Recap: Checkers Fall 5-1 to Phantoms

CHARLOTTE -The Charlotte Checkers suffered their first home loss of this postseason, dropping a 5-1 decision to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The Checkers now trail the second round, best-of-seven series two games to one.
Phantoms goaltender Alex Lyon made 34 saves, Valentin Zykov's power-play goal in the second period was the lone Checkers marker.
Following in the footsteps of "The Web's Michael Smith," here are five takeaways from Game 3.

1. Jake Bean makes his pro debut
The Carolina Hurricanes' 2016 first-round selection Jake Bean made his AHL debut. He had 14 playoff games under his skates with the Western Hockey League's Tri-City Americans this year where he tallied a goal and 17 assists. Bean was (-1) Tuesday night, and Checkers head coach Mike Vellucci knew it was a new challenge for the rookie defenseman.
"Tough spot to put him in, physical game, big and faster pace than what he's used to," Vellucci said. "It's a small sample size, I thought he was fine."
Bean noted the difference between junior hockey and the professional ranks.
"Probably just little battles in the corner," Bean said. "For myself, I gotta make sure I stay on the right side positionally, make sure I don't commit too far either way and I think that's the big difference."
The head coach thought Bean acclimated to the game quickly.
"I think any young guy like that is going to do that, I think he settled in," Vellucci said. "I think he was a little, I don't want to say he was nervous, a little unsure, but I'm not worried about him."
Checkers alternate captain and defenseman Trevor Carrick said he thought Bean adjusted to the professional game quite well.
"I thought he did a helluva job tonight," Carrick said. "It was his first game and he probably had some jitters but he didn't show that. He had a strong game I thought he fit in nicely."
Overall Bean was excited to get on the ice.
"Felt good to get out there, get some shifts in."
2. PP = Big Z
The Checkers' power play cashed in again, Charlotte is 5-of-12 with the man-advantage in the last two games. Valentin Zykov scored his fourth postseason goal 10 seconds into the Checkers' first man-advantage of the game. Zykov powered the puck home from in front, thanks to a nice cross ice setup from Lucas Wallmark and Trevor Carrick at 3:40 of the second period.
For Vellucci, there is no secret to the Checkers' recent power play success.
"Big Z in front of the net, he's a big power forward and it's hard to move him and he has great hands."

3. Lyon-ized
Phantoms netminder Alex Lyon was solid throughout, but he was at his best in the first and third frames when the Checkers peppered him. Lyon stopped all 13 shots faced in the opening period and did not allow a goal in the third despite 19 on-target chances, finishing with a 34-save performance.
Lyon made several big stops, but his robbery of Haydn Fleury with 8:41 left in the game with the score still at 4-1 might have been the biggest save of the evening.
Despite the number of shots Checkers captain Patrick Brown thought the team could have done more to make life harder on the Lehigh Valley goalie.
"We got to get more traffic in front of their goal because we had a lot of chances, a lot of shots but the goalie was able to see most of them."
4. No doubting Ned
Checkers goalie Alex Nedeljkovic has been brilliant in the playoffs so far, but had a tough night. He was pulled for Jeremy Smith after allowing four goals on 15 shots.
Not all of the goals were the fault of the Charlotte goaltender. Lehigh Valley took a lead 3:16 in the first period after Hadyn Fleury did the right thing by blocking a Phantoms shot, but it caromed onto the stick of Mike Vecchione who deposited the loose puck into the net.
Less than a minute-and-a-half later the Phantoms made it 2-0 on Danick Martel's third of the postseason. Jake Bean missed on a clearing attempt and Martel picked up the puck, cut to the front and beat Nedeljkovic.
Vellucci only found fault with Nedeljkovic on the third Phantoms goal and said the change in net was more to spark the team.
Smith only faced four shots in 25:39 of relief and despite not allowing a goal, Vellucci said he feels there is no need to think about a goaltender switch for Game 4.
"I got zero decision," Vellucci said. "[Smith faced] four shots. Smitty is a great guy and he's had a good year, but Ned's our goalie - it's not even a question."
5. No time to think about this one
The Checkers get right back at it with Game 4 Wednesday night 7p.m. at Bojangles Coliseum and that suits them just fine.
Brown won't let this loss bother him.
"Just staying positive," Brown said. "With the playoffs, it's never too high and never too low, it's a long grind and no one wants it to be easy. It's going to be hard and we are ready to make a push."
Vellucci told his team to compartmentalize the scores of playoff games and move on.
"You got to win four - not two, not three - you got to win four," Vellucci said. "Get back at it tomorrow, put this one behind us … we have to find a way to win tomorrow."
For Trevor Carrick, the message in the locker room was simple.
"Just redemption tomorrow," Carrick said. "We have to come out tomorrow, get back at it and get our feet under us nice and early … and forget about [Game 3]."
The Checkers are 2-0 after a loss in playoffs.