Hockey Night in Allentown didn’t make it to yesterday afternoon’s game due to unforeseen travel issues. Translation: We didn’t feel like driving over there in the middle of the afternoon when football is on the TV.
Footnote on “Travel Issues:” Back when this column first started, on the NoiseNation pages, we were roundly scolded at the mere suggestion that a hockey game could ever be postponed. Golly. Oh, and let’s just get rid of Charlotte. Maybe there are folks with “tradition” reasons and 27 overtimes and all that, but this team gets more travel allowances than any–even more than when St. John was in the league–special playoff rules and all that. Rubbish. Can’t even align with the NHL team down the road. Off to the ECHL with you. [rant over]
From break to break: The Holiday break to the All Star Break isn’t exactly a third of the AHL season, but they are important time stamps for the flow of the games as the season matriculates. As the players return from their break, we have now entered the “middle-third” until the February 8 All Star Break, when we’ll head into the pre-trade deadline, the playoff roster preparation and the home stretch. It’s 17 games for the Phantoms to decide if they’re serious about contending this season, and to show the Flyers that they deserve the support down the stretch.
About Yesterday
The Phantoms took down the visiting, first-place Penguins affiliate in the shootout. Once again following a break, they came out slow, going down 0-2. But, two power play markers tied the game, they took the lead for a time, and survived some adversity in overtime to take it to the shootout. Robertson and Marody with the shootout tallies. Robertson, of course, the trade return for shoot-out hot shot JR Avon, so it all works out!
Highlights:
Records and Standings
Record: 15-11-1-2
Standings: 4th place, can jump Charlotte tonight
Home: 8-4-0-1
Away: 7-7-1-1
Recent: 2-2 on home stand; two straight shootout wins.
Overtime: 3-1
Shootout: 4-2
Friday: 4-5
Saturday: 8-1-0-2
Sunday: 1-2-1
[Sunday 3/3: 0-1-1]
Monday:.
Wednesday: 2-3
October: 5-3-0-1
November: 5-3-1-1
December: 4-5
White “Home” Jerseys: 8-3-0-1
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: 2-0
Roster Report
- F Anthony Richard is headed to Canada to represent his country in the Spengler Cup
- G Aleksei Kolosov had a trip the Philadelphia on emergency basis, but has returned, Carson Bjarnason went back-to-back last weekend in his absence.
- F Carson Golder has been called up from Reading. He has AHL experience with Manitoba and will wear #9. He’s 23 years old, and mostly a left wing.
- F Massimo Rizzo (#13), LW Hunter Johannes (#48), and G Yaniv Perets (#1) were added from Reading. A combination of a looming work stoppage in the ECHL (since resolved?) and the need for forwards with the Phantoms. Perets has since returned to Reading.
Lines Yesterday Vs. Penguins
9 Golder 25 Pederson 20 Marody
17 Wilson 23 Dorwart 22 Robertson
72 Gendron 56 Gaucher 12 Kaplan
43 Eklind 74 Wisdom xxxxxx
5 Zamula 82 Guenette
37 Ginning 3 Grans
4 Murchison 59 Bonk
xxxxx 15 Kyrou
35 Kolosov (64 Bjarnason)
Notes: Richard is with team Canada, Barkey is with the Flyers and it doesn’t look like he wants to come back, Bump is nicked up heard he could return after this weekend, but nothing solid. Unknown on Boulton, he had that fight the other day.
Enter Charlotte
Charlotte is affiliate of the Florida Panthers because, of course. I guess that’s why all their busses have summer tires. They are currently in third place in the division, but the Phantoms can leap-frog them with a win tonight. You’ll recognize long-time Checker D Trevor Carrick on this squad. G Louis Domingue has been in this league for a lot of years. #4 Forward Jack Devine is a Florida top prospect, as is #14 D Mikulas Hovorka. Charlotte’s power play is nothing special, but their penalty kill is top notch. They won in Hershey yesterday because they were able to travel to that city.
Royal Report
Reading currently is 15-11-2 and in second place in the North, and is 6-4 in their last 10. Their home schedule got kind of a late start due to some concourse updates at the Santander Center. We regret we haven’t had the chance to check it out just yet. Hopefully reports of the ECHL work stoppage resolution come to fruition and we can get back to hockey. And, good for those players. If people are paying to see you play, then you deserve to be treated like a professional. And if your goal is to move up the ranks, then you need to receive the proper tools to that end.
GAME DAY!
A rare Monday evening soirée. Let’s see how the team responds. Let’s see if Charlotte can find their way here from Hershey. Hopefully we can get a crowd…that was the first thing I thought of when I heard that Saturday would be postponed: They’ve been selling this weekend hard and a lot of folks might not want to come out on Monday night as opposed to the weekend. Now, it’s a holiday week so some folks are off, but still…
Tickets for tonight’s rescheduled contest should be widely available. However, there may be some difficulty with the ticketing system, and the secondary market is also wonky. Our advice would be to call the Phantoms on the phone and inquire. Or, even walk up to the window and you should be able to get decent seats. Keep your eye on secondary as some folks may be dumping their tickets close to game time.
Parking: Let’s see how they do collecting parking for an event on short notice. It might work to our advantage.
Pre-Game: Some restaurants and bars may be closed on Mondays. Check hours and availability before heading downtown.
Media Kit:
Officials:
Referees: Mike Sullivan (#47), Cole MacDonald (#96) Linesperson: John Rey (#16), Davids Rozitis (#62)
What To Watch
- Watch for Carson Bjarnason in net tonight.
- Watch for more holiday warm-ups on the jersey auction
- Watch to see who slots in at forward. Rizzo? Johannes? Boulton?
- Can Bump make it back? Still not sure the details of his injury.
- Given the lineup problems, is it to our advantage that we didn’t have to play on Saturday? We were being facetious above, but it’s possible. Plus, Charlotte has to play tomorrow in Wilkes-Barre, right? That’s a 3/3 on the road for them.
- Watch to see what kind of turnout we get for tonight. Crowded because the tickets were sold and everybody is off? No holiday parties tonight so more fans are looking for something to do? No school tomorrow and kids are home from college?
- Watch to see how Charlotte looks. All joking aside, this can’t have been easy for them (the players) and they had to play in Hershey yesterday.
- Watch to see if there’s any post-holiday sales in the new pro shop. I heard they have replicas of the holiday warm ups. Is that true?
Up Next
The Phantoms get a day off tomorrow, then back at it Wednesday afternoon for a “glow up” New Year’s Eve matinee. We like the idea rather than dragging people out later at night. Let’s see how it works!
Then, They’ll be off to Canada next weekend, and New England the following weekend before returning home January 16 with Bridgeport.
See you at the arena,
@Kram207
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