden added. 

When Kyrou is playing this way, he sets the tone for the rest of the team. He adds a spark on the offensive end, and when he creates turnovers on the defensive end, the rest of the unit follows suit. It’s why the Phantoms had a big game, and one that they needed to remain ahead of teams like the Islanders in the standings. 

Wisdom’s Vital Play

Along with the great play from Kyrou came a resurgence from Zayde Wisdom. He entered the game on Saturday night with only a goal and an assist in his last eight games. Wisdom scored twice and added an assist against the Islanders. The offense has struggled with the Phantoms losing Denver Barkey to the NHL team and Alex Bump to injury. It’s why Wisdom’s play offensively goes a long way. 

It’s not just Wisdom but the line he centers that is vital to the Phantoms success. He’s usually on the same line as Garrett Wilson, and the two deliver on the forecheck and step up defensively. The Phantoms are shifting towards a heavier game, and the Wilson-Wisdom combo sets the tone for the rest of the forward group. 

Phantoms Veterans Doing Their Part

Along with the Wilson-Wisdom combo, the Phantoms have seen the veterans step up and deliver. Earlier in the season, Snowden called out the group since they not only are the leaders but often the best skaters on the team, which is what they were on Saturday night. Anthony Richard, the long-time forward, found the back of the net for his 12th goal of the season. Jacob Gaucher, a depth skater, scored his ninth goal of the season to start up the offense in the first period. 

The veterans got the offense going but they also made sure the Phantoms could win with the forecheck. “We wanted to establish that early and get difficult pucks in,” Snowden mentioned after the game. The pressure resulted in a few goals as they pressured the Islanders into mistakes, leading to quick scoring chances the other way. “Our forecheck has to be a staple for us, and that will open up the stuff that we want to do,” Snowden added, and with the Phantoms wrapping up the three-in-three on Sunday, it must be in place for them to wrap up the weekend on a high note.