Snowmaggedon 2026 doesn’t start until after midnight, so get out to the hockey game and see if the Hamilton Street Heroes can regain their mojo versus the Hershey Bears. The losing streak is at 5.
About Last Night
Sometimes it’s just one of those nights. For young goalie Carson Bjarnason last night was that night. Unfortunately, it came at a time when the Phantoms are trying to regain form and stop the bleeding of the losing streak. Three of the first four shots the Checkers took ended up behind Bjarnason. Perets came on in relief and the black and orange were able to score a few of their own, but it wasn’t enough. The final score is down to two empty net markers at the very end.
On the bright side, the Phantoms only allowed three power plays on the night and were able to kill off all of them. They even scored a couple power play goals themselves. The Checkers are a fast team. Not fast like the precision passing we’ve seen from some of the better Scranton teams or the skating and spacing of some of the best Toronto teams we’ve seen over the years; it was more frenetic. They move their feet for sure and move along at a velocity most Phantoms players cannot match. Beating them in the future will entail some better passing and puck handling than we saw last night, as well as some better netminding.
Hershey passed the Phantoms in the standings with their shootout loss against Wilkes last night. They’ll come in trying to avenge the shutout loss they endured last time they took the ice at the PPL Center. It was so satisfying to send the rude Bears fans home without even a goal to cheer for. Hopefully that wasn’t the pinnacle of our season.
On the jerseys: The Charcoal Gray “Forgotton Preseason” as I call them, debuted last season when we didn’t see the normal pre-season sweaters. The assumption around here was that they didn’t come in time for the preseason games so they just used them for a couple weeks over the winter. Then, they mostly disappeared, if perhaps one or two ended up at auction, but we didn’t see the full set. Now, they return. They’re pretty nice, if a bit simple, just like the preseason shirts we used to see in the first several years of Lehigh Valley tenure.
Charlotte and their travel issues: We kid. It’s probably Hershey that cancelled the game between the checkers and bears tomorrow in chocolatetown due to potential travel issues for fans and stadium personel and not wanting to play in an empty area. I guess Charlotte try to catch a flight back right after their game tonight in Wilkes-Barre? Either that, or they’ll be in Pennsylvania until at least Monday. Also, I still recall how we got lectured over on the Noise Nation site when we suggested that weather could possibly impact hockey games. We were admonished that it would never happen. Golly.
Records and Standings
Record: 19-16-2-2
Standings: Fifth place in the AHL Atlantic
Home: 9-7-1-1
Away: 10-9-1-1
Recent: Lost 5 in a row
Overtime: 3-2
Shootout: 4-2
Friday: 4-7
Saturday: 11-2-0-2
Sunday: 2-3-1
[Sunday 3/3: 0-1-1]
Monday:.0-1-1
Wednesday: 3-3
October: 5-3-0-1
November: 5-3-1-1
December: 5-5-1
January: 3-5
White “Road” Jerseys: 8-4-1-1
Black with Orange “Alternate” Jerseys: 4-5-1-1
Orange “Home” Jerseys: 5-3
“Black-Out” Jerseys: 0-1
“Faux-Back” Keystone Black: 2-2
Charcoal Gray “Forgotten Preseason”: 0-1
Post-Game Fan Event Game: 2-0
Players
Alex Bump continues to miss time with an injury that was deemed “week to week.” Oliver Bonk was a surprise scratch last night due to illness.
GAME DAY!
It’s Saturday Night Hockey Live! so expect some entertainment perhaps as you arrive, as well as during the second intermission.
Game Time: 7:05PM Show, 7:17PM Hockey
Doors: 6:00PM Public, 5:45PM Premier Members
Tickets: Good seats still available. Monitor secondary market if there are folks who don’t want to come out tonight they might list their tickets.
Parking: Could be tight as folks flock to parking decks to avoid having their cars covered in snow later tonight.
Broadcast: In addition to the Usual Suspects of streaming audio and Service Electric, tonight’s game is on WFMZ-69 as well.
Hershey: Nine-game point streak, but 4-1-3-2 over last 10–only 4 wins only 3 regulation.
MEDIA KIT:
OFFICIALS:
Referees: Jarrett Burton (#78), Rob Hennessey (#87) Linesperson: Kirsten Welsh (#10), Bill Lyons (#27)
What To Watch
- Bjarnason get back on the horse?
- Can we play some defense, please?
- Continue to avoid penalties and kill it when you can’t?
- Will folks stay away due to the incoming storm?
- Watch to see if injured and ill players can return.
Up Next
Off for the week, then 3/3 next weekend: Off to struggling Springfield on Friday night; return to PPL Center for Saturday versus Bridgeport (ugh) and Sunday versus Penguins affiliate to open February.
See you at the arena,
@Kram207
Be First to Comment