ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The lights inside PPL Center dimmed and the music revved up minutes before puck drop Sunday night. Two large doors remained open behind the goal the Lehigh Valley Phantoms would shoot at twice.
A display of smoke and small flames lined each side of the entrance and shot off as each Phantoms starter was announced.
Shayne Gostisbehere's name was called first, and the defenseman came jogging out of the hallway and onto the ice.
His defensive partner was next, "No. 47, Andrew MacDonald." The American Hockey League's highest-paid player and one of the Phantoms' alternate captains made his way onto the ice.