The Phantoms return from their Canadian road trip on a four-game winning streak having swept the three teams from the Great White North. Their stats are looking better as well. Can they keep it going tonight at the PPL Center versus a struggling Providence squad?
How Did We Get Here?
The Phantoms come into tonight at 8-6-2 in a mathematic tie with the hated Penguins for fourth place in the AHL Atlantic. They are on a 4-0 win streak, and at 5-3-2 have only three regulation losses in their last 10 games. If they keep this up they might actually get a home playoff game.
When we last saw the Hamilton Street Heroes (TM der Eishockeyzuschauer, RIP) they were losing to Hershey at home, 2-0, and were on a three game losing streak. They followed that up by going to Hershey the next day and returning the favor with a solid 4-1 win. They left for Canada with wins in mind and swept Laval, Belleville and Toronto last weekend into Tuesday.
Outlook: Is it starting? We predicted a sort of streaky team in our preseason observations around here, and this could be just that coming to fruition. The injuries and illnesses still have the team at less than 100%–but that’s something every team deals with. The Flyers have been holding their own and haven’t been tempted to plunder the AHL roster (much, yet). Sandstrom returns, giving the Phantoms another horse in the net. Presumably he’s healthy; he may need to get up to speed a bit, but should provide some alternative to the uneven play from Peterson and Gahagen. (They’ve played well at times, and been the victim of some questionable play by a couple of the blue-liners, but haven’t been dominant.)
Player Notes
The top 5 in points for the Phantoms right now:
RW Olle Lycksell 15
RW Cooper Marody 14
F Tanner Laczynski 14
F Samu Tuomaala 13
LW Garrett Wilson (C) 11
In goals scored, Lycksell leads the way with 11, followed by Marody with 5. Laczynski has 4 but has been coming on strong lately winning the most recent AHL Player of the Week award.
Transactions
G Felix Sandstrom cleared waivers and joined the Phantoms
G Nolan Maier returned to Reading
D Victor Mete and G Cal Peterson returned from Philadelphia
Lines Tuesday in Toronto
28 Lycksell – 9 Laczynski – 27 Tuomaala
17 Wilson – 22 Gardner – 19 Allison
16 Avon – 13 Furry – 20 Marody
10 Polei – 15 Bellerive – 14 Wisdom
8 Millman – 2 Grans
98 Mete – 12 Attard
37 Ginning – 5 Samson
40 Petersen (31 Gahagen)
Reportedly, D Emil Andrae missed the game due to illness. Desnoyers missed the games on the road trip, due to an injury, but is close to return. Adam Brooks is out with an injury and could take some time before he’s ready.
Notes from the Phantoms Media Dept: (emphasis mine)
- Lehigh Valley’s streak of four consecutive wins in regulation is the team’s longest since a five-game streak in January, 2020. The Phantoms have had other five-game overall win streaks since 2020 but those streaks were not all regulation wins.
- Olle Lycksell (11-4-15) is tied for second in the AHL with 11 goals. He is also tied for second in power-play goals with 5.
- Samu Tuomaala (3-10-13) racked up five points last weekend (1-4-5). He is third among AHL rookies in assists and is tied for fifth in rookie points.
- Samu Tuomaala scored the fastest goal to start a period in Lehigh Valley history when he deflected a Ronnie Attard shot into the cage just 10 seconds into the second period on Saturday at Belleville. That ties the Lehigh Valley record set by Pascal Laberge who scored 10 seconds into a game on April 26, 2021 at the Binghamton Devils.
- The Phantoms have won AHL Player of the Week honors twice in the same season for only the second time since the team arrived in Lehigh Valley 10 years ago with Olle Lycksell and Tanner Laczynski both winning the award. Scott Laughton and Nick Cousins won the award in the team’s inaugural season in 2014-15.
- The Phantoms are 7-0-1 when scoring three or more goals
- Lehigh Valley’s power play is fifth in the AHL, and second in the Eastern Conference, at 22.4%. The Phantoms have scored a power-play goal in each game of their win streak and are 5-for-10 during the stretch.
- The Phantoms have sprinted up to 9th in the AHL in penalty kill at 85.7%. Lehigh Valley has allowed just 2/25 in the four-game win streak and both of those were 6-on-4 goals. Lehigh Valley has not allowed a 5-on-4 goal since November 3. In November, the PK has allowed just 4/44 (90.9% PK).
- The Phantoms are one of only four teams who rate in the Top 10 in both power play and penalty kill (also Calgary, Hartford, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton)
- The Phantoms are tied for the AHL lead for most goals in the second period with 21 (also Texas Stars)
- The Phantoms are also leading the AHL for most shots in the second period with 178
GAME DAY!
It’s Service Electric cap day at the arena tonight! Good seats still remain on both the primary and secondary markets. There’s a coat drive prior to the game, so bring along any new or gently used coats that you no longer need. Doors 6:00PM (Are we doing early doors for season ticket members? Perhaps no longer.). Show 7:05PM, Hockey 7:21PM. Dollar Dog Nights are only the first Friday game of the month (::rolls eyes::) so don’t count on cheap eats tonight
A recent victory has my battle with the Parking Overlords at 2-6. I don’t expect to get a win tonight but once the schedule normalizes in December perhaps I can make some further headway.
The Providence Bruins are in town, AHL affiliate of the Boston Bruins. They are in 7th place in the AHL Atlantic and come in on a 4-game losing streak, but are 5-5 in their last 10. They were swept in a 3-in-3 last weekend, then lost again Wednesday night in Hartford. Their power play is 27th in the league and their penalty kill is 28th. They lost a defender and a centerman to Boston last weekend. Veteran center Jayson Megna, familiar from WBS, Utica and Hershey, is on the team. Parker Wotherspoon is Tyler’s brother.
Post-game head on over to Chickie’s for the free raffle. They don’t start giving out the tickets until the game is over, but if you want to head in early and get a seat, you can go up and ask for one at the door. I didn’t win anything but it did go off on time and I assume someone actually won (didn’t observe the items being distributed because I was sitting faced opposite).
OFFICIALS
Referee Andrew Bell (#6)
Referee Alex Lepkowski (#74)
Linesperson Patrick Dapuzzo (#57)
Linesperson Chandler Yakimowicz (#60)
MEDIA KIT (rosters, stats, etc.)
What To Watch
- Watch to see how this team looks playing hockey. They were a pretty listless and unfocused bunch at the time of their last home game. What’s changed? Did the road galvanize them?
- Watch to see if Sandstrom gets the start in net, and if he looks sharp.
- Watch to see if there’s anything new or surprising: A new hype video? Different uniforms?
- Watch for some penalties: This Phantoms team is the most-penalized team in the entire league, while Providence is #7.
- Watch for that top line to score some goals if they stay together. That’s three of the top five scorers right there.
- Watch Allison and Wisdom. Those are two cats I’ve loved watching in the past who have been largely unnoticeable this season. I’d like to see them both go full-tilt starting right now.
Premier Season Ticket Member Holder News
Season ticket holders (I’ll call us that) got emails this week with links for tickets to pick up our season ticket gifts, starting tonight. I’m not sure who gets what, based on how long you’ve held your status, but it does look like some nice, handy items. They may not be the right gift for everyone, but it is a nice way to be appreciated. The organization has been criticized lately for “not doing enough” but I do think they’re trying. What would you like them to do? I’m sure they’re open to suggestions. Email your rep with any concerns or if you didn’t get the links.
Up Next
Right back at it tomorrow as the Rochester Americans arrive in downtown Allentown.
The team will be on the road for 3-in-3 next weekend before returning Friday December 8 for the first of 5 straight home tilts until December 16.
See you at the arena,
@Kram207
Featured image by Jack Mitroka