What is it called when you give up a power play goal, an even-strength goal and a shortie, in a row, in one period? A Lemieux Hat Trick is if you score all of those yourself. If your team gives them up? Let’s call it a “Natural Snowden.”
About Last Night
What started as an exiting game became very frustrating in the stands as the uninspired Phantoms limped their way to a 5-2 loss after leading 2-1 at the first intermission. 6824 in the stands last night for a poor effort. Defenders out of position, special teams with no urgency, and goalie Carson “Bjarny Rubble” Bjarnason trying to make every save with his hands so that he doesn’t have to move his feet. It was a very disappointing effort returning to hockey from the All Star Break. Kyrou took the -3 as the bottom ranked player, but at least he had the correct jersey on this time. F Alex Bump returned to play, but was not terribly noticeable on the ice. Hopefully he’s healthy and working his way back.
The Phantoms debuted the “orange out” kits last night. Plenty of black on them, which makes us like them more than the previous “color rush” orange.
Records and Standings
Record: 21-21-2-2
Standings: Fifth place in the AHL Atlantic, leading Bridgeport by one point
Home: 11-10-1-1
Away: 10-11-1-1
Recent: 0-4 Streak; 2-8 in our last 10!
Overtime: 4-2
Shootout: 4-2
Friday: 4-9
Saturday: 13-4-0-2
Sunday: 2-4-1
[Sunday 3/3: 0-2-1]
Monday:.0-1-1
Wednesday: 3-3
October: 5-3-0-1
November: 5-3-1-1
December: 5-5-1
January: 5-6
February: 0-4
“Winter Semester” Xmas to All Stars: 7-11-1
White “Road” Jerseys: 9-4-1-1
Black with Orange “Alternate” Jerseys: 4-6-1-1
Orange “Home” Jerseys: 5-5
“Black-Out” Jerseys: 0-2
“Faux-Back” Keystone Black: 2-2
Charcoal Gray “Forgotten Preseason”: 1-1
“Orange Out” 2026: 0-1
Post-Game Fan Event Game: 2-0
Syracuse
The Crunch were in Wilkes-Barre last night where they pasted the 32-12 Penguins 5-0. The Monsters who beat us easily last night will head up to Wilkes-Barre today. It should be interesting to see what the outcome looks like.
Syracuse is the AHL affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and is in second place in the AHL North. They have a very good power play, but their PK is fair to middling. Old friend Brendan “Fuzz” Furry is on this team. D Ethan Samson ended up here after engineering his way out of town earlier in the season.
GAME DAY!
Game Time 3:05PM; Doors 2:00PM; Members: 1:45PM
Promotion: Post game photos with the players. Look for a map and line up for your favorites ahead of time if you like. It’s Olympic Weekend and Orange-Out Weekend so keep the orange going! Will I be on “Team Green” again tonight, or will I be re-assigned?
Parking: Meters are free in the city on a Sunday, but there may be special rules close to the arena. YMMV, I don’t feel like leaving my car on the street with the snow and associated detritus, so I’ll be in the deck even if they make me pay.
Tickets: A little tight, but there are good seats available and some deals on the secondary market if you shop around.
Media Kit:
Referees: Bobby Jo Love (#51), Koletrane Wilson (#18) Lines: Josh Cleary (#45), Richard Jondo (#55)
What To Watch
- Looking for Kolosov in net today. Is Bjarny Rubble taking over the G1 spot? Or, if Koly is under the weather perhaps Mr. Quick Glove No Skate will be back between the pipes.
- Watch to see if Bump goes back-to-back. If he’s still working his way back then perhaps not, but they’ve got all the way to Friday before they have to play again.
- Watch for some whole-sale lineup changes. If I’ve got hungry, healthy players on my bench then maybe today is time to sit some guys down to think about what they did last night. I’m looking for guys like Golder, Sevigny, Marody, Boulton and Schmidt. We believe Rizzo is injured, and we know Murchison is out long-term.
- If Boulton is in the lineup look for him to start a fight within the first two minutes. Not saying he isn’t a tough guy, just that’s his way of proving that he doesn’t want to go back to Reading.
- We’re certainly not counting on anything around here, but if this Syracuse team thinks they’re going to just walk in here and coast to two points, perhaps they have a surprise coming. Or, maybe they don’t. That’s something to watch. I could see another 5-0 game involving the Crunch–in either direction!
- Watch Pederson, Tomasino, Richard and Marody if he’s out there. Those guys are the veteran scorers and they have to have the mind set to produce a point per person every single game. Gaucher too, to an extent, as well as the young Gendy.
- Bonk has to play because he’s a prospect, but we’d get him with a more responsible veteran. Ginning or McDonald would be fine. Bonk’s penalties have been mostly of the Soft/Sloppy variety. He needs to play with urgency, and clean that up, at the same time. Tough sometimes, we know, but that’s the job.
Up Next
Two in Hershey next weekend. Home for Providence the following Wednesday.
See you at the arena,
Maybe,
@Kram207
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