Query: “Are you going to hockey or baseball Friday night?”
Kram: “Playoff hockey only happens in Allentown once every six years, so hockey it is!”
We should get a cicada named after us or something.
One Down And One To Go
Every AHL and Wilkes-Barre outlet I read not only predicted that the Penguins’ affiliate would beat the Phantoms in their three-game mini-series, but to a person, they all predicted a sweep. Not so fast! The Phantoms went up to the Mohegan Arena at Casey Place and took game one from the hated penguins Wednesday night. In the 2-1 game Adam Brooks and Rhett Gardner had goals and Louie Belpedio had helpers on both. While the game was not closely officiated according to in-person accounts, the Phantoms committed only two penalties–something that has been a problem for them all season. Cal Peterson out-dueled rookie sensation Joel Blomqvist in net.
Here’s how the lines looked:
28 Lycksell 9 Laczynski 24 Brooks
20 Mardoy 22 Gardner 23 Brink
17 Wilson 56 Gaucher 13 Furry
10 Polei 91 Desnoyers
37 Ginning 12 Attard
6 Andrae 7 Belpedio
19 McDonald 2 Grans
98 Mete
40 Petersen (Backup: 35 Kolosov)
Scratches:
3 Adam Karashik 4 Will Zmolek 5 Ethan Samson 8 Mason Millman 14 Zayde Wisdom 15 Massimo Rizzo 16 J-R Avon 18 Tyler Gratton 25 Matt Miller 27 Samu Tuomaala 39 Jacques Bouquot 46 Matt Brown 31 Parker Gahagen 32 Felix Sandstrom
Discussion:
11F/7D is a bold move for the opening game of a playoff series. I do know Samu is injured. Perhaps Wisdom and Avon too? What about using Karashik because he’s spent some time with the forwards? Just wanted to have those groups available? Predicted (correctly) that the game would be a defensive battle? Interesting. I do like splitting Andrae and Allard. McDonald has been solid, but he was on the ice when the goal was scored. Kolosov over Sandstrom for backup goalie is notable as well.
GAME DAY!
Put on your orange and head downtown! Playoff hockey is hockey in the top form. 7:05 show time with hockey getting underway a few minutes later. All doors at 6:00PM with two season ticket doors under the canopies at 5:45PM. Good seats are still available including many in the Morning Call Club–but they are pricey. Tickets are a bit more reasonable on the secondary market, but not a ton of choice where to sit and they are selling fast.
Parking changes are coming this summer, so they say. But I think we’ll need to get deeper into the playoffs to have to worry about that.
No notes on the Penguins affiliate. We’ve seen them before and they’ve seen us and anything that happened during the regular season goes out the window–in terms of special teams or play style or strategy or any of that.
OFFICIALS
Referee Jordan Deckard (#14)
Referee Jack Young (#24)
Linesperson Ryan Jackson (#84)
Linesperson Jud Ritter (#34)
*Ryan Jackson is a holdover from Wednesday in Wilkes-Barre–and it looks like a Jud Ritter Night for those who celebrate.
MEDIA KIT–PLAYOFF VERSION
MEDIA KIT–REGULAR SEASON STATS (52 pages)
PENS PLAYOFFS REGULAR SEASON STATS
What To Watch
- With the way the games are spaced–Wednesday, Friday, Sunday–the starting goalies should be able to go all three. Peterson played well and I’d expect him back in there. Blomqvist as well. Watch to see if Kolosov is the backup again. In the case of injury or ineffectiveness does the coaching staff truly have more confidence in K than the veteran Sandstrom? Could be.
- Watch to see if Coach Lappy makes any changes in the lines. Good compete and good result you’d like to keep things the same. But, if there’s an injury involved (Samu) then if he’s healthy he should maybe get back in there. Tuomaala has been a penguin-killer this season so I’m still hoping he’s healthy enough to play–but no information about his injury or timeline at this juncture.
- Watch that compete. The hated penguins have their backs against the wall and will bring everything they have. But, the Phantoms have a ravenous Phan Nation and a sea of orange. Watch to see if we the phans can will this orange team to a first-round victory and a sweep to boot.
- Watch to see if the game presentation follows the gravity of this game. Sure, we need to have the paid advertisements and such but can we keep it mostly about hockey tonight?
- You find yourself sitting on your hands, remember, this might be it for hockey if we lose tonight and again on Sunday. Then no hockey until October and no playoffs until the next round of cicadas. LET’S GO!
Up Next
Win tonight, and we get the juggernaut Hershey Bears. I’m not looking ahead but I’m not giving up, either. Despite the record-setting nature of the brown team’s season, we’ve played them plenty tough around here most evenings. The setup would likely be 2-2-1 for a five game series, given the proximity. Hershey would get the first two, plus the rubber match, while the Phantoms only get the second home game if the series goes at least four. Cross that bridge when and if we come to it.
Lose tonight, and it’s back to Wilkes on Sunday afternoon for the decider–with no momentum. Really, it’s all on the line tonight.
See you at the arena,
@Kram207