By Tommy Hendricks, Sports Talk Philly staff writer 
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms finally found a way to beat the Bridgeport Sound Tigers for the first time this season, beating Bridgeport, 3-2, in Bridgeport on Sunday afternoon.
The Phantoms came into the game with an 0-3 record against the Sound Tigers this year, while having a 14-3-1 record against everyone else in the AHL.
Lehigh Valley dominated the first period outshooting the Sound Tigers, 14-3, and jumping out to a 2-0 lead before the end of 20 minutes.
Their first goal came on a breakaway from Taylor Leier, his sixth goal of the season. Corbin Knight intercepted a Bridgeport pass, and threw a long stretch pass of his own to Leier, who had a clean breakaway from the Sound Tigers blue line. Leier was able to beat Stephen Williams to the low blocker side to make it 1-0.
Knight assisted on the second Phantoms goal as well, centering a pass from below the Bridgeport goal line on the power play. That centering pass found Phantoms captain Colin McDonald in the slot, who rifled a shot through Williams to make it 2-0. The goal was McDonald's team-leading 11th of the season, which also ties him for the league lead. It's also his third goal in the last games.
Bridgeport came roaring back in the second however, scoring two goals in 51 seconds to tie the game. The first came from Travis St. Denis, his fourth goal of the weekend. At the 10:17 mark of the second, Denis cashed in on his backhand off a rebound from the pad of Martin Ouellette to bring the Sound Tigers within one.
Chris Conner got called for hooking at 10:31, and the Sound Tigers would cash in very quickly on the ensuing power play. Bracken Kearns scored on the man advantage with a chip shot from the slot to even the score.
The Phantoms would not let that phase them however, retaking the lead 7:40 into the third period. Robert Hagg was able to cut into the Bridgeport zone and open up ice for Danick Martel by drawing a defender his way. Martel was wide open in the slot and Hagg found him to pot the eventual game-winner. Jordan Weal also assisted on the goal, giving him nine points in his last six games.
Bridgeport pressed late, pulling Williams with 1:30 left to play. Sam Morin got called for cross checking with 7.2 seconds left, giving Bridgeport a huge opportunity. Off the face off, Ryan Pulock ripped a shot from the point. The shot found the stick of Stephen Gionta in the slot, but deflected wide at the buzzer.
Lehigh Valley improved to 15-6-1 on the season, finally registering a win over the Sound Tigers for the first time in 4 games this season. The win also put the Phantoms a standings point ahead of Bridgeport, into second place in the Atlantic.
The Phantoms have now won four straight games away from PPL Center, and will look to continue that streak in Syracuse, NY on Wednesday against the Crunch.
3 Stars
3. Corbin Knight (LV) – 2 Assists, +2
2. Travis St. Denis (BRI) – Goal, +1
1. Danick Martel (LV) – Goal, +1
