Phantoms turn tables, roll in Game 3

Photo: Gregg Forwerck

After a 6-0 loss in Game 2, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms turned the tables on the Charlotte Checkers with a 5-1 victory at Bojangles’ Coliseum on Tuesday.

The Phantoms have a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Atlantic Division Finals series, with Game 4 in Charlotte on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET).

Mike Vecchione and Danick Martel staked the visitors to a 2-0 lead just 4:40 into the game and Alex Lyon (4-1) made 34 saves on the night, including 19 in the third period alone.

The Checkers got pulled to within a goal when Valentin Zykov potted his fourth goal of the postseason at 3:40 of the second period, but Chris Conner restored the two-goal cushion less than two minutes later and Oskar Lindblom tacked on a pair of goals to provide the final margin.

Alex Nedeljkovic, 21-4-0 on home ice this season entering the game, allowed four goals on 15 shots before giving way to Jeremy Smith. Smith stopped all four shots he faced in his first appearance of the postseason.

Atlantic Division Finals – Series “I” (best-of-7)
A1-Lehigh Valley Phantoms vs. A3-Charlotte Checkers
Game 1 – Fri., May 4 – LEHIGH VALLEY 2, Charlotte 1 | Recap
Game 2 – Sat., May 5 – Charlotte 6, LEHIGH VALLEY 0 | Recap
Game 3 – Tue., May 8 – Lehigh Valley 5, CHARLOTTE 1
Game 4 – Wed., May 9 – Lehigh Valley at Charlotte, 7:00
Game 5 – Sat., May 12 – Lehigh Valley at Charlotte, 6:00
*Game 6 – Mon., May 14 – Charlotte at Lehigh Valley, 7:05
*Game 7 – Tue., May 15 – Charlotte at Lehigh Valley, 7:05
*if necessary… All times Eastern