Reggie Dunlop: What are you guys doing?
Steve Hanson: Puttin’ on the foil!
Jeff Hanson: Every game!
Jack Hanson: Yeah, you want some?
The boys are back in town as we head into seven of the next eight games at home in the PPL Center.
Road Woes
Since blowing a 3-1 lead to lose to Hartford at home, 6-4, on Sunday February 19 the team played their next four games on the road. It didn’t go great.
The lost in Wilkes 4-3 after a comeback attempt fell short.
They lost in a shoot-out to Hershey
They came back to beat Bridgeport 4-3.
They ran into a hot goalie in Syracuse and lost 4-1.
The Phantoms currently sit in 5th place in the AHL Atlantic, two points ahead of Bridgeport and two points behind Springfield. They were 6-5-0-1 in February.
Player Report
F Elliot Desnoyers and F Olle Lycksell, as well as Goalie Sam Ersson, are back from Philadelphia. I thought perhaps they were paper moves for the trade deadine, but they’ve been in games recently. Philadelphia has said that they want the young players to experience the AHL playoffs, so having them here helps us achieve that end as well as experience the run-up here in March. F Isaac Ratcliffe was traded to Nashville for pleasantries. F Alex Kile returned from ECHL Maine.
The Flyers net lost one forward at the trade deadline. Hopefully we can keep our AHL squad together.
Lines last night in Syracuse:
28 Lycksell – 51 Anisimov – 71 Foerster
17 Wilson – 91 Desnoyers – 23 Brink
20 Willman – 24 Brooks – 25 Marody
48 Kile – 18 J Cates – 42 Hodgson
4 Zamula – 47 Belpedio
37 Ginning – 12 Attard
44 Connauton – 3 Karashik
30 Ersson (73 Maier)
GAME DAY!
O Canada! Toronto is in town. The Phantoms made their way to the country up north in early January. The Marlies won in a shootout. Toronto lost to Hershey last night and they’ll complete their Pennsylvania tour Wednesday in Wilkes. C Joseph Blandisi is always a problem. As much as I detest the Devils and their ugly brand of hockey, I always seem to like the way Toronto plays the game. Sure enough, they’re in first place in the AHL North, by a lot, over Syracuse.
Isn’t that special?
Toronto’s 8th-ranked ‘Away’ power play will face the Phantoms 31st-ranked ‘Home’ penalty kill. The Phantoms 5th-ranked Home power play will face the Marlies 22nd-ranked Away penalty kill.
It’s ‘Slap Shot Night’ with Dave Hanson. Season Ticket Members were able to screen the film with Mr. Hanson last night. It’s ‘Saturday Night Hockey Live’ tonight as well.
Parking: Word is the ‘Orange Lot’ arena deck is being used more and more due to price advantage and proximity. That has become somewhat problematic with access and egress at times. Leave plenty of time and consider other parking options if necessary.
Tickets: Good seats still available on the PPL Center ticket site.
OFFICIALS
Referee: Jim Curtin (#22)
Referee: Casey Terreri (#75)
Linesperson: Josh Cleary (#45)
Linesperson: Patrick Dapuzzo (#57)
MEDIA KIT
What To Watch
- Will Ers go back-to-back? Does Maier get a game and have Sam for tomorrow? Will Nagle come back from Reading?
- Will we see any urgency on the penalty kill? It’s been a problem all season
- Watch for Zayde Wisdom to shoot the puck more
- Watch for an extra intense Brink tonight
- Watch for Brooks to score tonight–or at least set up Marody a few times
- Watch to see if you think the team is ready to make a push towards the playoffs. This is a good test tonight versus Toronto.
Up Next
Back at it right here tomorrow with Providence at 4:05PM, doors at 3:00PM. Next weekend is a 3/3 which starts in Wilkes and then we get the Saturday/Sunday combo again with Belleville and Utica respectively. After that, look for the return of plenty Hershey games.
See you at the arena,
@Kram207