Hockey Night In Allentown: “I Can Bear-ly Watch” 2/1/23

How do you preview a game that we’ve all seen played twice over the past week?  There have been no notable roster changes for the Phantoms, as of this writing, and Hershey gets center Aliaksei Protas back from Washington.  So we watch the same game again?  Maybe not.

Standings

As we enter February, the Phantoms are 20-16-5, good enough for fourth place in the AHL Atlantic, but in an impasse with Springfield, Bridgeport and WBS.  In January, the team went 6-3-2 with two of the three regulation losses coming against Hershey, and all three regulation losses at home.

Lines and Pairs

From Saturday:

28 Lycksell – 51 Anisimov – 23 Brink

17 Wilson – 91 Desnoyers – 71 Foerster

24 Brooks – 9 O’Reilly – 42 Hodgson

20 Willman – 18 J Cates – 14 Wisdom

4 Zamula – 47 Belpedio

44 Connauton – 29 Wylie

37 Ginning – 12 Attard

35 Nagle

(30 Ersson)

Thoughts:  I don’t dislike the lines and pairings.  But, maybe we should switch things up tonight to give Hershey a different look?  The other problem is, I don’t know how many of the scratches from Saturday      (1 Troy Grosenick 3 Adam Karashik 6 Linus Hogberg 13 Ryan Fitzgerald 15 Jordy Bellerive 19 Isaac Ratcliffe 25 Cooper Marody) are healthy enough to contribute in a meaningful way.  Maybe Bellerive for Hodgson?  Otherwise, perhaps it’s better to stay consistent and build chemistry–even if it doesn’t put much pressure on Hershey it could benefit the team as we go forward for the next two and a half months.

GAME DAY!

Wecome to another Happy Hour Wednesday, where draft Millers and Lagers are $2 until puck drop.  Find them at any arena vendor who pours Miller or Lager.  Wish we could get $1 hot dogs on Wednesdays too (instead of Friday) and we’d be all set.

Good seats are still available for tonight’s contest.

Ticket Price Survey: (section 106)

Tonight (game day) $32 (+$5.75/seat and $2.00/order)  (In advance, $30.00)

Friday $34 (+$5.75/seat and $2.00/order)

Saturday 2/11  $37 (+$5.75/seat and $2.00/order)

Sunday 2/19  $37 (+$5.75/seat and $2.00/order)

So what’s the point?  Well, just know that tickets are more expensive based on the day of the game and if you buy them on game day.  Keep this in mind when deciding to purchase season tickets (“Membership”) as the per-game savings plus avoiding all the fees does add up.  Even on the secondary market there are fees to be paid–but sometimes the prices can be much better, especially because the excessive fees create a secondary market all by themselves.

OFFICIALS

Referee  Peter Schlittenhardt (#12)

Referee  Jeremy Tufts (#78)

Linesperson  Jud Ritter (#34)

Linesperson  Tommy George (#61)

MEDIA KIT

Hershey again

What To Watch

• Watch for Ersson in net tonight.  Can he carry some of the water for this Phantoms team, though, who can’t seem to solve Hershey.
• You can watch for any lineup changes too, but I’m kind of doubting it now
• Watch Garrett Wilson.  I feel like he’s had enough of Hershey and he’s not going to take it any more.
• Watch to see if Young Bobby Brink can spark some scoring
• After 1/2 on the PK last game, watch to see if the Phantoms can (A) limit power play opportunities for Hershey (good) and (B) continue to allow 50% scoring on opposing team power play opportunities (bad).
• Watch for long lines at the concessions as folks get beer’d up before the game.
• Watch to see if the team comes out in dark jerseys of some sort tonight.
• Watch the face off to see Jud Ritter pump-fake five or six times before dropping the puck
• Watch for me to make a joke about Ref #12 above before the night is through.

Looking Ahead

We’ll wind up our big home stand with Providence on Friday evening.  The team will then head down I-78 to play Hershey (yes, again) in their place.  Then it’s the All Star Game in Laval, Que.

We’ll return to regular-season AHL action on Friday February 10 in Hartford, and at home the following night (2/11) versus Bridgeport Super Bowl weekend.

Look for a Sunday game later this month.  We won’t have another Wednesday tilt until March 15, which will be the final Happy Hour of the season.

See you at the arena

@Kram207

PS, for old time sake and perhaps a bit of good luck:  (Not Safe For Work; Language)