The Phantoms are perfectly average as we pass the half-way point of the 2023-24 AHL season. The first half concluded during the team’s Rochester-Cleveland-Cleveland road trip last week. They lost the first two before salvaging a win in the final game in The Land. The Hamilton Street Heroes now sit at 17-15-5-1. That’s 40 standings points and a .526 win percent. They remain in 7th place in the AHL Atlantic division, and out of playoff consideration at this juncture.
So, it’s time to move right now. I think we all remember a few years ago, the Bears of Hershey went into the new year in last place before coming out of hibernation and charging to the top in the second half. The Phantoms do have the opportunity to make some noise in this division. As we preview tonight’s contest versus the hated-Penguins, we’ll review the key areas necessary for improvement if the Phantoms are going to have any measure of success out of this season. (Look for boldface as we move through our normal preview). The Phantoms have six straight home tilts facing them–counting both sides of the All Star break.
It’s no joke to point out the wonkiness of the AHL schedule. It is every year, but it does help center the case for an improved Phantoms team over the second half. The Phantoms need to take advantage of the schedule to move up the standings. Bridgeport, right here in our division, is the second-worst team in the entire country at the AHL level. The Phantoms have had the opportunity to play them–wait for it–ZERO times over the first half of the season. There will be six contests against that putrid squad starting in two weeks on the road. Then there’s the matter of this hated-Penguins team. We did play them once, three weeks ago up at their place, but there’s three of these next six home games versus that hated bunch, then 5 more games up at their place and 3 more here for a total of 11. “But Kram the Penguins are in third place.” Sure, but only 9 more standings points and we have played three less game. Plus, while they’ve played lowly Bridgeport only once and have played juggernaut Hershey a couple more times than us, the standings could be wildly impacted by all of these standings points available in the 11 head-to-head matchups. With three extra games played, they have only 6 more goals scored and have allowed 11 less. They’re not Hershey.
Photo: Jack Mitroka
Roster Update
Starting from when the Phantoms left the valley for Cleveland by way of Rochester,
F Olle Lycksell to the Flyers; F Bobby Brink to the Phantoms
Discussion: Lycksell has been a good scorer for us here in the Valley, and was up one time before. The Flyers need to use him if they’re going to call him up again. Meanwhile, Brink was not seeing ice time in South Philly, so this is his opportunity to get his legs under him and get back there. How will he play here? That is yet to be seen.
G Cal Peterson to the Flyers; G Parker Gahagen to the Phantoms from ECHL Reading.
Discussion: The Phantoms need better goalie play. Peterson keeps getting these NHL opportunities because Sandstrom has been so middling. Hershey has two of the top 5 goalies in the entire league. Wilkes Barre has the #3. The Phantoms don’t have anyone in the top 20. Peterson has a 3.26 GAA while Sandstrom is at 3.29. “Empty Net” has an entry in our rankings. Kidding. Gahagen does have a respectable 2.63 over 9 games but gives me agita with his rebound control. G Carter Hart is facing some legal trouble based on an assault charge from his time with Team Canada and his availability for the Flyers going forward is somewhat unknown. We will be riding with Sandstrom and Gahagen for the time being and they need to perform, on average, better than what we’ve seen this season in net.
F Evan Polei returned from injury while on the road trip.
F Jordy Bellerive traded to San Jose.
Discussion: He had not been a key member of the team this season and his ice time was limited for certain stretches as well. We wish him well on the west coast.
Lines last Saturday in the win in Cleveland:
28 Lycksell – 9 Laczynski – 27 Tuomaala
16 Avon – 22 Gardner – 20 Marody
17 Wilson – 91 Desnoyers – 13 Furry
10 Polei – 56 Gaucher – 15 Bellerive
5 Andrae – 2 Grans
98 Mete – 5 Samson
37 Ginning – 12 Attard
32 Sandstrom (Backup: 40 Cal Petersen)
Discussion: Delete Lycksell and Bellerive from the above, and slot in Brink in, probably, one of the top two lines. F Wade Allison and D Louie Belpedio missed the game due to injury, the nature of which is unknown at this time. F Adam Brooks was a scratch, perhaps load management.
The Flyers have been much better than expected thus far this season, and the Phantoms have not been able to capitalize on relative roster stability. They will need to make sure chemistry and effort are in place in the second half, should the Flyers sabotage this team as we originally expected around here.
Photo: Jack Mitroka
GAME DAY!
Don’t expect any dollar hot dogs because that would not be for every Friday. There is no promotion for tonight. Service Electric is collecting new or gently used coats, hats, blankets and other warm clothing tonight and tomorrow.
Good seats still remain for tonight’s contest–starting at $16 on the secondary markets. Nothing new to report on the parking front other than I’ve been fully beaten by the Parking Overlords at this point. They’ve effectively closed my free parking loophole so I’ve been handing over my $5 at the Community Deck. I know I will be defeated again tonight, but I do have an outside chance at a win tomorrow or Wednesday. I’ll update if I stay in the game–otherwise perhaps we’ll try to formulate a better plan for next season.
Season ticket doors at 5:45 I believe, under the canopy at the Air Products and Channel 69 gates. Main doors at 6PM. Show at 7:05. Hockey some time thereafter.
Tonight’s game will be on NHL Network, if you’re not coming out.
Here’s what Phantoms Media had to say about Wilkes Barre:
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (21-14-5) has vaulted to third place in the Atlantic Division largely on the strength of goaltender Joel Blomqvist (12-5-3, 2.14, .921) who rates second in the AHL in GAA behind only Clay Stevenson of Hershey. Blomqvist will join fellow Finland product Samu Tuomaala of the Phantoms at the AHL All-Star Classic in San Jose.
It’s been a never-ending series of nailbiters for the Baby Pens who have played in nine consecutive one-goal decisions which is a franchise record. Defenseman Ty Smith (6-20-26) leads the Penguins in scoring. The former New Jersey first-rounder earned NHL All-Rookie Team accolades in 2021. Jesse Puljujärvi and Vinnie Hinostroza are relatively recent additions who both have over 300 games of NHL experience.
The Phantoms won at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 4-3 on January 6 with an overtime winner by Samu Tuomaala serving as the difference-maker. Tuomaala and Ronnie Attard scored back-to-back in the third to overcome a 3-1 deficit.
The Penguins Power Play ranks 26th in the country and drops to 30th as a road team. The Phantoms now sit at 9th overall, but slightly lower at home for whatever reason. On the PK, the hated-Penguins are third, but drop to 12 as a road club. The Phantoms 20th overall, but again somehow worse at home. Overall, the Phantoms need to be a better home team over the second half.
OFFICIALS
Referee
Referee Michael Zyla (#4)
Linesperson Ryan Knapp (#73)
Linesperson Josh Cleary (#45)
Three person crew? EBUR? (Emergency Backup Referee). We’ll see.
MEDIA KIT
What To Watch
- I’d say Sandstrom tonight and Gahagen tomorrow but I’ve no real reason for that. Watch to see if the goalie play is indicative of winning hockey.
- Watch for penalties. Especially given the potential for a limited ref crew. The Phantoms remain among the league leaders in penalty minutes. That is not winning hockey. The Phantoms need to clean up the penalties in the second half.
- Watch for overtime. The Phantoms and hated-Penguins have been prone to OT games, such as their first meeting this season early this month. The Phantoms need to win more overtime games in the second half to gain standings points. Take the 5 OTL games and make them wins and the Phantoms are tied with the Wolfpack for fourth place
- Watch to see if Allison can get back. A super-charged Wade might be necessary for a run in the next couple months. Belpedio to a lesser extent, but the pairings can use another veteran.
- Watch to see if the hated-penguins play their good goalie, #30 Blomqvist. It might be a long night if they do. But they have Hershey at home tomorrow and they might want him for that one.
- Watch to see how Brink plays. Both in effort and in results.
Up Next
Here we go with six in a row at home! Tomorrow Toronto will be in town. Wednesday, the Juggernaut brown team closes out January. Then, two more next weekend! Go Phantoms!
See you at the arena,
@Kram207