Hockey Night returns as the Phantoms try to pull themselves out of a funk. It’s game 2 of a 3/3 weekend. Utica is in town.
Photo: Jack Mitroka
When We Were Here Last Weekend
The Phantoms went 1-1-1 on the road trip from New England to Wilkes-Barre following a home win versus Rochester.
Back on 11/15 they lost a tie game with less than a minute to go, to the hated Bears, by turning the puck over in their own zone and giving up the game-winner. Last Saturday, with a one-goal lead and having just missed an empty net, the Phantoms failed to win the puck or clear the zone and gave up the game-tying tally. Then, they lost in the shootout without sniffing the net. That’s four really possible standings points that they turned into one. Not ideal heading into the current funk.
Having lost the first three games in the Wilkes Barre series this season by exactly the same 4-1 tally, the Phantoms took it up a notch and lost 6-2 last night on Casey Plaza. Onlookers described the Phantoms as “lazy and indecisive.” There were some fisticuffs near the end of the game–significance to be determined.
The Phantoms are 1-3-0-1 in their last five games.
Records and Standings
Record: 11-7-1-2
Standings: 3rd Place (Hershey looming)
Home: 5-2-0-1
Away: 6-5-1-1
Recent: 1-2 on the road, lost a shootout at home, lost in Scranton in regulation
Overtime: 2-1
Shootout: 1-2
Friday: 4-3
Saturday: 5-1-0-2
Sunday: 0-1-1
Sunday 3/3: 0-0-1
Wednesday: 2-2
October: 5-3-0-1
November: 5-3-1-1
December: 0-1
White “Home” Jerseys: 5-2-0-1
Black with Orange “Alternate” Jerseys: 3-2-1-1
Orange “Away” Jerseys: 3-2
“Black-Out” Jerseys: 0-1
Post-Game Fan Event Game: 1-0
Roster Update
- D Maxence Guenette arrived from Ottawa/Belleville, but it appears he hasn’t played any hockey thus far in the 2025-26 season. He comes the trade of D Dennis Gilbert, who was not a good fit with this organization. Guenette may be the victim of some visa issues and such. Stay tuned. He’s wearing #82.
- Sevigny and Boulton off to Reading
- D Adam Ginning, here on conditioning, passed through waivers and was assigned to the Phantoms.
- D Oliver Bonk, 2023 First Round draft pick injured during training, was removed from the injured list and assigned to the Phantoms. He is wearing #59 and has not played yet.
- D Carter Berger off to Reading
- F Carl Grundstrom recalled to Philadelphia in light of the Tyson Foerster injury.
- Boulton back from Reading.
Lines Yesterday in Scranton:
21 Bump 25 Pederson 52 Barkey
90 Richard 56 Gaucher 12 Kaplan
72 Gendron 23 Dorwart 20 Marody
17 Wilson 74 Wisdom 22 Robertson
37 Ginning 3 Grans
19 McDonald 5 Samson
4 Murchison 15 Kyrou
35 Kolosov (Backup: 64 Bjarnason)
Scratches:
36 Sawyer Boulton
43 Oscar Eklind
59 Oliver Bonk
82 Max Guenette
Welcome Utica
[If you’ve been here a while you know this is the spot where I rant about how much I hate the Devils franchise and what they’ve done to the fine Utica organization and their previously outstanding uniforms.]
Utica is 4-12-2-1 and in last place in the AHL North because their parent organization is horrible. Old friend Kyle Criscuolo is on this team. D Seamus Casey is a prospect. As is F Lenni Hameenaho. F Shane Lachance is highly regarded.
Utica’s power play is horrible. Their penalty kill is just bad.
Utica beat Bridgeport at home last night, 5-1. No rest advantage for either team.
GAME DAY!
Saturday Night Hockey Live! It’s meLVin’s Holiday Party so expect plenty of holiday activities tonight!
Premier Members: 5:45PM Doors at 7th Street entrances. 6PM all gates. Show at 7PM, expect a holiday-theme intro tonight? 7:15PM Hockey.
Parking: The Archer and Arrow both have shows tonight. Nutcracker at Symphony Hall at 5:30PM. These will impact parking somewhat.
Tickets: good seats are plentiful for tonight’s game.
Promotion: Holiday Party. Santa. Live music. Youth knit cap giveaway.
Media Kit (rosters, stats, etc.): Utica Game 2025
Officials: Refs: David Elford (#56), Jake Kamrass (#3) Lines: Davids Rozitis (#62), John Rey (#16)
What To Watch
- Watch for Bjarnason in net tonight. How does he look? Our goal play doesn’t seem to be improving at the rate one might expect from two guys who are considered prospects. What do you think?
- Watch to see if “sloppy and indecisive” is the way they are playing tonight. Can they clean that up?
- Watch to see if the late fights last night have any impact on the play tonight.
- Watch to see if Bonk or Guenette make their season debut tonight. How do they look?
- Watch to see if the Phantoms do anything with regard to a holiday jersey or holiday warm-up.
- Watch for the annual holiday-them intro/hype video/light show.
- Watch out for Santa. Because you know he’s watching you, huh?
Up Next
Phantoms head to Hershey for the obligatory Sunday matinee tomorrow at 3PM. Next weekend they head to the Northern Tier to face Syracuse and Rochester. Our next home game is the following Wednesday, 12/17, when Springfield comes to town, which will lead off six games in a row at home.
See you at the arena,
@Kram207
Featured Image by Jack Mitroka. It has been cropped to fit the space.