Bridgeport is in town, and that’s a bad thing? It’s Saturday Night Hockey Live! and it’s cold outside. Do you feel appreciated? Let’s do that hockey!
Story Time
Years ago when the Phantoms first came to town, my younger son was going to a game with me, early in the season. It was nice outside and he jumped in the car wearing shorts and a T-Shirt. I briefly explained that the arena would be chilly because of the ice. “What ice?” he asked. I reminded him of why they call it ice hockey. “That’s not real ice,” he said.
Of course, it is real ice. And the arena can be chilly. And it’s cold outside, too, now. Be safe out there.
The Way We Were
When we last saw the Phantoms on home ice last weekend, they took a losing streak into a game against Hershey on Saturday. They quickly gave up two goals in the first period. Hershey fans in my section were dancing. Two early fights did not help us. Then, after the first intermission, someone turned the dial to “goals.” The Phantoms scored three in the second period to take the lead, 3-2. Of course, they had to give up the tying goal with seconds left on the clock, but were able to pull out the overtime victory to get back in the points column and stop the losing at least for one night.
With the week off to get things together, the Phantoms headed to Springfield Mass last night. Once again they gave up two early goals. Both with Springfield on the power play. The Phantoms’ PK unit is ranked 31 out of 32 in the entire AHL with but a 0.3% advantage over Abbotsford. The Hamilton Street Heroes were able to get one goal back on a Tomasino power play goal, but could not find the equalizer and the game goes in the loss column by a 2-1 score.
Records and Standings
Record: 20-17-2-2
Standings: Fifth place in the AHL Atlantic
Home: 10-7-1-1
Away: 10-10-1-1
Recent: 4-6 in the last 10 games
Overtime: 4-2
Shootout: 4-2
Friday: 4-8
Saturday: 12-2-0-2
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: 4-6
White “Road” Jerseys: 8-4-1-1
Black with Orange “Alternate” Jerseys: 4-5-1-1
Orange “Home” Jerseys: 5-4
“Black-Out” Jerseys: 0-1
“Faux-Back” Keystone Black: 2-2
Charcoal Gray “Forgotten Preseason”: 1-1
Post-Game Fan Event Game: 2-0
Player Update
G Aleksei Kolosov and D Hunter McDonald have returned from Philadelphia. Perets and Johannes head back to Reading, while Golder gets the call up to the Phantoms.
Then today, Kolosov was called back to Philadelphia and Pederson was returned to the Phantoms.
Lines Last Night In Springfield
72 Gendron 26 Tomasino 12 Kaplan
90 Richard 23 Dorwart 20 Marody
9 Golder 56 Gaucher 43 Eklind
17 Wilson 74 Wisdom 22 Robertson
3 Grans 59 Bonk
19 McDonald 82 Guenette
37 Ginning 15 Kyrou
35 Kolosov (Backup: 64 Bjarnason)
Notes: Bonk returned from injury. Bump still out. Murchison out longer term. Rizzo also injured.
Bridgeport, Again
It’s not just the Phantoms having problems beating Bridgeport these days, as they’ve risen to 6th place in the division and are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. The Phantoms have lost their last several games against this team, though, so hopefully they figure it out tonight. The Islanders affiliate does not have a terribly good power play, so perhaps it’s time to get the PK going. While not officially official, the Islanders plan to move their AHL affiliate to Hamilton, Ontario next season so look for a new team on the schedule, an extra trip or two to Canada, and a couple more renditions of O Canada.
GAME DAY!
Show time is 7:05PM but knowers know that the hockey will start at 7:16PM or so. Gates at 6PM, but event time for Premier Members starts at 5:30PM on the concourse with some free snacks and music.
Premier Member Appreciation Game: I wrote about “Fan Appreciation Day” promotion back during baseball season. (Read it HERE) If you are a “premier member” then you should have received an email about the promotions for tonight. If not, reach out to your rep or let me know and I’ll forward mine. There are many perks and benefits for having season tickets (or, “Premier Membership” as it were), do you think what they’re doing tonight is one of them? Did they do enough? Could they do more? Should they even bother? Around here, we’ve been season ticket members since day 1–and we’re not expecting to feel terribly appreciated tonight. And that’s ok.
Parking: Consider deck parking as lots and streets have snow.
Tickets: Widely available. Check secondary market for folks unloading tickets so that they don’t have to go out in the cold.
Media Kit:
Officials:
Referees: Jack Young (#24), Patrick Hanrahan (#52) Lines: Patrick Dapuzzo (#57), Ryan Knapp (#73)
What To Watch
- Watch for Bjarnason in net. Probably Perets will return to back him up as Kolosov went to Philly this morning unless he’s up to backing up two games in one day…
- Watch the PK. Who’s out there? Who looks like they’re out of position, turning the puck over, or just generally incompetent?
- Watch to see if the Pederson return jump-starts the offense.
- Watch to see if Bump can make it back.
- Watch to see if we continue with those gray jerseys.
Up Next
Another Sunday matinee game, this time with Wilkes Barre, to close out the 3/3. Don’t know if we think we’re Hershey now or something. At least I don’t have to miss football. Maybe out to dinner after the game?
Then Wilkes again on Friday and go to Bridgeport before the All Star Break.
See you at the arena
@Kram207
Not proof-read or edited to expedite post time.
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