“Oh, the weather outside is frightful..
But the hockey is so delightful..”
The Phantoms split their first two games back from the All Star Break last weekend at the PPL Center. A win over a quality Cleveland team was followed by a loss to a questionable Hartford squad. They had the week off in advance of a 3/3 this weekend which started last night in Wilkes-Barre where they took down the Penguins affiliate in the shoot-out. We’re back home now for Syracuse tonight and a rematch with Scranton tomorrow.
Another interesting thing from last night, and something I don’t pay too much attention to because of some tomfoolery over the years: The Phantoms got all three stars of the game last night despite going all the way to the shoot-out to win. Usually the home team will grab at least one or two of them, warranted or not.
Here’s the highlight package from last night, Wilkes-Barre version:
Records:
Overall: 23-18-5-1 (5th Place in Division)
Regulation Wins: 12
Home: 12-8-2-1
Away: 11-10-3
White Jerseys: 12-7-1
White-Out Jerseys: 1-1
Orange Jerseys: 6-5-1
Black Alternate Jerseys: 3-2-2-1
Black-Out Jerseys: 0-1-1
Black on Steel Gray Jerseys: 1-2
Fridays: 7-5-2
Saturdays: 9-6-2
Sundays: 0-3-0-1
Wednesdays: 6-1-1
Tuesday/Thursday: 1-3
Sunday 3/3: 0-2-0-1
Post-Game Player Event Day: 2-1
October: 2-3-1-1
November: 7-3-2
December: 4-7-1
January: 8-4-1
February: 2-1
Roster And Transactions
LW Anthony Richard returned in time for last Saturday’s game, from Philadelphia in exchange for F Jacob Gaucher. Gaucher was returned to the Phantoms on 2/8 along with D Emil Andrae and F Rodrigo Ābols while the NHLers break for the ‘Four Nations’. As the week went on, F Sawyer Boulton and D Gianfranco “JoJo” Cassaro were sent to Reading, signaling reasonable health in Allentown.
G Keith Petruzelli remains with the Phantoms signaling that Peterson is not ready to return from a lower-body injury. Kolosov remains in Philadelphia Belarus. Dude didn’t come back to Allentown for Four Nations break, just went home. Let’s see if he finds his way back or not. Many outlets with conjecture about him staying there to play in the KHL.
Lines last night at Casey Plaza:
17 Wilson 22 Gardner 74 Wisdom
90 Richard 18 Ābols 72 Gendron
15 Lycksell 56 Gaucher 43 Eklind
13 Furry 73 Rizzo 27 Tuomaala
19 McDonald 7 Belpedio
6 Andrae 3 Grans
37 Ginning 5 Samson
31 Gahagen (Backup: 80 Petruzzelli)
Scratches:
8 Ben Gleason, 16 J.R. Avon, 20 Cooper Marody, 32 Eetu Makiniemi, 40 Cal Petersen, 55 Xavier Bernard, 91 Elliot Desnoyers
Discussion: I’d have a hard time scratching a healthy Avon if only because he’s so good in the shoot-out. Gleason, Makiniemi, Peterson are the known injuries.
Here’s a new thing the Phantoms are doing on YouTube. It’s really good.
GAME DAY!
It’s Margaritaville Night along with Saturday Night Hockey Live and a bucket hat giveaway to boot! The weather will keep some folks away, but trust that the game will go on as long as the players and officials are in town, and they should be given the timing of the forecasted weather event.
The Syracuse Crunch are visiting, AHL affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning. They are 20-16-7-4 with 16 regulation wins. They lost Wednesday in overtime in Toronto but won 5-1 last night in Rochester. This is their third road game in a row and they come in on a 3-game point streak.
Veteran goon Kale Kessy is on this team, so a fight is a distinct possibility if he’s in the lineup tonight. Veteran defender Derrick Pouliot you’ll recognize from his salad days with Wilkes-Barre as well as his bullfighter impressions (olé!) during the 2021 shortened season with the Phantoms.
The Phantoms beat the Crunch 3-2 in overtime back on January 4. This is their first visit to 7th and Hamilton this season; they’ll return on Friday, March 21.
Syracuse is among the worst power plays in the country at this level, home or away. Their PK is a bit better, rising to top-10 as a road unit.
Going To The Game: Plan some extra time for travel and plan to park under cover given the forecasted weather. Tickets may become more inexpensive on the secondary market as game time approaches and folks decide to stay home. Also arrive a bit early and use a major entrance for the best chance at the giveaway. Gates will open at 6:00PM for all fans, 5:45PM for premier season members. The band will play before warm-ups as well as during the second intermission. Expect the “show” to start at 7:05 but you’ve probably got until 7:15 before you start missing actual hockey.
MEDIA KIT
OFFICIALS
Referee Riley Brace (#49)
Referee Jack Hennigan (#58)
Linesperson Josh Cleary (#45)
Linesperson John Rey (#16)
Scouting the officials: I called a “officials watch” for last Saturday and it turned into nothing and the Phantoms played horribly anyway. Tonight, Brace sticks with the team after being on the ice last night in Wilkes Barre correctly calling a goal when Rizzo got checked into the goalie. My other notes for him are “letting them play” and “confusion.” Hennigan I do not have any notes.
Photo: Jack Mitroka
What To Watch
- Watch for Petruzzelli in net. Gahagen has been tremendous lately, but we’ve got another game tomorrow and he’ll have his notes for the rematch with Wilkes. Think of it, our top three goalies to start the season are gone: Kolosov, Peterson, Makiniemi.
- Watch for a bunch of folks with Hawaiian shirts on during a snow storm
- Watch to see if a couple of the scratches from last night get some ice time today in advance of tomorrow afternoon’s game. Marody, Desnoyers, Avon Bernard. If any of them are scratched again tonight it could signal an injury concern and something to watch tomorrow.
- Watch for the Phantoms to shut down their putrid power play. And, if they don’t, watch for the Phantoms to lose the game.
- Watch to see how the Crunch look after playing three road games in four days. The Phantoms should have better legs and be able to control play.
- As above, watch for a fight if that goon Kessy is out there. Probably Wilson unless he has the night off.
- Watch to see how many folks brave the weather to watch some hockey
Up Next
Tomorrow is one of my favorite games of the season, meLVin’s Birthday. I know it’s mostly for the kiddos but I like seeing all the mascots and watching the hijinks when they play hockey during the intermission. I like to mess with Tux. I look forward to seeing Ferrous and FeFe from the baseball side. I’d love to see the Crazy Hot Dog Vendor from Reading baseball; that would be funny.
Then, the team heads out on the road for their Midwest Road Trip. Two in Grand Rapids, Michigan, followed by one in Rockford, Illinois and one in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
They’ll return home on Friday, February 28 for two in a row versus Bridgeport in a Groundhog Day-type scenario.
See you at the arena,
@Kram207