It’s Teddy Bear Toss at the PPL Center as the Phantoms look to get off the schnide. Hartford is in town.
About Last Night
The Phantoms only scored one regulation goal last night and haven’t scored more than 2 regulation goals in a game since November. Their scoring futility is exacerbated by their complete inability to generate scoring on the power play and their helpless attempts at killing penalties. They can fight a little bit, though, so that’s fun. Anyway, good thing we get that one goal, because they teddy bears need it!
The Phantoms lost 5-1 last night and this time they did not look disinterested. A bit disorganized, perhaps. Also, lacking confidence. Bjarnason has been the better of the two prospect goalies, hockey watchers tell us, but last night was not his best effort. It also wasn’t his fault, either, as the carousel of defenders left him without much protection some times.
Hockey teams go through these periods of ineffectiveness every season. It’s the coaching staff and the team leadership that need to find a way out sooner rather than later if we want to go someplace this season.
Records and Standings
Record: 13-11-1-2
Standings: 4th place, Hershey charging
Home: 6-4-0-1
Away: 7-7-1-1
Recent: 0-2 so far on 6-game home stand
Overtime: 3-1
Shootout: 2-2
Friday: 4-5
Saturday: 7-1-0-2
Sunday: 0-2-1
[Sunday 3/3: 0-1-1]
Wednesday: 2-3
October: 5-3-0-1
November: 5-3-1-1
December: 2-5
White “Home” Jerseys: 6-3-0-1
Black with Orange “Road” Jerseys: 4-3-1-1
Orange “Alternate” Jerseys: 3-2
“Black-Out” Jerseys: 0-1
“Faux-Back” Keystone Black: 0-2
Post-Game Fan Event Game: 1-0
Jersey Watch
Last night was the debut of the holiday warm-up jerseys. We’ll likely continue to see them until the New Year’s Eve game. Last night was also the home debut of the Keystone “Faux Back” black and orange. Here at “Hockey Night” we didn’t hate them as much as some folks, but we do have to ask, “Why, though?” They’re not particularly different from the “Black Out” shirts and they don’t appear to be particularly well-made or notable in any other way. Black and orange with no accents or extra patches or anything. What is the point of this? Trying to gin up some auction fodder?
Roster Update
The big news yesterday was the recall of F Denver Barkey to the Flyers. He could make his NHL debut as soon as tonight. D Egor Zamula passed through waivers and was assigned to the Phantoms. The flyers took Barkey with their open roster spot now that their defenders are healthy. Also, the rosters will lock for the holidays, so that was part of the calculus. We’ll see what happens after the holiday lock. We cannot say that Barkey isn’t ready or hasn’t earned the opportunity. What we don’t want to see is him sitting upstairs in a suite or stapled to the bench with no time on the ice to continue his development. Zamula will wear #5.
Injuries: Grans may be injured. No information; maybe he could be just the odd-man out with all the blue-liners coming and going. Bump was hurt early in the game last night and couldn’t continue.
Lines Last Night Versus Bridgeport
21 Bump 25 Pederson 22 Robertson
90 Richard 23 Dorwart 20 Marody
72 Gendron 56 Gaucher 12 Kaplan
43 Eklind 74 Wisdom 17 Wilson
37 Ginning 82 Guenette
19 McDonald 59 Bonk
4 Murchison 15 Kyrou
64 Bjarnason (Backup: 35 Kolosov)
Welcome, Hartford
It’s Hartford’s first of three 2025-26 appearances at PPL Center. We’ve already had our three in Hartford, where the Phantoms are 3-0 but Hartford is 0-1-2 having lost in overtime twice. You’ll see some familiar AHL names on this roster, but none that we would describe as an “old friend.” There is a defenceman who might resemble a road cone at times.
Hartford is 9-13-4-0 and in seventh place in the AHL Atlantic–not that it matters the way the Phantoms are currently performing. They lost to Syracuse at home last night, so there’s no real rest advantage other than that was their only game this week. They will be off for the holiday following this game, just like the Phantoms. Their special teams are poor to middling, which should feel familiar to us.
GAME DAY!
It’s Teddy Toss Night and it’s Saturday Night Hockey Live. Hartford is here. We’ve got a great game for you tonight (one can only hope.)
Gates at 6PM or 5:45 for Premier Members. Your bears will be screened at security.
It will be a busy one tonight, although some prime seats are still available. Some deals can be had on the secondary market if you’re willing to sit upstairs, but otherwise things are tight.
There are other events downtown tonight, so parking and traffic will be a little tight as well. Leave some extra time to get to the arena.
Media Kit:
Officials:
Referees: Ben Betker (#42), Mike Dietrich (#15) Linesperson: Dylan Blujus (#57), J.P. Waleski (#14)
What To Watch
- Get to your seat on time because sometimes the teddy goal comes FAST.
- Look for Kolosov in net tonight
- Watch to see if Bump can make it back for tonight’s game
- Watch to see if Zamula suits up tonight
- Watch to see if the team plays with some alacrity on special teams
- Depending on your seats, if your bear responsibilities have been satisfied, it’s a great time to go get something to eat or drink, or debate the relative quality of our new coach with fellow fans on the concourse.
- Watch to see who the musical act is. They should have some extra time to play while the bears are being cleaned up.
- Check out the new Pro Shop over in 99 Bottles if you have some extra time to kill.
Up Next
Players are off for the week, and many will return home or join friends and family at a destination. We wish them well in their travels.
We’ll reconvene right back here on Saturday 12/27 for our first look at Charlotte. We’ve got a Sunday matinee 12/28 and a New Year’s Eve matinee 12/31 which completes our home stand and the 2025 portion of our schedule.
See you at the arena,
@Kram207
Be First to Comment