The AHL witnessed it's longest every game on Wednesday night
The AHL witnessed it's longest every game on Wednesday night

Lehigh Valley Phantoms 2-1 Charlotte Checkers: AHL witnesses longest game


The longest game in American Hockey League history reached it's conclusion at 1:09am in the early hours of Thursday morning as the Lehigh Valley Phantoms beat the Charlotte Checkers 2-1 in the fifth period of sudden death overtime.

The game had started at 7pm on Wednesday night in Charlotte, North Carolina, but went on to last six hours and six minutes.

Only three National Hockey League, the league above the AHL, games have lasted longer.

Alex Krushelnyski was the hero as he connected with a pass to score low to the right of the goal.

Phantoms goaltender Alex Lyon made a remarkable 94 saves from 95 shots throughout the game, setting a new franchise record for Lehigh Valley.

Usually, games last 60 minutes and if the score is tied, a period of five minutes sudden-death overtime applies. If there is still no winner, penalty shots are taken.

However, in the playoffs, penalty shots are removed so every game is played until there is a winner.

The winner of the playoffs will lift the AHL's Calder Cup, with all of the teams involved being affiliate teams to clubs in the elite level NHL.

There's little rest for either side as they face-off again in two days time. They meet in Charlotte on Saturday, with Lehigh leading the best-of-seven series 3-1.


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