Welcome to the Teddy Bear Toss, 2023!
After last night’s frustrating shut-out loss to Providence, we gathered at Chickie’s for the post-game raffle festivities and the inevitable question was raised. What if they don’t score a goal on Teddy Bear night?
It’s a good question, and one we discussed many years ago. I heard that Hershey had to throw their bears (and boy do they throw bears in chocolate town–makes sense) with five seconds left in the third period because they hadn’t scored a goal. Years ago, I heard tell of throwing the bears at the second intermission if there hadn’t been a goal by then. Luckily, this has never been a problem at 7th and Hamilton. In fact, quite the opposite–the bear goal often happens within the opening minute or minutes of the game. It’s been quite regular lately to the point that I wonder if the ultimate solution to the above conundrum is to just get together with the other team and agree to get the goal out of the way and then play a regular hockey game after that. Would Charlotte agree to such a thing? Probably not, but it is a reasonable conspiracy to look at.
Oh, and the Chickie’s thing was good. They seemed to have enough staff and it wasn’t overly crowded. I saw the actual items being given out. It was good to get together with fellow fans after the game and complain about a result none of us desired.
About Last Night
Yesterday we discussed the poor start to December the team is having, and they didn’t do anything to rectify that last night. It was quite a sloppy game, and since I don’t remember that Providence is a “sloppy-style” team–the way I remember that the New Jersey affiliate plays the ugly “left wing lock” and the Toronto team plays a pristine wide-open style–I put it on us. The lines were a little different with the loss of our scoring leader Lycksell, and several other players were out with injury, so that could be part of it.
Sandstrom started in goal last night as I expected. He played really well. Providence had plenty open looks at the goal, breakaways and the like, and Sandstrom stoned them. He flashed the leather a few times. And, he’s not the one who leaves a guy wide open on the back door. Both goals scored last night were on the penalty kill. Meanwhile the Phantoms were 0/6 on the power play.
We can take a look at the defensive pairings below, but this is the first time in a couple seasons that I can remember we had a tougher than usual time breaking out of our zone. A couple seasons ago that was a huge problem; we’d get hemmed in and couldn’t break out or get a change. Then we couldn’t form an attack because we would have to dump the puck to change behind the play. It’s a necessary thing sometimes, but not the ideal way to play winning hockey.
Coach Laperriere was said to be disappointed following the game, with some of the penalties his team was taking last night. It could be the nature of the penalties–sloppy play as we discussed above–but this team is the most penalized team in the entire nation at the AHL level. We’ve mentioned it in previous columns, but not made too much of it for several reasons. First, the team will drop the gloves from time to time, and some of those penalty minutes are for roughing and fighting, which we’ll take if we want to be a tough team. Second, the team was winning. But given last night’s performance, it does need to be addressed. There’s an old coaching aphorism, “You’re either coaching it, or allowing it to happen.” So, for Coach Lappy I’d say it’s time to clean things up. I do realize that there were a bunch of guys out with injuries and that could have had some impact.
I noticed last night that all three “stars of the game” were Bruins. As it should be. But so many times the home arena has to give a home player one of the stars so that it has a candy coating for the fans leaving a losing effort. You could have put Sandstrom in there I suppose. But really, credit where due we got beat.
One more thing. I know hockey people around here love Jud and all, but if we’re going to give out awards and such to officials, let’s wait and do it after the game. I think getting all warm and fuzzy with the officials before a game might send the wrong message. We don’t need them skating around out there thinking about how great and infallible they are. Maybe I’m just cranky because we got called for a million penalties and couldn’t score and lost the game.
Lines from last night
17 Wilson – 91 Desnoyers – 19 Allison
20 Marody – 13 Furry – 27 Tuomaala
16 Avon – 15 Bellerive – 29 Gendron
10 Polei – 56 Gaucher – 14 Wisdom
6 Andrae – 37 Ginning
98 Mete – 12 Attard
3 Karashik – 5 Samson
32 Sandstrom (40 Petersen)
Scratches were: 2 Helge Grans 9 Tanner Laczynski 22 Rhett Gardner 24 Adam Brooks. All were reported to be because of injury. Brooks is the only one I have confirmed as mid to long-term though.
I thought Gaucher played well, bringing energy and providing spark. Gendron was also noticeable. It’s widely known that I’m a Marody fan, but several times last night it felt like he just couldn’t get a shot off, for whatever reason.
Louie Belpedio passed through waivers yesterday which was announced as “for the reason of sending him to the AHL;” however, they did not send him right away (they don’t have to) because the Flyers wanted him on their road trip as depth. The Flyers play at Colorado tonight.
EDIT: D Mason Millman and F Matt Brown joined the team today from Reading
Photo: Jack Mitroka
GAME DAY!
When the promotional schedule is released every season, you circle a couple of headliner games. And, none is more notable than the annual Teddy Toss game.
Enter Charlotte. The Checkers are the AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers. Why not affiliate with the close-by Carolina team? There’s been much said about that, but one of those clubs is difficult to get along with. I’m not sure which one. As a divisional foe, we need to face them more than closer teams like Syracuse, Rochester and Utica. That’s part of the travel consideration that has them playing in Hershey tomorrow and then back here at the PPL Center on Wednesday before they return home. They won in Rochester last night 6-1. This whole travel thing is why they can get an all-home playoff series under some circumstances. I never would have agreed to that, but money talks. Charlotte is near the Phantoms in the standings, at 11-9-0-0 to the Phantoms 9-9-4-0. The Checkers are on a 1-game win streak and are 4-6 in their last 10 games. Anyway, this is our first meeting with Charlotte this season.
In terms of friendly faces, F Gerry Mayhew is on this team. You may also recognize D Will Reilly from his time with Scranton. And, any time you see the name Brind’Amour around these parts you are bound to be recognized (Rod’s oldest son, I believe). Swedish defender Lucas Carlsson, #32, is their leading point scorer with 8 goals and 10 assists. Gerry Mayhew is second. Charlotte’s power play ranks 25th in the league, while their penalty kill is all the way up at #2!
Tickets: Surprisingly, good seats still remain for this game on both the primary and secondary markets. I didn’t see many bargains, though. To my fellow Season Ticket Members: Have you seen what these same-day tickets cost these days? Plus the fees? That’s reason enough to keep my season plan. And, should you need extra tickets, I highly recommend emailing your rep as they can get you extra seats usually at the season ticket rate.
Parking: Another loss for me last night in my ongoing battle with the Parking Overlords. Pro-tip: Choose your parking location by where you will be eating and drinking before the game. Or, by price as the Community Deck and Maple Street Deck are cheaper.
Event: It’s the Teddy Toss game, but also Saturday Night Hockey Live. So, expect some extra entertainment tonight.
Doors: 6:00PM
Show Time: 7:05PM
Hockey Puck Drop: 7:18PM
Post-Game: Head for Chickies and grab a free raffle ticket. They draw for two pucks promptly at 10:00, a (broken) stick at 10:15 and a jersey at 10:30.
OFFICIALS
Referee Patrick Hanrahan (#52)
Referee Alex Normandin (#65)
Linesperson Chandler Yakimowicz (#60)
Linesperson Josh Cleary (#45)
MEDIA KIT
What To Watch Tonight
- Be in your seat on time, and watch out for flying bears. Seriously, we’ve had some early goals lately on this particular day.
- Look for Cal Peterson in net tonight as I don’t think they want Sandstrom going back-to-back just yet.
- Watch to see if any of the injured players other than Brooks, listed above, are able to go tonight.
- If not, watch to see if we can play more cohesive hockey tonight compared with some of that mess last night.
- Watch to see if we can stay out of the box. Need to cut down on some of the sloppy play as well as the sloppy penalties.
- Watch to see if the power play can be more effective. With Lycksell gone to the Flyers and the injuries things were a bit different last night and the inability to create chance or score was evident. This is a good PK unit we’re facing, though.
- Watch for the team’s general response to last night. A lot of different faces were in the lineup, but the team is on a 0-3-1 streak and got shut out last night. How do they respond to that?
- Watch to see if we get to play against another goalie with a proclivity to kick the net off the moorings the minute there’s trouble in the area.
Photo: Jack Mitroka
Up Next
Whatever tonight’s outcome, there will be a rematch right back here on PPL Center ice on Wednesday. That will be game 3 of this 5-game December home stand. Happy hour beers on tap.
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See you at the arena,
@Kram207
Featured image by Jack Mitroka