A miserable effort by the ‘new-look’ Phantoms last night on home ice led them to a 5-1 loss to the second-last place team. Without a better showing tonight, they’ll lose to the actual last-place team. Again.
The blue-liners had a difficult game last night. Andrae took a puck to the noggin (and returned) and Grans also had some difficulty. The goalie (Kolosov) had a tough night as well.
The Phantoms should have had the advantage on both special teams units, but managed to give up a couple power plays as well as a short-handed goal with a 5-3 advantage. Yuck.
Records:
Overall: 19-16-5-1 (5th Place in Division)
Home: 10-7-2-1
Away: 9-9-3
White Jerseys: 11-7-1
White-Out Jerseys: 1-1
Orange Jerseys: 4-4-1
Black Alternate Jerseys: 3-2-2-1
Black-Out Jerseys: 0-1-1
Black On Charcoal Gray: 0-1
Fridays: 5-5-2
Saturdays: 8-5-2
Sundays: 0-2-0-1
Wednesdays: 5-1-1
Tuesday/Thursday: 1-3
Sunday 3/3: 0-1-0-1
Post-Game Player Event Day: 2-0
October: 2-3-1-1
November: 7-3-2
December: 4-7-1
January: 6-3-1
Roster Updates
The “New Look” didn’t quite work out. We did see the return of F Cooper Marody–a favorite around here–but he didn’t look great trying to jump on the moving train via the “top” line. Olle returned from the Flyers and scored the goal. I wrote before the game to watch out for that line with Wisdom and Gaucher. They’re listed third but they do some damage.
F Cooper Marody returned. His use of a tinted visor indicates that concussion could have been part of his injury. He may need some time to get up to speed based on his play last night.
F Olle Lycksell returned. He’ll be ready for the All Star Game in California next weekend.
F Rodrigo Abols is up with the Flyers. I think we’re missing his play at both ends of the ice.
F Anthony Richard is up with the Flyers. He has missed a bunch of time, so not a glaring loss as a sigular move.
D Xavier Bernard returned last weekend from injury. He did not play last night, and with the call-up of Cassaro from Reading, we cannot know if he was perhaps re-injured after being out for a month.
The injury to G Cal Petersen is said to be of “lower-body” variety and might keep him out a month, I’ve heard.
The injury to D Ben Gleason is a tough one. He’ll be out a while as well with a lower body. His presence secured the blue line and was a defensive upgrade over Ronnie Attard.
Lines Last Night vs Springfield
20 Marody 22 Gardner 27 Tuomaala
17 Wilson 91 Desnoyers 72 Gendron
15 Lycksell 56 Gaucher 74 Wisdom
16 Avon 13 Furry 36 Boulton
19 McDonald 7 Belpedio
6 Andrae 3 Grans
37 Ginning 5 Samson
35 Kolosov (Backup: 31 Gahagen)
Discussion: The top line was sloppy and ineffective. The second line had good effort but was ineffective. The third line of 15/56/74 did some nice things. The fourth line wasn’t very noticeable at all. I don’t know if they juggle the pairs or not tonight–perhaps the Swedes need a night off?
Scratches: 8 Ben Gleason* 23 JoJo Cassaro 32 Eetu Makiniemi* 40 Cal Petersen* 43 Oscar Eklind 55 Xavier Bernard 73 Massimo Rizzo
*=confirmed injury
Notebook
I knew a guy in college. His nickname was ‘Dad.’ He was 20 years old but looked exactly like someone’s Dad. He drove a Dad car, too. 1985 Chevy Celebrity sedan. He was very proud of it, always describing the two-tone color as “Silver on Charcoal Gray.” So the Phantoms came out in new jerseys last night. I knew they were coming and that they were of a darker color, but that’s all I knew. They were black numbers on charcoal gray jerseys with orange striping and effects. They would have made nice preseason jerseys. They reminded me of Dad’s car.
The former Blended, former Blended by BruDaddy, former Queen City BBQ, former Shula’s Steak House restaurant location on the Arts Walk is set to become an Italian eatery. I think I heard the name will be “Simpatico.” Part of the team behind Pennsylvania Rye Company will be heading it up. Details are still being worked out, but some staff and management have already been secured. I do not have an opening date.
Tonight is Premier Member Appreciation Night. Season ticket members can get in via the LVHN entrance to 99 Bottles for a pre-game reception with some snacks and prizes. I think it will be open from 5pm until 7pm. Also, listen for other prizes and giveaways during the game and use your special “Membership Ticket” for concession specials all night and additional discounts at the store. All of the seasons of hockey, two different baseball teams, the old soccer team and arena football…I’ve never seen a Season Ticket Appreciation or Fan Appreciation night that really hit the mark. Perhaps a longer article about this one day.
GAME DAY!
It’s Youth Jersey night, so bring out the kiddos for one of the better giveaways. If you’re a season ticket member, hit up your rep if you need one and didn’t get it. It’s also Saturday Night Hockey Live with musical guest before the game and again at the second intermission. Phantoms are a good Saturday team, so hopefully a win is on the way in response to whatever that was that we saw last night.
Enter Bridgeport. They have only 10 wins on the season and are on a 3-7 in their last 10. This is the fourth straight game on the road for the Islanders affiliate; they won last night in Syracuse. Our old friend Cole Bardreau is on this team. We could use a guy like that right about now. I heard he’s wearing the ‘C’ for this team; good for him!
As we saw last night, special teams advantages aren’t really advantages if you don’t play as a team and you aren’t special. Anyway, Bridgeport comes in with a mediocre power play at #16 in the country, #13 on the road. Their penalty kill is what gets them, at #31 overall as well as on the road.
Tickets are rather tight with the giveaway so grab them early. There are some on the secondary market as well.
5:00PM LVHN Gate/99Bottles: Premier Member Party
5:45PM FMZ Gate and Air Products Gate: Premier Member early access
6:00PM All Gates: Public
7:05PM Show
7:18PM Hockey
OFFICIALS
Referee Stephen Hiff (#46)
Referee Brody Sutter (#71)
Linesperson Anthony Lapointe (#58)
Linesperson Patrick Dapuzzo (#57)
Scouting the Refs: Same Refs as last night it seems. I wrote that they were a little whistle-happy, but that was before I realized how sloppy the team was playing and that we probably deserved those whistles. Will be interesting to see how that translates tonight.
MEDIA KIT
Photo: Jack Mitroka
What To Watch
- I expect them to ride Kolosov hard, but after last night I don’t expect them to make him go back to back. Look for Gahagen in net tonight
- Look at the lines and pairs. Did they mix it up a bit? Just get some fresh legs for the middle game of the 3/3?
- Any of these guys in the lineup, where we don’t have clarity on their health? Eklind, Bernard, Rizzo?
- Look for a better effort tonight and more attention to detail. If they don’t, then we might be in trouble.
- Watch to see if the big Finn Tikkanen plays in net for Bridgeport. He’s not having a great season.
- Look for the Phantoms to score a power play goal tonight. Or, two?
- Watch for creative uses for the kiddo jerseys
- Watch for folks to be disappointed with the member appreciation
- Watch for kids to kick seats. Kids love to kick seats.
Up Next
The Phantoms head up the pike to Wilkes-Barre to complete the 3/3 this weekend. Will they have their ice in shape?
The Phantoms will grab one more road game, Wednesday, in Bridgeport, before heading out on All Star Break. When they return from break we’ll be home for Cleveland and Hartford on Friday and Saturday February 7 and 8.
See you at the arena,
@Kram207
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