By Tommy Hendricks, Sports Talk Philly staff writer 
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms have made coming back late in games to tie or win a force of habit this season, and they did it again on Sunday night. Lehigh Valley trailed 3-1 at one point, but overcame the deficit to win 4-3 in overtime over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
Lehigh Valley, after being shutout Saturday night, scored first Sunday night. Nic Aube-Kubel dropped a pass back to Corban Knight below the Sound Tigers goal line, and Knight shot the puck toward the Bridgeport net. Stephon Williams got a piece, but the puck ended up across the goal line behind him to make it 1-0.
Bridgeport tied the game 30 seconds later, as a point shot from Ryan Pulock bounced off the backside of Tim Wallace in the slot and got past Anthony Stolarz. From there, the Phantoms got three power-play opportunities to take their lead back. They failed to convert on the first two, with 48 seconds of carry over time to take into the second on the third man advantage.
The Phantoms failed to capitalize on the power play again, and Bridgeport took advantage. The Sound Tigers scored two goals just a minute apart in the second to take the lead, the first of which came on a power play. Carter Verhaeghe powered his way down the far side wing and drove to the net, backhanding a pass across the crease to Andrew Rowe when he got there. Rowe tapped the puck up and over Stolarz to break the 1-1 tie.
Then a minute later, former Phantom Ben Holmstrom sent a pass across the slot to Ross Johnston, who unloaded a wrist shot that popped the water bottle off the top shelf of the net behind Stolarz to make it 3-1. With 1:52 left to play in the middle frame, a scrum between the Jones brothers and Danick Martel after a trip was called on Kellen Jones saw the Phantoms earn a full two minute 5-on-3 power play.
Lehigh Valley spent most of the 5-on-3 standing around and passing along the outside of the zone. The crowd grew restless with the Phantoms power play, which did not score again while up two men. This made the Phantoms 0-for-5 on the night and 0-for-14 on the weekend to that point.
The Phantoms got back within a goal just about halfway through the third. Maxim Lamarche spotted Mark Zengerle cutting across the Bridgeport blue line, and hit him right on the tape with a stretch pass. Zengerle took the pass in stride and entered the Sound Tigers zone. He cut down the near side wing, and snapped a shot passed Williams to cut the deficit for his team to one.
The Phantoms finally struck on the power play for the first time in 15 tries on the weekend to tie the game at one. T.J. Brennan brought the puck across the Bridgeport blue line, and hit Andy Miele with a pass. Miele flew down the far-side wing, and snipped a corner behind Williams to tie the game. Cole Bardreau took an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the ensuing faceoff, giving the Sound Tigers a late man power advantage of their own to try to break the tie. Lehigh Valley held their ground on the penalty kill, forcing overtime in a game that seemed all but lost after the second period.
The teams battled to a pretty evenly matched overtime, with both goalies making huge stops. Williams turned away a 2-on-1 with his left pad, and Stolarz followed suit with a big glove stop at the other end. The eventual game winner came from Taylor Leier, who snapped a shot on Williams from below the far-side circle. Williams bobbled the puck, and it came free in front of him. Miele somehow got the puck behind Williams to give the Phantoms the win.
Lehigh Valley rematches with these same Bridgeport Sound Tigers this Friday at PPL Center.
3 Stars
3. Jon Landry (BST) – 2 Assists, +2
2. Anthony Stolarz (LV) – 29 Saves, Win
1. Andy Miele (LV) 2 Goals, Assist, +1
