The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are in the thick of a midseason slump, and it’s starting to show in the standings. After 45 games, they’re sitting at 21-20-2-2-good for 46 points-which puts them fifth in the Atlantic Division and 11th in the Eastern Conference.
On paper, that’s right around .500 hockey. But the trend line?
It’s pointing in the wrong direction.
Let’s talk recent form: the Phantoms have dropped eight of their last ten games, including three straight. That stretch includes a rough 5-1 loss to the Bridgeport Islanders on February 7, where Liam Foudy torched them for a hat trick. That one was a clinic in what not to do-turnovers, poor execution, and shaky goaltending all reared their heads.
The night before, they dropped a wild 6-5 decision at home to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Phantoms showed some fight with a late rally, but costly lapses early and again in the third period dug a hole too deep to climb out of. Add in a 6-2 defeat earlier this month, and you’ve got a team struggling to keep the puck out of their own net.
The numbers back it up. They’ve been outscored on the season-127 goals for, 142 against.
Special teams haven’t been able to bail them out either. The power play is hovering around 18.6%, and the penalty kill is sitting at roughly 75.7%.
Both are below where they need to be if this team wants to stay competitive in a tough Atlantic Division.
Goaltending has been a particular sore spot. Aleksei Kolosov, once seen as a stabilizing force in net, hasn’t won a game since early January.
His recent starts have been rocky, and while some of that can be chalked up to bouncing between the Phantoms and the Flyers-disrupting his rhythm-he simply hasn’t looked like himself. The Olympic break could be a much-needed reset button for him, and the team is certainly hoping it helps him find his footing again.
Offensively, there have been some bright spots. Lane Pederson continues to produce, with 16 goals and 31 points in 41 games.
But the issue isn’t talent-it’s consistency. The Phantoms have struggled to string together complete games, and that’s what’s keeping them from climbing the standings.
The Atlantic Division isn’t doing them any favors, either. Providence and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton are setting the pace, and the margin for error is razor thin. With the AHL All-Star break now in the rearview and the playoff race starting to heat up, the Phantoms need to regroup quickly.
There’s some opportunity on the horizon. They’ve got a bit of a breather coming up with home games against Cleveland and Syracuse on February 14 and 15 as part of their Winter Games Weekend. Those matchups could be a chance to reset, refocus, and maybe start building some momentum.
But make no mistake-this team is in a critical stretch. Defensive breakdowns, special teams inconsistencies, and the churn of NHL call-ups and reassignments have all taken a toll. If they want to stay in the hunt, they’ll need to tighten up in their own zone, get steadier goaltending, and find a way to play a more complete 60 minutes.
The pieces are there. Now it’s about putting them together before the playoff window starts to close.