[“Olly olly oxen free” is a catchphrase or truce term used in children’s games such as hide and seek, capture the flag, and kick the can to indicate that players who are hiding can come out into the open without losing the game or that the position of the sides in a game has changed]
–Wikipedia
December To Remember?
Three more games this month, all at home, to wrap up the month of December–and the 2023 calendar year. Thus far the Phantoms are 3-5-1-1 on the month following an overtime win in Charlotte and a Shootout loss the following night, last weekend. The Hamilton Street Heroes posted a 2-3 record on home ice over the recent 5-game home stand.
In the AHL the Phantoms currently sit in 7th place by win-pct in the AHL Atlantic. A strong showing over these next three home games would likely improve things on that front, though.
Player News
F Olle Lycksell returned from some time with the NHL Flyers just before the holiday weekend. He was the Phantoms leading scorer at the time of his call-up, which he certainly earned. Now he should add some punch to the Phantoms scoring attack.
C Rhett Gardner and G Cal Peterson have both returned from short stints with the Flyers. G Parker Gahagen was sent to Reading today in a corresponding move.
Lines Friday in Charlotte:
28 Lycksell – 9 Laczynski – 19 Allison
17 Wilson – 24 Brooks – 20 Marody
16 Avon – 91 Desnoyers – 27 Tuomaala
29 Gendron – 56 Gaucher – 15 Bellerive
6 Andrae – 7 Belpedio
98 Mete – 12 Attard
37 Ginning – 5 Samson
31 Gahagen (32 Sandstrom)
Notes: Of the recent scratches, D Helge Grans and F Evan Polei appear to be the significant injuries. The nature and status of their injuries is not known at this time. Brooks returned from injury during the previous home-stand–earlier than expected–and has been a fixture ever since. He’s been playing well.
From Phantoms Media Department:
- Emil Andrae is on a five-game point streak scoring 2-6-8 since Dec 13. The Flyers round 2 selection in 2020 from Sweden is in his first full season of pro hockey in North America.
- Tanner Laczynski has multiple points in consecutive games (2-2-4). The fourth-year pro out of Ohio State scored his second career overtime goal last Thursday
- Cooper Marody has points in five of the last six games (2-7-9). The 28-year-old veteran of 257 career AHL games has 240 points across six seasons with Bakersfield and Lehigh Valley.
- The Phantoms played consecutive games to overtime or shootout last week and have had overtime contests in three of the last five games
- The Phantoms are:
7-3-3 when scoring first
10-2-3 when scoring three or more goals
9-1-0 when leading after two periods
9-2-2 when allowing three goals or fewer
Enter, Utica
The Comets come in with a record of 10-11-3, good enough for sixth place in the AHL North, but tied on points with last-place Laval. The Comets are now the affiliate of the New Jersey Devils, hence the ugliness introduced into their once-classic jersey design. Also, into their game as they play the almost-unwatchable “Left Wing Lock” strategy of their dreadful parent club.
On this team you’ll recognize F Ryan Fitzgerald, who was a revelation during the quarantine games of 2021 scoring 21 points in 28 games. And, while with the club the last couple years, just couldn’t stay on the ice or make an impact when he was. He has played in only 10 games for Utica this season. LW Max Willman is on the team. He had an effective 54 games with the Phantoms last season. Diminutive center Kyle Criscuolo is with this team. He was having a good showing with the Phantoms back in 2019-2020 before the world shut down. He’s been playing on the west coast until this season. D Tyler Wotherspoon has been with this team since he left us following 2019-2021.
The Comets have the #32-ranked Power Play in the entire league. They’ll play against the Phantoms’ 17th ranked Penalty Kill. Meanwhile, the Comets Penalty Kill is ranked #1 in the entire nation. They’ll face the Phantoms 33 Power Play.
Royals Report
The ECHL Reading Royals are in sixth place, out of seven, in the Eastern Conference, North Division. As with the Phantoms, they’re really just a couple good weeks from being playoff relevant.
GAME DAY!
The Kids are home from college and off from school. It’s a great night to get out to the old hockey barn and enjoy some fast-paced action. Good seats are still available but they’re going fast on both the primary and secondary markets. It should be a good crowd tonight for a happy-hour Wednesday. Grab your tickets before you head downtown. Leave a little extra time for parking and traffic with a crowded game and residual holiday goings-on.
$2 select draft beers until puck drop.
OFFICIALS
Referee Andrew Bell (#6)
Referee Patrick Hanrahan (#52)
Linesperson Robert Peterkin (#51)
Linesperson Ryan Knapp (#73)
MEDIA KIT
What To Watch
- Watch for any late roster moves following the holiday break. That might tip off who starts in net.
- I’m thinking it will be Sandstrom tonight
- Watch to see if one of the goalies starts to assert himself–Neither have good statistics this season.
- Olle has had one game since returning from Philadelphia. Watch to see if he looks rusty or if he’s attacking the net like he was earlier in the season.
- Watch to see how the Phantoms power play looks. Is Utica that good at PKs? Or, can we get something going.
- Watch to see if the Phantoms can stay out of the box. If not, the Utica power play might be able to move out of last place. The Phantoms are the most penalized team in the AHL and it’s not close.
Up Next
The Phantoms will be home for this holiday weekend. Saturday they’ll face Hershey right here at the PPL Center, while Sunday will be a 7:05 start time for a New Years Eve tilt, including a midnight giant puck-drop out on the plaza if you’re up for it.
Next weekend, the team will start off the 2024 portion of the season in Wilkes-Barre and in Hershey for a couple Pennsylvania road games while the PPL Center ice gets ripped up for indoor auto racing. After this holiday weekend, the Phantoms next home games are January 12 and 13.
See you at the arena,
@Kram207
Featured Image by Jack Mitroka
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