Minor league players, in any sport, will generally tell you that they don’t pay attention to what’s happening with the parent team, because they can’t control that.

They focus only on what they can control, namely how they perform. Still, you have to think that they at least take a peek at what the guys ahead of them are doing.

If Alex Lyon and Jean-Francois Berube — the Phantoms goalies — are like most people, they’ve noticed that the Flyers goalies are playing themselves into somewhat of a goalie controversy at the NHL level. Carter Hart, the young phenom, has struggled of late, including allowing five goals in just 14 shots in a loss to the Islanders on Sunday.

Meanwhile, backup Brian Elliott made three starts for the Flyers last week and came on in relief of Hart Sunday, only to put together big numbers. Elliott went 3-0-0 with a 2.02 goals against average and a .933 save percentage during a week where the team rested Hart to give him a bit of a breather, in the hopes of getting him straightened out.

The question isn’t just whether Hart or Elliott is the starter in Philadelphia; it’s what do the Flyers do with Hart?

His confidence is likely hurting, and if he’s not going to be the starter in Philadelphia, do the Flyers want him just watching Elliott for a long period of time and getting on the ice just every now and then?

A trip back to Lehigh Valley could give Hart the playing time that he needs, and help rebuild his confidence. Of course, some players don’t handle demotions well, but Hart would likely understand the move and would do well to embrace it as a way to reaffirm just how good he is in goal.

So, if Hart is back with the Phantoms, the question becomes who heads to Philadelphia? Both Lyon and Berube have NHL experience, and either could likely hold down the backup job behind Elliott.

Lyon, 26, has played 13 games with the Flyers over the past two seasons with a 3.05 GAA and an .894 save percentage in the NHL. Friday, Lyon turned in a superb performance with the Phantoms, turning away 35 of 37 shots, but a listless Phantoms offense turned his performance into a loss as the team fell in shootouts to the Charlotte Checkers. Lyon has played just three games with LV this season, but has a 1.05 GAA and a .954 save percentage.

Berube has more experience at the top level of hockey, with 34 NHL games with the Islanders and Blackhawks, posting a 3.39 GAA and an .898 save percentage over parts of three seasons. The 28-year-old has played in four games with the Phantoms, and has a 2.91 GAA and an .893 save percentage.

The situation is complicated by the fact that Elliott is injury-prone and at 34, doesn’t present the type of profile that an NHL team likes to have as its top goalie. One has to wonder how the Flyers would handle the situation if Elliott were to go down with an injury again. They would be faced with either having to play a struggling Hart, or use Lyon or Berube as the starter, possibly with the other as a backup, which could get messy.

STREAKING

... The Phantoms went into Charlotte for a two-game trip and came away with points in both games thanks to a shutout loss Friday night and a 3-2 come-from-behind win on Saturday. The three points give Lehigh Valley points in six straight games, with just the season opener against Providence being the only game this season that has not produced at least one point in the Phantoms 3-1-1-2 start.

FIRST THREE-IN-THREE

... The Phantoms face their first of eight three games in three days stretches this season coming up this weekend. After five straight at home and two in Charlotte, Lehigh Valley is back Friday for one game against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton before playing two games in Bridgeport. The Penguins are 4-4-1-0, while Bridgeport is off to a 1-5-2-1 start and in last place in the Atlantic Division.

COME ON BACK

... Last Wednesday, defenseman James de Haas and forwards Gerry Fitzgerald and Matthew Strome were sent from the Phantoms to the Reading Royals. On Monday, the team brought all three players back to Lehigh Valley. Last season, de Haas played in a career-high 48 games with the Phantoms, but has found his way into just one game this season, as has Fitzgerald. Strome had played in two games with Lehigh Valley before his trip to Reading and back.