The Phantoms are one-third of the way through their six-game road trip and have split the first two games, with a win in Bridgeport last Wednesday and a loss in Hershey on Saturday.

Their loss to the Bears snapped a streak of five straight wins for Lehigh Valley in Hershey’s Giant Center. Overall, LV is in a slight funk, likely brought on by some injuries and a couple of players who were lost to the Flyers. After a six-game win streak, the Phantoms are 2-3-0-1 in their last six games.

The loss snapped a personal streak of six straight games with at least one goal for Danick Martel, who leads the AHL with 14, and is tied for the league lead in points at 19. Greg Carey was the lone Phantom to score in Saturday’s game, and that came in the third period when Hershey had already built a 6-0 lead over Lehigh Valley. The goal was the fifth of the season for Carey.

The goalie situation has become interesting for the Phantoms. After Alex Lyon started the first five games of the season and seven of the first eight, Dustin Tokarski has seen more playing time of late, thanks in part to Lyon struggling in his second professional season.

After Lyon allowed four goals in Binghamton on Nov. 4, Tokarski relieved him in the third period and then got the start the next night against Toronto. Unfortunately, Tokarski got peppered in the 5-1 loss to the Marlies. Lyon has been in goal for each of the last two games, allowing just two goals in Bridgeport and then six against Hershey on Saturday.

“I think they’re both capable goalies,” said coach Scott Gordon earlier in the season. “They’re at different stages of their careers, so you have to work them differently, but in the end, I think that we’ll be able to take advantage of having two good goalies to work with this season.”

Lyon has gotten his share of starts for Lehigh Valley, but the two goalies have put up very similar stats for the Phantoms through their first 16 games of the season. Lyon has played 11 games with a .897 save percentage, and a 3.26-goals-against average. Tokarski, meanwhile, has played six games with an .890 save percentage, and a 3.32-goals-against average.

The defense has been shifted throughout the season. Veterans Mark Alt, T.J. Brennan, Sam Morin and Will O’Neill were supposed to give Lehigh Valley defensive strength. Morin was set to start the year with the Flyers, but was nursing an injury and missed time. Now, Lehigh Valley hopes to have both Morin and O’Neill back from injuries, but Alt was recalled again by the Flyers on Monday.

“That changes the complexion of your D,” said Gordon about the injuries and player moves. “There are going to be some bumps in the road, and we’ve hit some in the last six games.”

NOT BAD, KID ... Mike Vecchione entered last week leading all AHL rookies with 10 assists. Tucson’s Dylan Strome overtook Vecchione for the lead, but Vecchione picked up one assist last week and trails Strome 12-11. Strome and Daniel Sprong of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton both surpassed Vecchione as the league leader in points. Strome has 15 points, and Sprong has 14, while Vecchione sits third with 13. Vecchione was the Rookie of the Month for October.

STATUS QUO ... Of the four Phantoms lines, only one has stayed constant this season. The line that matches Vecchione with Nick Aube-Kubel and Danick Martel has been in place since opening night, and shows no sign of being shuffled around any time soon. Vecchione is off to a hot start, but it’s nowhere near the start that Martel has gotten off to. Aube-Kubel and Martel are roommates and good friends off the ice. The two Canadian players have developed a strong on-ice chemistry, and Vecchione has fit right in with the two more experienced players.

THE ROAD AHEAD ... The Phantoms aren’t back at the PPL Center until after Thanksgiving. Between now and then, they play on the road at Belleville, Laval, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Springfield. Coming into the week, the Phantoms are tied for second in the Atlantic Division, tied with Charlotte, with both teams just one point behind the Penguins for the top spot.