Islanders Edge Phantoms in High-Scoring AHL Matchup
Bridgeport, Conn. – The Bridgeport Islanders defeated the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 5-4 in a thrilling Atlantic Division contest on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Total Mortgage Arena. The game featured a back-and-forth scoring battle between two teams vying for playoff positioning.
Game Recap
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms opened the scoring early with a goal from Zayde Wisdom at 10:11 of the first period, assisted by M. Guenette and C. Kyrou. Bridgeport responded in the second period with goals from Matthew Highmore (1:08), Gleb Veremyev (9:03), and Liam Foudy (11:47). Jacob Gaucher scored for the Phantoms at 14:10, tying the game before Foudy’s second goal of the night gave Bridgeport a 3-2 lead.
The third period saw continued offensive action. Matt Luff scored for Lehigh Valley at 3:18, tying the game once more. Liam Foudy then place Bridgeport ahead again at 13:43, followed by Boris Katchouk’s goal at 18:52, securing the 5-4 victory for the Islanders.
Key Performers
Liam Foudy led the Islanders with two goals and an assist, earning him a spot as one of the Three Stars of the game. Matt Luff was also a standout performer for the Phantoms, contributing a goal and an assist. Chris Terry was also named a Three Star.
Goaltending
Carson Bjarnason of the Phantoms made 14 saves on 19 shots, even as Henrik Tikkanen of the Islanders stopped 26 of 30 shots faced.
Standings Implications
As noted in the game preview, both the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (24-25-6) and the Bridgeport Islanders (23-25-8) are battling for playoff position in the Atlantic Division. The Islanders currently hold the tiebreaker advantage in the division due to more regulation wins.1
Game Statistics
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lehigh Valley Phantoms | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Bridgeport Islanders | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
Full Game Stats are available on EliteProspects.
Looking Ahead
Both teams will continue their push for the playoffs as the AHL season nears its conclusion. The outcome of these close contests will be crucial in determining the final standings in the Atlantic Division.
1 Lehigh Valley Phantoms – PREVIEW: Phantoms vs. At Bridgeport, Game 56
Related reading