Minor League Report: Carter Hart Reportedly Heading to Phantoms with Stolarz Out for Playoffs

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

As playoff time continues for the Flyers prospects, some key performances and one important piece of news brings us another prospect update.

The Phantoms locked up home ice in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs with Friday's comeback win. But with the victory brought some bad news regarding their goaltending tandem for the playoffs.

Help is on the way however, in the form of another top prospect goalie.

AHL

The Phantoms closed out the regular season on Saturday night with another win, beating Binghamton on the road. They will face the Hershey Bears in the best-of-five Atlantic Division semi-finals.

The Phantoms will begin on home ice next Friday and Saturday, April 21 and 22, with the games starting at 7:05 p.m. Hershey will host Games 3 and 4 on Wednesday, April 26 and Friday, April 28, if necessary. Also if necessary, a decisive Game 5 would be on Saturday, April 29, at PPL Center.

A thrilling victory on Friday was met with bad news after the game. Anthony Stolarz left Wednesday's game early in the first with an apparent leg injury. When Flyers GM Ron Hextall addressed the media on Thursday at his season-ending press conference, he noted that Stolarz would be out long-term. Phantoms head coach Scott Gordon announced Friday that Stolarz has a three-to-four month recovery ahead and will miss the duration of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Alex Lyon will carry the Phantoms in goal during the Calder Cup Playoffs.

ECHL

The Reading Royals got off to a good start in their North Division semi-final series against Brampton. In Game 1 on Thursday, Reading used goals from Robbie Czarnik and Todd Perry to open up a 2-0 lead in the second. Mark Dekanich made 43 saves to secure a 2-1 win for Reading in the series opener.

In Game 2 on Saturday, Reading took a 1-0 lead early in the first with Ryan Penny getting on the board. But late in the third, Brampton got on the board with the game-tying goal and later scored again at 14:47 of the first overtime to even the series.

The two teams meet for Game 3 on Tuesday and Game 4 will follow on Thursday.

Prospects

Carter Hart – Carter Hart's junior season with Everett is over, after the Silvertips were swept in the WHL semi-finals. Hart allowed 16 goals on 112 shots in the series.

With his junior season complete, Hart will reportedly head to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for the playoffs, according to Everett beat writer Jesse Geleynse. Hart would likely serve as Alex Lyon's backup in the Phantoms pursuit of the Calder Cup. 

Oskar Lindblom and Felix Sandstrom – What a week it was for Oskar Lindblom. The 20-year-old Swedish prospect played a huge role as Brynas rallied from a 3-2 series deficit to advance to the SHL Final with wins in Game 6 and 7.

In Game 6, Lindblom had two assists. In goal, Sandstrom made 32 saves in a shutout as Brynas forced Game 7 with a 6-0 win.

In Game 7, Lindblom was the star. He set up Brynas' first goal by Juuso Ikonen, then scored the second and third goals of the game. Sandstrom held things down in goal, making 37 saves on 38 shots as Brynas claimed a 3-1 win.

Brynas moves on to face HV71 in the SHL Final, starting on Sunday.

Philippe Myers – It's been a rough series for Myers against Chicoutimi. Myers has gone without a point in four straight games, taking four penalty minutes in Game 5. Rouyn-Noranda trails in the series, three games to two, with Game 6 coming on Monday night.

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