Hockey Night In Allentown: “OT-vember” 11/11/23

“You’re scared to win
You’re scared to lose
You’re scared to live
With the life you choose”

-Billy Squier

Uninspired

The perfectly mediocre Lehigh Valley Phantoms are 4-5-2 overall and 1-1-2 in the month of November.  Unfortunately, mediocre is only good for seventh place in the division and if the playoffs started today…

OK, so the playoffs don’t start today, but close observers of this team have noticed a lot of uninspired play from this year’s squad.  The reason for it is unclear.  Here are some choices:

• Missing veteran leadership
• Poor goalkeeping
• Kids who think they belong in the NHL
• Stink from the Flyers
• Poor defense
• Silly scheduling leading to lack of rhythm

The truth is that a tiny bit of each of those things might be playing a part.  Our prediction of a super-streaky team has not come to fruition.  It’s an uneven team playing an uneven game on an uneven schedule.

The Phantoms won in overtime last Friday, then went to Springfield for a pair, where they dropped the first in OT before losing a matinee on Wednesday.  The Phantoms were off last night.

And, the Bears are in town.

Roster Update

G Felix Sandstrom was injured during the game last Friday, so his conditioning was cut short and he was placed on the Flyers Injured List.  G Nolan Maier was called up from Reading.  Veteran defenseman Victor Mete was recalled to Philadelphia.  F Jacob Gaucher was assigned to Reading.  Blueliners Darren Brady and Will Zmolek returned to Reading.

Lines Wednesday in Springfield:

28 Lycksell – 9 Laczynski – 20 Marody

17 Wilson – 91 Desnoyers – 27 Tuomaala

16 Avon – 22 Gardner – 19 Allison

29 Gendron – 15 Bellerive – 14 Wisdom

6 Andrae – 2 Grans

37 Ginning – 5 Samson

8 Millman – 12 Attard

31 Gahagen   (73 Maier)

From Phantoms Media Department:

• Wade Allison blasted home his first of the season on Wednesday morning at Springfield. The hard-shooting power-forward picked up his 1th career goal with Lehigh Valley in 48 total games to go along with 13 career NHL goals with the Flyers
• 20-year-old rookie Samu Tuomaala had four points last weekend including the overtime goal on Friday against Hartford plus three assists in the Friday and Saturday games combined.
• Olle Lycksell had his first assist of the season on Wednesday and takes over sole possession of the team in points (8-1-9). Lycksell is tied for 4th in the AHL in goals and is also tied for second in power-play goals (4)
• Trailing Lycksell for the team-lead in points are three players who are all just one back: Cooper Marody (3-5-8), Samu Tuomaala (2-6-8) and Tanner Laczynski (1-7-8)
• The Phantoms are 3-0-0 when allowing two goals or fewer

A Look At The Bears

Naturally, the Bears are in first place in the division with a 8-3 record.  They’ve been off since last Saturday.  The first two meetings this season happened in Hershey and both were won by the home team–although one was of the overtime variety.  #23 Mike Sgarbossa leads the team in scoring–of course.  He’s followed closely by #21 Joe Snively “Whiplash” and winger #12 Alex Limoges who played the last couple seasons out west.  Some old friends are on the team:  #19 is Mike Vecchione, #96 is Nic Aubé-Kubel, #26 is Logan Day, #45 is Matt Strome.  We likely won’t see NAK tonight as he was recently called up to Washington.  The Bears got a new goalie from the ECHL late this week, although we’ll probably see #31 Clay Stevenson who is 3-2-0-1 on the season with a 2.00 GAA and a .919 save rate.  As expected, Hershey is one of the top teams in the league in Power Play; however, that does drop a bit when they are away from the not-so-Giant Center.  Their PK unit follows a similar pattern.

“You can’t say ‘yes’
You can’t say ‘no’
Your mind’s made up
You don’t know where to go”     -Billy Squier

GAME DAY!

Looks like it’s going to be a full house tonight to celebrate Veteran’s Day.  Grab your tickets before heading to the arena because a sell-out is possible.  Even seats ridiculously priced on the secondary market are selling.

Leave a little extra time for traffic and parking given the projected crowd.  Not only to I continue to lose in my battle versus the Parking Overlords, they super-stuck it to me the other day.  I had some business downtown and as I was paying to leave (it hurts me just to type that) the machine refused to give me change or a receipt.  Here’s what I learned:  (1) better to pay with a card and (2) if the machine locks up just keep hitting ‘Back’ until you can start the transaction over again.  Always get a receipt.

Post-Game:  Head to Chickies for some raffles.  Get your ticket on the way in, before 10PM, and they’ll draw for two pucks at 10PM, a stick at 10:15, and a jersey at 10:30. I haven’t been to one of these yet but might give it a shot tonight.

OFFICIALS

Referee Mason Riley (#79)

Referee Patrick Hanrahan (#52)

Linesperson Jud Ritter (#34)

Linesperson Tommy George (#61)

MEDIA KIT

Hershey 111123

What To Watch

• As usual, watch for who starts in net.  Gahagen or Maier can both stake a claim to the home game, with the other getting the matinee in Hershey tomorrow.
• Watch the defense.  Will they keep A-brothers Attard and Andrae seperated?  Can they slow down the Hershey attack.  At all?  Are they making mistakes or standing around?  Do they seem to miss the veterans Belpedio and Mete who should be here helping lock things down?
• Watch the effort.  I feels like everyone is back healthy and now they’re back home on a normal weekend night game.  There should be no excuse for a lackluster performance tonight.
• Watch for Vecchione to get a goal or two.  He always plays well against us.  It’s too bad we don’t get to see NAK.
• Watch the Bears goalie play.  It won’t be one of the usual suspects we’ve become accustomed to the last couple years.  Did they find themselves another good one?
• Watch the special teams on both sides.  Does the Phantoms power play look at least competent?  Does the home/road splits for the Bears look real?
• The Bears have been off since last Saturday, for some reason.  Do they look fresh?  Or a step slow after the long layoff?  This might be a good spot for the Phantoms to come out early and grab a lead.  Can they do that?

Up Next

The Phantoms return the favor tomorrow in Hershey; it’s one of their famous Sunday afternoon affairs.  next weekend the Phantoms head to the Great White North to face all three North-division Canadian teams Friday, Saturday and Tuesday.  They’ll be home for two games over Thanksgiving weekend, Friday and Saturday, and face Providence and Rochester respectively.

See you at the arena,

@Kram207

Featured Image by Jack Mitroka