“This guy’s walking down the street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep he can’t get out.
“A doctor passes by and the guy shouts up, ‘Hey you. Can you help me out?’ The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole and moves on.
“Then a priest comes along and the guy shouts up, ‘Father, I’m down in this hole can you help me out?’ The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on
“Then a friend walks by, ‘Hey, Joe, it’s me can you help me out?’ And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, ‘Are you stupid? Now we’re both down here.’ The friend says, ‘Yeah, but I’ve been down here before and I know the way out.'”
-From The West Wing
About Wednesday
Springfield just isn’t a very good hockey team right now, and although they were able to create some dangerous chances Wednesday night, they were just out-classed and out-played by The Hamilton Street Heroes. The Phantoms now have a three-point lead on Springfield for the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division after Springfield lost last night to Charlotte. They play a difficult Syracuse team tonight, and the Phantoms also have two extra games “in hand” on the Thunderbirds.
The Phantoms need to continue to stack wins to get out of the hole they have found themselves in this season. The other important thing to watch–more than trying to catch Hartford for the fifth seed (5 point lead)–is the battle for the third seed between Scranton and Charlotte. Scranton currently has the third seed by the narrowest of margins. If Charlotte gets the third seed we could end up with “Phantom Playoffs” like last season, where there are no home games in the first round. While I fear neither Wilkes nor Charlotte, I’d like a home game in the first round, I would. Internally the team is talking about challenging for one of the upper seeds, and that would be great. Why not jump Charlotte and have all the playoff games here? Wishful thinking, perhaps.
The whole “Playoff Primer” with who plays who and when, can be found HERE.
Player Personnel
Penn State-connected forwards Tyler Gratton and Jacques Bouquot, who were signed to AHL contracts for next season and joined the team on PTO, have since been released from PTO, so don’t plan on them showing up in the lineup just yet.
Meanwhile, blue-liner Hunter McDonald joins the team on PTO. He was a 6th-round draft pick of the Flyers in 2022. He has been at Northeastern University in Boston for the past two seasons. The 6’4″ defenseman shoots left and appears to be a stay-at-home type. He’s been issued #19.
Defenseman Darren Brady returns to Reading.
Lines Wednesday Night:
13 Furry 22 Gardner 27 Tuomaala
46 Brown 9 Laczynski 24 Brooks
17 Wilson 91 Desnoyers 14 Wisdom
10 Polei 56 Gaucher 16 Avon
6 Andrae 2 Grans
98 Mete 7 Belpedio
8 Millman 5 Samson
40 Petersen. (Backup: 31 Gahagen)
Notes: Mete returned from his illness/injury. Marody missed with injury suffered on the road trip. Otherwise, I like the lineup. Every single line has a chance to score, and that second line is a lot to handle.
GAME DAY!
It might be cold and rainy outside, but it’s Margaritaville Night inside! Saturday Night Hockey Live will feature Jimmy and the Parrots. Expect plenty of beach/Florida/Caribbean theme tonight.
Good seats still remain on the primary and secondary markets although there should be a good crowd tonight if the rain doesn’t keep folks away. Currently, unless you’re up town really early, you shouldn’t get too wet. However, maybe plan a parking deck rather than a lot?
Bridgeport is in town. They are not a good hockey team this season, but they won last night in Utica, by shootout, and are 5-5 over their past 10. This is a good game to win to continue to climb out of that hole and prove we’re an above-average squad that belongs in the playoffs. The Phantoms have the rest advantage, too. Remember, Carsen Twarynski and Cole Bardreau are on this team.
OFFICIALS
Referee Mike Dietrich (#15)
Referee Brendan Schreider (#20)
Linesperson Patrick Dapuzzo (#57)
Linesperson Jud Ritter (#34)
MEDIA KIT
What To Watch
- Watch to see who starts in net. Peterson and Gahagen have both been solid, but Peterson has been raising his game recently which was recognized by the coach after the game on Wednesday, where he played well. If they’re really trying to push for a higher seed in the post-season, and if Peterson has gained the edge as the primary netminder, perhaps they go back to him tonight and then Gahagen gets tomorrow’s game?
- Watch to see if Marody can return. He would be a big help in the scoring department since Brink and Lycksell are up with the Flyers.
- Watch to see if the intensity is there–if you think this team is pushing the right buttons and is poised to maybe make some noise in the post-season.
- Watch to see if McDonald gets to play. I doubt it, but it would be interesting.
Up Next
Game three of this three-game mini-home-stand this week will be tomorrow at 3:05PM versus Wilkes Barre. It’s Kid’s Takeover so expect plenty of yutes in the house.
See you at the arena,
@Kram207