The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are putting out the welcome mat for fans.

On Monday, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that the PPL Center has been approved to open to fans at 15-percent capacity, beginning immediately. The announcement means that 1,500 fans will be allowed into the venue for each home Phantoms game.

One of the reasons why the PPL Center was among sites given clearance was the fact that is uses what the facility calls a state-of-the-art ventilation system that allows for double filtration of the air and maximum circulation of air from the outside. The facility recently upgraded the filter system to the level typically used in hospitals and clean rooms, filtering out up to 90-percent of air particles including bacteria and viruses.

The team and the facility have partnered to put together a comprehensive reopening plan that they call Back To Live. It is a system of both additions to the facility and plans for fans and employees to follow to keep the facility safe for everyone in attendance. Part of the plan includes a touchless experience for ticketing, concessions and restrooms. The Phantoms are encouraging fans to utilize print-at-home and mobile ticketing options to help practice social distancing between fans and employees. Fans will now be able to personally scan their own tickets at all entrances using ticket pedestals for contactless admittance to the game.

All concessions and merchandise stands will now offer Tap and Go payment options and will encourage the use on noncash payment options to allow for a touchless experience. All restrooms are fitted with touchless toilets, sinks, soap and paper towel dispensers and hand sanitizing stations will be placed throughout the arena. Plexiglass has been installed in key areas to separate fans from employees, and seating will be done in a way as to encourage social distancing. Of course, all fans will be required to wear masks while in the arena, as will all employees. The only exception will be for fans while they are eating at their seats.

The facility has also put in place an enhanced cleaning and sanitizing plan that will follow CDC recommendations and use CDC compliant cleaning and sanitization products.

The Back to Live plan aligns with all state and local requirements and follows CDC guidelines. In addition to those requirements, the plan was reviewed and approved by the Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Division of Infectious Diseases.

It is unclear when ticket sales will begin for upcoming home games.

HOT, HOT, HOT ... Forward Max Willman is off to the best start of his AHL career, having scored five goals in three games last week, good enough to earn him CCM/AHL Player of the Week honors. Wilman notched the first two-goal game of his AHL career, including netting the winning goal in a 5-4 win over Binghamton last Wednesday; scored again in Friday night’s clash with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton; and had his second two-goal game Saturday in an overtime loss, also against the Penguins. The five goals surpass his career output in his previous 28 games in the AHL.

SAME GUY, NEW POSITION ... Samuel Morin has been returned to the Phantoms from the Philadelphia Flyers. When Morin was last in a Phantoms uniform it was as a defenseman, but he is now playing forward after spending five seasons as a defenseman. Morin was on the Flyers taxi squad and was reassigned on Monday. Morin returned for the first time in over 14 months when he played in late January against the Islanders after suffering a knee injury in November of 2019 while playing with the Phantoms. Also recently loaned to Lehigh Valley from Philadelphia were forwards Maxim Sushko and Isaac Ratcliffe.

STANDINGS ... The Phantoms are 4-1-2-0 on the season, good enough for third in the newly formed North Division and a fifth-place tie in the conference. Their first loss of the season came in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last Friday with Zane McIntyre in goal as he has been for every game this season. Felix Sandstrom got the call Saturday and fell in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Penguins.