Hockey Night In Allentown: Grievances 3/7/26

The Problem(s) With This Team

There’s some talent on this team, and that’s what makes them frustrating to watch.  But they don’t have a ton of team speed as they often get out-skated to pucks or can’t break away.  They make up for it by being sloppy with the puck and getting pushed off the pucks too often.  Perhaps with some new players on the way in, we’ll see some improvements there.  Perhaps we’ll get to see some college and juniors players once their seasons are over.  But this is super frustrating.  Probably a lot of it can be down to coaching and development, but the players have to take it upon themselves to be detailed in their work, and we’re not sure they are.

Here’s what the coach had to say after the game:

Records and Standings

Record: 24-25-2-3

Standings:. Fifth place, by one point, as Bridgeport has been faltering

If The Season Ended Today (spoiler: it doesn’t):. Playoffs 1-1-1 with Hershey in the first round.

Home:  12-13-1-2

Away:  12-12-1-1

Recent:  3-6-0-1 in last 10 games

Overtime: 4-2

Shootout: 4-3

Friday: 5-10

Saturday: 14-4-0-3

Sunday: 3-5-1

[Sunday 3/3: 0-2-1]

Monday:.0-1-1

Tuesday: 0-1

Wednesday: 3-4

October: 5-3-0-1

November: 5-3-1-1

December:  5-5-1

January:  5-6

February: 2-6-0-1

March:  1-2

White “Road” Jerseys: 9-5-1-1

Black with Orange “Alternate” Jerseys:  6-7-1-1

Orange “Home” Jerseys: 6-6

“Black-Out” Jerseys:  0-2-0-1

“Faux-Back” Keystone Black:  2-2

Charcoal Gray “Forgotten Preseason”: 1-1

“Orange Out” 2026:  0-2

Post-Game Fan Event Game:  2-1

The New Guys

1. Boris Katchouk:  the left wing was a second-round pick of the Lightning back in 2016 and played with Syracuse before splitting time with the NHL team.  He then spent a couple seasons in the NHL with Chicago before splitting the 2023-24 season with Ottawa.  67 games with Wilkes-Barre last season he posted 21/28/49 and this season it was back to Tampa.  Then Syracuse. Then Minnesota via Iowa.  It’s a nice addition, but he’s moved around so much this season that it might be difficult to jump on the moving train.  Just like we’ve always liked Tomasino, he’s struggled at times with the Phantoms team.  He was in #61 last night. He’s 27 years old.
2. David Jirícek:  (WordPress doesn’t have the correct special characters for his last name, unfortuneately.). The big (6’4″) Czech defender is a former first round pick, 6th overall, of the Columbus Bluejackets.  He was then traded to the Minnesota organization in the 2024-25 season.  Between the Wild and the Bluejackets, he has had 84 games of NHL experience.  He’s only 22 years old and is said to have a big right-handed slap shot.  What hasn’t been clear is if he can skate at a high level or is interested in playing defense.  In 24 games with AHL Iowa this season he’s posted 2/8/10 and a minus-15.  He has some pedigree and is young, so a reasonable reclamation prospect for Brink.  He’ll be wearing #5.
3. Brett Harrison:  A right wing with some size, he’s still only 22 and has been a half-time player for the Bruins for the past three seasons.  He is a former third round pick of the Bruins out of juniors.  This season has seen his most regular playing time in 46 games posting 8/9/17 and a plus-6.  He came up as a center but profiles more as a winger for NHL purposes.  He’s said to be a good skater who plays a simple but sound game.  Given his age and his size, he could contribute to the Flyers in some manner, eventually. It looks like Harrison will wear #72.  We don’t know if we’ll see him this weekend as he has to travel and settle in with the team.

Ginning returned from the Flyers yesterday after press time and the Phantoms went with 11F/7D last night.  Denver Barkey was “paper moved” to keep him eligible for the AHL playoffs.  Emil Andrae was not.  Jackson Edward is a 22yo defender who came from the Bruins as well, but is likely headed for Reading at this juncture as an ECHL/AHL up and down guy.

The Departed

1. Bobby Brink  We like Brinker of course and always wanted to get some sort of Brink/Bump/Bonk line going.  And, although he was playing reasonably well for the Flyers, he didn’t fit perfectly and was about to start costing more money.  If there’s one thing the Flyers don’t need it’s to be up against the cap with no great players.  Around here we think it was a reasonable deal.
2. Alexis Gendron  We thought Gendy was a good piece for this team, but this season his play seemed to fall off as he was looking to score goals more than retrieve pucks or contribute on defense.  Others have mentioned some examples of some selfish play recently, as well.  A change of scenery probably a good idea.
3. Massimo Rizzo  Just never could stay healthy and contribute consistently at the AHL level.  Another change of scenery candidate whom we wish well.

Deslauriers was traded for a seventh rounder, which we predicted based on them locking Garrett Wilson up to fill that role if necessary.  Ristolainen stays put, much to some folks chagrin.  He’s signed for next season as well, and teams are allowed to have good players.  If you’re immediately trading away every single good player you start to become the Pittsburgh Pirates.  His value might have been at a peak, but he’ll still be moveable later if necessary.  Also, it’s not like Bonk has been pushing.  He may go up eventually, but if he were ready to step in as a top pair defender, then Risto would have been more expendable right now.

GAME DAY!

Saturday Night Hockey Live and thank goodness it’s not June 7th or this 6-7 stuff would be even more unbearable.  Let’s try to win a hockey game.

Checkers:  This is the 10th road game in a row for Charlotte, and while we might feel sorry for them, remember they get special treatment during the playoffs.  Also, as this is “getaway day” for them to return home, perhaps they’ll be less motivated to beat us at hockey?

Game Time: 7:05PM.  Puck Drop: 7:17PM

Tickets:  Widely available including some mild discounts on the secondary market.

Promotion:  Live music before the game and at the second intermission

Broadcast:  TV via AHL.TV or Service Electric in the Lehigh Valley.  Audio via the app or on Fox Sports lehigh valley radio.

Media Kit:

checkers 3

Officials:

Referees: Nolan Bloyer (#95), Mike Dietrich (#15) Linesperson: Davids Rozitis (#62), Bill Lyons (#27)

What To Watch

• See if the team can clean up the ugly turnovers and sloppy play with the puck.
• See if they can continue to shut down the Checkers power play, and stay out of the box
• Watch to see if Bjarnasson can hold up against the shots of Charlotte
• Watch to see if Bump can make it back to the lineup; he was out last night
• Watch to see if any of the other new guys are in the lineup.
• Check the records above for Friday games and Saturday games.  Perhaps a good opportunity to get a couple points tonight.

Up Next

At Bridgeport tomorrow to complete the 3/3 this weekend.  Next weekend the reverse, away Friday Saturday before a home Sunday matinee with the Penguins.

See you at the arena,

@Kram207