Flyers Prospect Watch: Phantoms Advance to 2nd Round

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms playoff run started with a bang. Or maybe a bump is the better way to put it.

In the best-of-three opening round of the Calder Cup Playoffs, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms took down the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 5-2, backed by a strong playoff debut from Alex Bump. Bump, who just joined the Phantoms after winning a national championship with Western Michigan, scored two goals in Game 1.

With the possibility of advancing to the second round on the lineup, it was Helge Grans who played hero, scoring with two minutes left in the third period in a 3-2 win in Game 2 at PPL Center in Allentown.

The Phantoms opened the scoring in the second period, as Jett Luchanko set up Anthony Richard with under six minutes to play. The Penguins tied the game in the final minute of the period on the power play with a goal by Tristan Broz.

The Penguins took the lead with 13:34 left in the third, as Harrison Brunicke scored his first pro goal. But just over a minute later, Jacob Gaucher tied the game on a rebound.

Parker Gahagen made 31 saves on 33 shots in the win to help the Phantoms move to the second round.

The Phantoms will face either the Hershey Bears or Charlotte Checkers in the second round, which is a best-of-five series.

Kevin Durso is Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN. Follow him on social media @Kevin_Durso.