You pay for three periods of hockey. But, for some reason, the Phantoms always seem to give out an extra bonus period at the end!
On Wednesday night the team played their league-leading 12th overtime game of the season and came away with the win even as the bonus hockey only lasted 14 seconds. It was another come-from-behind effort with many contributors: Wilson as the Captain had a Gordie Howe hattie, Zayde Wisdom was everywhere, and Gaucher continues to appear on the score card. Peterson in net had some key stops to keep the game from getting out of hand. Also notable, rookie Massimo Rizzo potted his first pro goal. On the way out I heard someone say it was the best hockey game they ever saw. It was really a good time.
Check Wednesday’s pre-game column for news and notes from the road trip. Also, they were 12oz beers and will be going forward. It was listed accurately everywhere except in the “know before you go” email.
Records:
Overall: 11-10-4-1 (7th Place in Division)
Home: 7-4-1-1
Away: 4-6-3
White Jerseys: 8-6-1
Orange Jerseys: 3-3-1
Black Jerseys: 0-1-2-1
Fridays: 2-3-1
Saturdays: 5-3-2
Sundays: 0-1-0-1
Wednesdays: 4-1-1
Tuesday/Thursday: 0-2
Sunday 3/3: 0-0-0-1
Post-Game Event Day: 1-0
October: 2-3-1-1
November: 7-3-2
December: 2-4-1
Players
Primeau, Sedley and Boulton were added for the road trip to Toronto and Cleveland. Primeau was returned to Reading after the trip, while Sedley and Boulton were returned yesterday.
D Emil Andrae returned from Philadelphia yesterday. I had heard that he was playing well with the Flyers, but I guess some of it was rather uneven. Really good puck wins and passes, and then getting burned. Also, there’s the whisper of perhaps some cap flexibility by having him in the minors for a week or two and the holiday freeze is coming up–you can call players up but cannot send them down.
Lines and Pairs From Wednesday:
17 Wilson 22 Gardner 16 Avon
43 Eklind 18 Abols 27 Tuomaala
15 Lycksell 56 Gaucher 74 Wisdom
72 Gendron 73 Rizzo 13 Furry
19 McDonald 7 Belpedio
37 Ginning 3 Grans
8 Gleason 5 Samson
40 Petersen (Backup: 31 Gahagen)
Scratches:
9 Sam Sedley, 20 Cooper Marody, 32 Eetu Makiniemi, 36 Sawyer Boulton, 55 Xavier Bernard, 90 Anthony Richard, 91 Elliot Desnoyers
Discussion:
Marody, Makiniemi, and Bernard are hurt and I’m not expecting to see any of them soon–although sometimes surprises do happen and it’s hard to get information. Richard must be nursing something as well, but I hope he’s back out there tonight. Desnoyers might have ben dey-moted. Unless he also has an injury, he needs to make more of his opportunity when he does get out on the ice.
That third line was everywhere Wednesday during the come-back. Hats off to them. Samu has lost a step lately; just hasn’t been that dynamic for whatever reason. The rise of Rizzo has begun. Ginning looked a bit better Wednesday after being in a funk for a couple weeks–but perhaps it’s because Grans can get caught flat-footed sometimes and Ginning has to compensate. Gleason has been solid since coming over for Attard.
GAME DAY!
Toronto is in town for their only appearance of the season. Over the years here, I’ve noticed franchises in this league play with a different “style” sometimes. Perhaps it’s related to their parent club(s) and their needs or for whatever reason. I bring this up because the Toronto affiliate always seems to play a brand of hockey that is pleasant to the eye. I like watching games involving the Marlies despite having no real affinity for their parent club. It is what it is. O Canada.
Toronto is currently in 4th place in the AHL North. They come in off a big win in Wilkes on Wednesday and on a 6-3-0-1 last 10.
Toronto spanked the Phantoms up in Canada 6-3 a week ago Tuesday. They have a few ex-Wilks-Barre players on their team if you hear a name or two that sounds familiar. Plus they have Matt Murray in net. yeah, THAT Matt Murray. He played against Wilkes Barre at Casey Plaza on Wednesday, but was just recalled to the other Toronto this afternoon as I’m writing. We’ll see how that impacts Toronto’s net play.
Toronto Power Play: 11th overall, 17th on the road
Toronto Penalty Kill: 8th overall, 14th on the road
Phantoms Power Play: 10th overall, 10th as a home team
Phantoms Penalty Kill: 15th overall, 17th as a home team
From Phantoms Media:
Toronto Marlies at Phantoms
Toronto (13-4-5) comes to Allentown for a rematch of last Tuesday’s clash North of the Border. The Marlies’ .705 points percentage is tops in the North Division but due to games-in-hand for all other teams, the Marlies are fourth in points. Toronto’s four regulation losses are fewest in the AHL. Leading scorer Alex Steeves (14-8-22) recently had a six-game goal streak, tied for longest in the AHL. Toronto’s roster has been bolstered by the return of Alex Nylander (11-6-17) from the Maple Leafs. The former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of three seasons racked up a hat trick and overtime winner against Bakersfield on Saturday. Head coach John Gruden is the father of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton forward Jonathan Gruden. The Marlies’ stingy defense is surrendering just 2.64 goals per game, fifth in the AHL and second to Syracuse in the conference.
Game Time: 7:05 (Hockey Time: 7:18)
Doors: 6:00 (STH: Main and Air Products, 5:45)
Tickets: Good seats still available on the primary and secondary markets. Bargains to be had on secondary market.
Parking: With the weather today, perhaps use covered deck parking over open lots. Park head-in unless you’re in the arena deck. Pre-purchase arena deck as it sells out. Lots of good parking close by in the Spiral or Trans Center; cheaper parking on Sixth Street or Walnut Street. Overzealous parking collections seem to have subsided a bit as the season has worn on.
Promotion: Winter Cap for the kiddos.
Donation: I believe hat/glove/coat donations are ongoing at Chickie’s before the game.
Post Game: Head to Chickies for raffles of pucks, stick, and jersey. Starts at 10PM.
Media Kit: Marlies 2024
OFFICIALS
Referee Mike Dietrich (#15)
Referee Jake Kamrass (#3)
Linesperson Jeremy Faucher (#85)
Linesperson John Rey (#16)
Scouting the Refs: Dietrich was here on Wednesday and my notes say, “uneven.” Kamrass was associated with a game I labeled as a “Ref Show.”
Photo: Jack Mitroka
What To Watch
- Peterson back in net with Gahagen set to go tomorrow in Wilkes? That would be my guess, mostly because Gahagen got lit up by the Marlies up in Toronto IIRC.
- If that 15-56-74 line stays together, watch to see if they look as dynamic as on Wednesday.
- Watch to see if the flood gates open for Rizzo on the score sheet.
- See if you think Samu looks right. Injured? Not feeling it? Beat up and tired? What’s up?
- If the Grans/Ginning pair is together again, watch to see how they look and if their game looks dynamic.
- Watch to see if Andrae plays. If so, who is he paired with? Does he play with consistency?
- Watch to see if Richard can get back out there. We could use his help on offense.
- Watch to see what jerseys they wear tonight. Sometimes we get a surprise about this time of the season.
- Watch to see if an “uneven ref show” happens, due to the officiating.
Up Next
The Hamilton Street Heroes head up to Wilkes Barre to face the Penguins affiliate tomorrow evening at 6PM. Then, they’re off for the holiday, returning to Wilkes for a rematch on Friday 12/27.
The next home games are both against Charlotte: Saturday 12/38 and Tuesday 12/31 for the New Year Puck Drop.
See you at the arena, and Happy Holidays to you and yours,
@Kram207
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