As the Lehigh Valley Phantoms rallied for their most recent win, one player was not present. Top prospect Shayne Gostisbehere was a healthy scratch for the game.
Of course, it was learned later that Gostisbehere would be en route to Philadelphia for Saturday's Flyers game against the Red Wings to make his NHL debut after just five career AHL games.
Even without Gostisbehere, the Phantoms rallied for three goals in the third period to beat the Hershey Bears, 4-2, at PPL Center.
Darroll Powe scored midway through the second to even the score and get the Phantoms on the board. The Phantoms trailed, 2-1, entering the third and the one-goal lead held into the final seven minutes of the game.
But three goals in 1:53 turned the tide. The first was by Taylor Leier at 14:01. 57 seconds later, Powe netted his second to give the Phantoms the lead. 56 seconds after that, Petr Straka scored to cap the scoring for the game.
Rob Zepp made 29 saves in the win. It brought the Phantoms record to 3-1-0. They play twice more this weekend, facing the Binghamton Senators on Saturday and the Bears again on Sunday.
In the ECHL, the Reading Royals secured their first win, but it was a wild road to victory. In a Friday night meeting with the Elmira Jackels, the Royals fell behind, 2-0, in the first.
They would score three second-period goals to take the lead entering the final period as Pat Mullane, Mike Marcou and Brett Flemming all found the back of the net.
But the Jackels would score three goals in the third, including the equalizer on a penalty shot in the final minute of regulation, to send the game to overtime tied, 5-5. Earlier in the third, Reading opened up a 5-2 lead as Flemming added his second goal of the game and Adam Hughesman also scored.
After a scoreless overtime, the game went to a shootout where the Royals claimed a 2-1 win as Ryan Cruthers scored first and Mullane netted the game-winner. Martin Ouellette made 27 saves in 65 minutes and another four in the shootout.
The Royals also play on both Saturday and Sunday, facing the Jackels twice more at home.
Check back on Tuesday for a weekend round-up for the Phantoms and Royals.
Kevin Durso is Managing Editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.
