Hockey Night In Allentown: “Shots Don’t Count As Goals” 11/9/24

“To be honest, we were the worst team for 60 minutes tonight but we came out with the win.  But in the first three games against them we were the better team and we didn’t come out with the win. So the hockey gods took care of that. But by saying that, I liked the effort, the desperation of a lot of our guys tonight. It was an ugly win but, guess what, I’m taking the two points.”

–Coach Ian Lapperiere

About Last Night

The point streak is at five now, with the regulation win last night at home versus the hated Penguins.  Coach Lappy certainly knows more about hockey than I do, but as far as their home games I thought it was one of their better ones.  Sure, there were lapses and things could be cleaner.  But, guys were playing fast and moving their feet and digging out pucks and all the little things you want to do from an effort stand point–and it showed.  They were also a bit more selective with their shots, which I wondered about in yesterday’s column.

[Player notes and roster moves and such are in yesterday’s post: HERE]

Years ago, I would stand at center ice with the artist known as der Eishockeyzuschauer [RIP] and try to figure out some kind of math formula that could accurately convert ‘posts’ into goals.  Alas, we were never sucessful.  But still I see shots on goal quoted quite often by fans who are not at the game and not even watching on TV, as well as media members on social media too lazy to write any kind of real analysis on the game.  Shots don’t count as goals.  As often as getting-more-shots means that your team controlled play, it’s just as likely that you were losing and shooting more to try to come back.  Also, the team with the benefit of more power play opportunities is going to get some numbers in the shot column as well.  As we mentioned yesterday, the Phantoms are tied for the league lead in number of shots taken this season–and they’ve played fewer games than many other teams.  Does that mean the team is among the best in the league?  Certainly not.  Last night, the Phantoms were out-shot 36-20 but that was a little bit about a slow start and a lot about trying to hold a late lead while the Penguins affiliate has the goalie on the bench and all that.

Records:

Overall: 4-3-2-1 (5th Place)

Home: 2-2-0-1

Away: 2-1-2

White Jerseys: 2-1

Orange Jerseys: 2-2-1

Black Jerseys: 0-0-1-1

Sunday 3/3:  0-0-0-1

Post-Game Event Day:  —

Fridays: 1-1-1

Saturdays: 2-2

Sundays:  0-0-0-1

Wednesdays: 1-0-1

October: 2-3-1-1

November: 2-0-1

—

GAME DAY!

It’s ‘Post-Game-Skate’ Night as well as Saturday Night Hockey Live.  The Utica Comets are in town.  Good seats still remain for tonight’s game.  Pre-purchase parking to get into the arena garage/orange because it has been selling out of late.  Bring your skates and a waiver (they should have it in your game-day email or on the web) and stay after to skate with meLVin and the players.  There’s also Chickie’s after the game for puck, stick, and jersey raffles.   Doors:  Premier Members 5:45, All Doors 6:00, Show 7:05, Hockey 7:16

The Utica Comets are the AHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils.  They are winless on the season at 0-8-0-2 and in last place in the AHL North.  Old Friends:  #20 F Max Willman, #32 D Andy Welinski.  Prospects:  #22 D Seamus Casey, #61 F Chase Stillman,  #83 D Topias Vilen, #25 F Nolan Foote, #19 Josh Filmon.  Despite their record, the Comets do have a decent power play.  Their penalty kill, however, is among the worst in the league.

OFFICIALS

Referee Liam Maaskant (#45)

Referee Andrew Bell (#6)

Linesperson Patrick Dapuzzo (#57)

Linesperson J.P. Waleski (#14)

Scouting the Refs:  I’m keeping notes on every referee this season.  Maaskant is a hold-over from last night.  Last night’s crew were into calling a tight game of body fouls (holding, tripping, interference) but not necessarily stick fouls (hooking, slashing).  And then, they weren’t.  The whistles just disappeared in the third period.  

MEDIA KIT

Comets

What To Watch

• Watch for Peterson in net tonight as it appears we’re alternating.  Makiniemi will then draw the Penguins again on Wednesday
• Watch for the Utica jerseys to be way more ugly than you remember.  I know it’s been a couple years, but I still hate the red in them, they were so clean before.
• Watch to see if new defender #8 Ben Gleason gets a hat.  Also I’d look for at least one other scratch from last night to have skates on tonight.
• This is our first “post-game event” game, hence the category above.  Hopefully it’s not the doom that it used to be.
• Watch to see if the Phantoms take this winless team seriously.  Because they really should, and if they don’t they will be handing them their first win and busting their own point streak in the process.  Not a good look–try to avoid.
• Watch again to see shooting philosophy.  New Jersey plays a distinct defense which could make it difficult to get to the net.
• Watch to see if the Phantoms can capitalize on the power plays.  That’s the easy way to win this one.

Up Next

The Pens affiliate will return for a rematch on Wednesday–our first Happy Hour game of the season.  Then next Friday the team makes a Midnight Run to Springfield before returning to the PPL Center on Saturday for a tilt with the mighty Bears.

See you at the arena,

@Kram207