Hallelujah, the streak is over! Phantoms win in OT!

Hallelujah! The Phantoms won 4-3 in OT! Thank you, Denis Hamel for tying the game with 1:55 left, then scoring the winner in overtime!

Must have been the prayers from the people in the house for Faith and Family Night that put us over the top. :-) I wonder if we can get them all to attend the rest of our games this year?

New coach, Same Results: Losing Streak Reaches 10 Games

The results speak for themselves, and they're not saying anything pretty.

The Phantoms have welcomed John Paddock into his second stint as head coach with a 5-1 loss to the second-worst team in the league, the Toronto Marlies. In seven of the ten losses in this streak, we have given up 5 or more goals. In ALL of the losses in the streak, we've given up at least four goals. We haven't earned a standings point since an OTL on October 16.

I posted about replacing Gilbert with Paddock the day before the team pulled the trigger on precisely that move. For my next feat, I predict that trades and reassignments are going to be the order of the day. Some guys are going to be headed to the ECHL or out of the organization entirely. Speaking of which, I read a rumor a few days ago that we would see Maroon moved this week, but so far, that hasn't come to fruition. Here's hoping we get someone back who can help us, STAT. When it's crisis time and we're not even to Thanksgiving yet, you know your hockey team's having a rough year.

Phantoms' losing streak continues; Denis Hamel comes to ADK; Eric Wellwood makes Flyers debut; More on Maroon's departure

The Phantoms lost their seventh consecutive game on Saturday, to Rochester. Read about it, as well as Paul Holmgren's comments on Pat Maroon's status, HERE. There is also a transcript of Holmgren's interview HERE. Patrick Maroon will not be returning to the Phantoms; Holmgren is exploring other options, including trade or reassignment to the ECHL.

Maybe we can loan him out to another AHL team. (Preferably NOT one in our division, as that could come back to bite us in the caboose.) I've seen us loan players out to other teams, and then accept others on loan in return. Surely there'll be at least one other AHLer somewhere in the league who could use a fresh start in a new organization. That would be the first place I would look to send Maroon, be it by loan or by trade, with the intent of receiving said other player back in return. Whatever happened, it's a downright shame that matters had to reach this point. I thought Maroon brought a lot to the table on the ice, and this team sorely needs any and all contributions right now as they attempt to get back on track. According to THIS post, Jon Kalinski and Stefan Legein were "warned" to straighten up and fly right, or face a similar fate to Maroon's.

There IS some good news to report on the player front. Denis Hamel, an AHL veteran who had a brief (7 games) stint with the Flyers a few years ago, has been signed to a PTO. He's spent the past few years with the Bingo Sens. He has a track record of community involvement in Binghamton, including winning the AHLs Yanick Dupre Award as the league's Man of the Year, so I'm sure Senators fans will hate to see him go. I think a veteran of his on- and off-ice caliber will be a huge boon to the team right now. Read more about him HERE.

In other good news, Eric Wellwood made his NHL debut last night, as the Flyers will be without the services of Danny Briere (suspended) and Andreas Nodl (injured) for the next several games. He looked terrific. I can honestly say that no observer would have been able to guess that it was his first NHL game, if they hadn't already been aware of that fact, solely from watching him play. I thought for sure that he was about to get his first NHL assist, at one point, but the puck didn't cooperate by going into the net. Heck. On the other hand, if he keeps playing as he did last night, his first NHL points will be listed among his stats by the time he returns to the Phantoms.

Phantoms dismiss Patrick Maroon, extend losing streak to 6 games

I'm entirely bewildered to log on today and see that, along with losing the sixth straight game last night, the Phantoms have dismissed Patrick Maroon. He is "pending reassignment", according to coach Greg Gilbert. That could mean anything from a loanout to a trade to a buyout, so stay tuned.

What. The. Bleep. I hate to see us lose our current top scorer, especially since goals have been supremely hard to come by in the team's first nine games. He was slated to be a mainstay of the team this year, which makes the news that much more jarring.

The Post-Star has articles here and here. The Broad Street Hockey site has THIS to say on the subject.

I'm pretty well floored by this news, to be honest. Our front office had better come up with some scoring punch ASAP to replace what Maroon would have brought to the team this year. I was expecting him to have a breakout season, or at least a make-or-break one as he's a prospect in a contract year. So much for that idea.

Significantly, both Paul Holmgren and John Paddock were in attendance in Glens Falls last night. The Flyers had a game in Pittsburgh at the same time, which (as I found out earlier this week) is actually closer to Philadelphia than Glens Falls is. In any event, it's not a small matter for Homer and Paddock to make an appearance at a Phantoms game when the Flyers are playing as well. I'm trying hard to remember if it ever happened when the Phantoms were in the Spectrum, and I can't. The Flyers brass were normally with the Flyers on their game days, not the Phantoms, even when we were only right across the street. Of course, when both teams were in Philly, they also both PRACTICED in the same building, so the Flyers brass had ready access to the farm team at nearly all times (barring road trips for one or both teams). So they wouldn't have had to make a 288-mile pilgrimage to make their point by showing up in person.

All I can say is, with the way the Phantoms are slumping, GOOD that Holmgren and Paddock watched the team with their own eyes last night. I hope they stuck around in Glens Falls for tonight's game, too (though the Flyers have a home game tonight). I *want* the front office people to see firsthand just what the Phantoms need to field a competitive team. And right now, we need plenty.

Back-to-back 5-1 losses. Ouch. Also, game recaps, podcasts and weekly report updates

I haven't had the chance to listen to/watch the last couple of Phantoms games. The stream for their radio station has been down-and-out for over a week, and I haven't been home to watch the games online.

However, I can say that we lost to the Charlotte Checkers (former Albany River Ratw) at home on Friday night, 5-1. Jon Matsumoto, who was traded to Carolina over the summer, had a goal and two assists, and was the second star. I still can't figure out why the Flyers never even gave him a cup of coffee in the NHL. Then we played in Hershey on Saturday night, and lost 5-1 again. Ouch. Without having seen the past couple of games, I can't vouch for what we did well or poorly, but the scoresheets suggest that there are at least some things that we'll do well to work on in our next practices.

Sorry for the delay in posting... my health has not been ideal lately, and it's been getting in my way at times. The good news is, when I have surgery next month, it'll be all over but the recovery, but until then, I'll keep plugging away the best I can.

I have a couple of podcast links, courtesy of The Post-Star:

Phantoms Podcast, Episode 3
Phantoms Podcast, Episode 4

Here is the Phantoms Weekly Release, Week 2 from the Phantoms website.

Recaps of games that were played between the previous post and now:

October 12: Phantoms @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton; Penguins 2, Phantoms 1
October 15: Syracuse @ Phantoms; Phantoms 3, Crunch 2
October 16: Albany @ Phantoms; Devils 4, Phantoms 3, OT
October 17: Phantoms @ Rochester; Americans 5, Phantoms 2
October 22: Charlotte @ Phantoms; Checkers 5, Phantoms 1
October 23: Phantoms @ Hershey; Bears 5, Phantoms 1
October 24: Phantoms @ Hershey; Bears 4, Phantoms 2

Phantoms vs. Hamilton Bulldogs 12-18-09: Postgame

There were a lot of instances of the number 4 in this game. Hamilton went into the game with a league-leading four shutouts, and incremented that total by blanking the Phantoms 4-0. It was the fourth time this season that the Phantoms have been shut out.

This game marked John Grahame's debut with the Phantoms. He gave up a goal that he'd probably like to have back on the first shot of the game. Then, near the end of the period, Hamilton scored shorthanded on an odd-man rush that Grahame had no chance on whatsoever. The score remained 2-0 until late in the third period. Unfortunately, my flipping video stream went kaput at the start of the third period, so I saw nothing of the final frame, and eventually reverted to listening to the radio stream. So I never saw the third or fourth goals against; I do know, from the play-by-play, however, that the final goal deflected in off one of our defenders, so that sounds like another one that the netminder had no opportunity to stop.

I can't believe how much trouble this team has had scoring this season. I watched several of the guys who were on the team last season score goals in bunches -- now those same guys are, by and large, wringing sawdust (or composite dust, I guess) out of their sticks trying to find the back of the net. Maybe what some of them should do is look at videos of their goals from last season. If doing that gives them even a few small hints as to what they were doing when scoring wasn't at a premium, then it will be time well-spent.

Anyway... here are the relevant links for the game.

HERE is the box score on the AHL site.

HERE and HERE are the entries on the Post-Star Phantoms blog.

HERE is the Post-Star's coverage of the game.

HERE is the Phantoms site's game article.

Tonight, the Phantoms play in Worcester. It will be our second and final time meeting the Sharks this season; our first time was the heartbreaker of a last-minute loss at the Phantoms' home opener. Freaking Worcester scored with 11 seconds left to win that game. Time for some REVENGE. Go Phantoms!

Phantoms vs. Toronto Marlies, 11-18-09; Postgame

Revenge is a dish best served cold, as they say. This time, it was served on ice. The Phantoms were shut out by the Marlies when the teams met in Toronto recently. Tonight, the Phantoms returned the favor and shut the Marlies out 2-0 3-0 in Glens Falls.

HERE is the box score from the AHL's site.

HERE and HERE are the Post-Star's blog posts about the game.

HERE is the game article from the Post-Star.

HERE is the game recap from the Phantoms site.

Phantoms vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 11-14-09: Postgame

Well! This was a nice bit of good news. Not only did the Phantoms win the game 3-2, but Nic Riopel chalked up his first professional win into the bargain. WTG, Phantoms!

(I *still* don't like shootouts, but I do like wins so I'll take the two points.)

HERE is the box score from the AHL's site.

HERE and HERE are the Post-Star's blog posts about the game.

HERE is the game article from the Post-Star.

HERE is the game recap from the Phantoms site.

Phantoms vs. Binghamton Senators, 11-13-09: Postgame

Ouch. The Phantoms had a rough go of it at home on Friday the 13th. It was a "we must have walked under a ladder while breaking a mirror and spilling salt" sort of night. Binghamton clobbered us 5-0. I was hardly online at all during the day, so the pregame post never got sent. However, here's all the postgame news that's fit to print, so to speak:

HERE is the box score on the AHL's site.

HERE is the game article from the Post-Star.

HERE and HERE are the blog posts from the Post-Star Phantoms blog.

HERE is the game recap on the Phantoms site.

Phantoms vs. Syracuse Crunch, 11-01-09: Postgame

HERE is the box score from the AHL's website.

HERE is the game article from the Post-Star.

HERE, HERE and HERE is the coverage on the Post-Star's Phantoms blog.

HERE is the game recap from the Phantoms website.

Phantoms vs. Syracuse Crunch, 11-01-09: YEAH!!! Matsumoto scores SH Penalty Shot goal!

I am doing the Mummer's Strut in my dining room, as Jon Matsumoto just scored on a penalty shot during a Phantoms penalty kill. 2-0 Good Guys! :)

P.S. Unless I've lost the ability to count, THIS box score is showing that we have only got 17 skaters dressed. The flu is running rampant through the locker room.

Phantoms vs. Syracuse Crunch, 11-01-09: Pregame

I won't be able to live-blog the game in depth.

You can listen to the game audio online for free, either on WNYQ's stream or at AHL Live.

For a fee, you can watch the game on AHL Live.

Tim McManus, the Phantoms' beat writer, posts in-game Twitter updates HERE and blogs HERE.

From the above-mentioned Twitter feed, I see that Jared Ross has dressed and is warming up with the team, as is Johan Baclund. Kalinski is not on the ice, however, and Michael-Lee Teslak has been returned to Elmira.

We owe the Crunnch a good crunching after they lambasted us 6-1 in Syracuse a few weeks ago.

Go Phantoms!

Phantoms vs. Hartford Wolfpack, 10-23-09, Postgame

HERE is the link to the game box score on the AHL site.

HERE and HERE are the posts on the Phantoms blog on the Post-Star site.

HERE is the article about the game from the Post-Star.

HERE is the game recap from the Phantoms site.

And HERE is the Klotz-Soryal fight:

Phantoms vs. Hartford Wolfpack, 10-23-09, Third Period

I missed the first few minutes of the period, this time because Hubby's computer connection was acting up. I got back in time to see the Phantoms go shorthanded. Halfway through the PK, Backlund takes a puck off the mask but it stayed out (and play continued, so it's fortunate he's OK). We have killed the rest of the infraction. The score remains 3-2, Phantoms.

BACKLUND! What a stop! :) Great save! Make that TWO great saves, actually. NICE work by the backstop!

We spent a lot of the earlier part of the period in the Hartford end, but now the WolfPack seem to be getting their act together and they're finding ways to get some rushes going. BACKLUND! NICE glove save! Fortunately, we have been able to keep Hartford from getting lengthy stays in our end, but even in their brief visits to our zonoe, they've generated some dangerous opportunities in this period and Backlund has had to be alert.

Locke has drawn a penalty against Lehtivuori, so we're on the PK. OK, Phantoms, play for blood on this penalty kill, because we don't need to spot Hartford the tying goal. Matsumoto, Laliberte, Marshall, and Curry are out for us. We're back at even strength now, but Hartford keeps finding ways to duump it into our end and chase it. We need to match, or preferably exceed, the WolfPack's desperation.

3:05 left in the third now, and Matsumoto is out with Laliberte and -- whoa, wait, Mormina is hauled down and crashes into the Hartford net. A PP for the Phantoms will ensue. Lehtivuori and Curry are out with Matsumoto, Laliberte, and Maroon. We actually spent the latter half of that PP in our own zone, and the man advantage comes to an end.

Hartford is playing with more and more intensity as the game progresses, and now we're in the final minute of the game. Hartford has pulled their goaltender, and as Backlund freezes the puck, Hartford calls a T/O. The WolfPack will have an offensive-zone draw, so the two head coaches are plotting strategy with their respective teams. Kalinski and Matsumoto are out with Laliberte (two centers). Hartford has 5 forwards and one D. Matsy wins the draw and we clear the puck. Hartford dumps it back in deep and it's ICING, holy cow. 1.7 seconds remain, and the faceoff will be in the WolfPack end.

The puck drops, and the Phantoms win the game shortly thereafter, 3-2! The Phantoms are in first place in the East Division! NICE. Our next game is tomorrow night in Albany at 7 PM.

Phantoms vs. Hartford Wolfpack, 10-23-09, Second Period

While shorthanded, the Phantoms got multiple chances to score, including a breakaway situation where I can't believe the puck stayed out. Hartford's goaltender, Johnson, is penciled onto my "Star of the Game" list. The Wolfpack would be trailing by multiple goals by now if not for his heroics between the pipes.

Yet another breakaway at even strength and SCOOOORE! Matsumoto! Fantastic!

There's a giant scrum now behind Hartford's net, after someone shoved Ross and Ross shoved back. The Phantoms didn't take too kindly to seeing someone rough their Captain, and the WolfPack weren't too thrilled at seeing their teammate get mobbed. When the dust cleared, the Phantoms ended up shorthanded for two minutes.

Matsumoto makes a diving play to clear the puck. NICE! Now Legein has yet another SH breakaway, AAAH he hit the POST! That was this-close to being our first SH goal of the year! I am astonished at the number of shorthanded breakaways the Phantoms have gotten. Pleased, mind you, bu astonished. ;)

We're back to even strength now, just in time for the radio timeout. The faceoff will be to Johnson's right. We have 12 minutes remaining in the second period.

BACKLUND! OMG we nearly gave up the tying goal, but Backlund got it and our D pounced into the crease behind him, lest the puck slip behind him into the net. All's well that ends well, and we are still leading 2-1.

Kaspar gets tripped, though without the infraction he would have had a clean breakaway. So the Phantoms are back on the PP with Ross, Ward, Kolanos, Lehtivuori, and Mormina for our first shift. Ward is parked in the slot AAA SCRAMBLE AT THE CREASE and the dang net gets knocked off its moorings. Poo. We were generating nice pressure. OK, now it's Bourdon, Bartulis, Maroon, Laliberte, Matsumoto. SCOOOOOORE BARTULIS on the powerplay! 3-1 Phantoms!

Not long afterward, Bartulis has to go to box and feel shame for two minutes. It takes Hartford moments to score on the PP. Backlund stopped the initial shot, but Hartford got the rebound and slammed it in. 3-2, Good Guys.

That's twice we have given up PP goals... though I'm beyond pleased at the SH scoring chances we've gotten, I would rather see us not giving up goals when we're killing penalties.

Dagnab it! The puck hits the ref's skate, causing the Phantoms to go offside. Ratsin' Fratsin' Dratsin' Sufferin' Succotash. Ross would have had a nice chance. Well, we get the puck into the Hartford zone after the ensuing faceoff. We have about a minute left and the WolfPack's Locke takes a roughing penalty. The Phantoms are now going on the PECOOOOO POWERPLAY. :) But the period ends with the score still at 3-2 in favor of the Phantoms.

Phantoms vs. Hartford Wolfpack, 10-23-09, First Period

I barely had time to get set up for posting, before Laliberte drew first blood 1A:20 into the first period! SWEET! One by one, our top scorers from last season are getting their first goals in the past couple of games.

Brian Boucher has returned to the Flyers, and was their backup last night.

Stefan Legein, the newest Phantom, is on a line with Kalinski and Kaspar. Nodl is centering Klotz and Clackson.

Speaking of Klotz, he just had a heavyweight bout with a Hartford player whose name I'll have to look up. From the sound of it (I only have the audio going at the moment), he did well.

Clackson is going off for holding soon afterward. Hartford proceeds to score a PP goal. 1-1 on an east-west play that Backlund had no chance of stopping.

Now I have the video, and I'm just in time to see Hartford go on a PK of their own several minutes after their goal. The Phantoms are in the midst of a very active PP, but the puck seems to refuse to go in the net. On the other hand, moments after we returned to full strength, Hartford took a tripping penalty and we are going back on the PP. Hartford's goalie is putting on a clinic right now; he just STONED Jared Ross.

Hmmm. I detect a Revlon Special (makeup) penalty against the Phantoms, leaving us with 27 seconds of 4 on 4 hockey and then a Phantoms PK.

But here goes Kalinski with a SH rush. The Hartford defender dives to strip him of the puck, but Legein is the trailer and he picks up the now-loose puck and fires on net.

Soon after that, Kalinski takes the puck from out zone on a full-on SH breakaway. His shot goes wide. But he and Legein keep battling and get some more shorthanded shots. Ross is the next one to break out on the PK. We seem to be getting more scoring opportunities while shorthanded than Hartford is getting on their man advantage.

Boy, AHL Live must be overloaded with people taking advantage of the free games tonight, because the flipping video keeps stopping and starting. Time for me to resort to the audio again until the video unfreezes.

Aaaand I am able to reconnect a grand total of ONE second before the end of the period. The score is 1-1, and the Phantoms will be shorthanded, I didn't get to see why, when the second period begins.

Phantoms vs. Hartford Wolfpack, 10-23-09, Pregame

Both audio and video for tonight's Phantoms game are FREE! So if you're online and reading this, and the game is in progress, hurry and tune in!

THIS is the audio link.

THIS is the video link. You have to register in order to watch the game, but thre's no fee to watch the game tonight.

Enjoy! Go Phantoms!

Phantoms vs. Albany River Rats, 10-17-09, Postgame

Due to prior commitments, I was not able to view the game online. However, I had the audio stream on my cell phone, so that even in the midst of what I was doing, I could hear in the "background" that the Phantoms fell behind 1-0, remained trailing for most of the game, tied the score late, and lost in OT.

WOW, was the crowd noise loud when that tying goal went in. I expect to see that the game was a sellout, judging from the volume alone. Of course, the opponent was Albany, which is about 40 miles away, so I presume that at least some of the crowd was comprised of River Rats fans.

Both teams wore a special jersey which they'll don for games vs. one another all season long. They are competing for the Time Warner Cable Cup, which will go to the team that wins the 12-game Phantoms/River Rats series. Shades of the Keystone Cup that used to be given to the PA team that did the best (out of the Philadelphia Phantoms, Hershey Bears, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins).

HERE and HERE are the posts to the Phantoms Blog in the Post-Star.

HERE is the Phantoms article from the Post-Star.

HERE is the game recap from the Phantoms site.

HERE is the box score from the AHL site.

Phantoms vs. Hershey Bears, 10-16-09, Postgame

HERE is the Post-Star's coverage of the Phantoms/Bears game.

HERE and HERE are the game-related posts on the Post-Stars Phantoms blog.

HERE is the game recap on the Phantoms website.

HERE is the box score on the AHL's site. I see that the first star, deservedly, is Johan Backlund, with the other two stars going to the Phantoms goal scorers.

I can't say enough good things about how the Phantoms withstood Hershey's offensive pressure last night. In particular, the team stood tall when we were at a one-man disadvantage, both while killing penalties, and near the game's end when the Bears had the goalie pulled for the extra attacker. It started with the goaltender Backlund, which is only natural as a team's success starts with the goalie and moves outward from there. However, the rest of the team deserves to share credit for their good work, especially while playing outnumbered. Given the propensity that AHL referees have for calling a lot of infractions, keeping pucks out of the net while shorthanded is something that we, and all teams, have got to master. Last night's results show that we are capable of holding fast under those conditions.

On to our next game, at home vs. Albany tonight. We and the River Rats have special jerseys that will be worn for all the Adirondack/Albany contests this year, and those sweaters will debut tonight.

GO PHANTOMS!

Phantoms vs. Hershey Bears, 10-16-2009, Third Period

We go on the PK early on. Ross, Nodl Marshall, Mormina are out. We get some scrambling going on in front, but Nodl blocks a shot and we get a nice clear soon afterward. Kalinski, Beaulieu, Bartulis, and Curry are out. Jiminy Cricket, the moment the penalty expires, Bartulis is getting sent off. SIGH. So we are immediately back killing a penalty. Matsumoto, Laliberte, Jones, and Marshall are out. Nice clear and we get a line change in. Nodl gets the puck and carries it all the way to the Bears end, killing more time. Bleeping heck, on the next rush into the Phantoms end, Beaulieu goes to clear the puck and his stick breaks. Fortunately, we manage to get the Bears to go offside so we are able to dodge that bullet.

The penalty ends, and Kane (former Phantoms captain) takes some whacks at the goalie after Backlund covers the puck. Ross takes some punches and we have a ten-player shoving match at the boards behind Backlund. No penalties are called.

After the faceoff, we head in to the Bears end and make life interesting for Neuvirth and company. SCOOOOORE KEVIN MARSHALL! His first pro goal! Someone saves the puck for him. :) Phantoms 2, Hershey 1! Marshall from Ross and I think he said Ward.

Another penalty is coming up against the Phantoms. The Bears are going on their 5th PP, as opposed to the Phantoms' only having one man advantage. Jones sits. I hate when we lose our PKers to penalties. Kalinski, Beauleau, Bartulis, and Curry. Lots of congestion in front of our crease for a bit, but it doesn't come back to bite us. BACKLUND with a great pair of saves! Egad. Faceoff with 26 seconds left in the PK. Ross gets hauled down on a rush out of our zone, NO CALL. For gosh sakes! We live to kill the penalty, at any rate. 7 minutes and change are remaining in the third period. SAVE Backlund! He freezes it, and we keep having trouble getting the darn puck out of our end once we have the defensive zone draw. Oh, here we go, they must have heard me typing, because we finally get the heck into the Bears end.

But Hershey keeps tilting the ice down toward Backlund. They want to even the score and they're turning up the heat a lot. At last, we get back to Hershey's end, only to go offside and trigger a media timeout. Everyone gets a breather as the radio stations do their thing.

Just under 5 minutes remaining. Every time we get the puck out, Hershey winds up with the disk and they bring it right back to our end. Aggravating. Now we've iced it. We need to win this draw. Kalinski doesn't quite get it, but Backlund makes TWO phenomenal saves, point-blank and back to back. Highlight-reel material!

Oh, HOW is THAT icing vs. the Phantoms? For goodness sakes. Maroon was RIGHT there, and the bench and the fans vigorously disagree that the Bears reached the puck first. Ratsin' Fratsin' doggone icing. Back to our end we go. Again.

Now Ross and his line are getting the puck out, but we just can't seem to maintain possession in the Hershey end once we get there. This issue is cropping up no matter which line we have on the ice right now. 1:50 left in the game and we get a 3 on 1. Dang it, no dice. An insurance goal would have ben nice. Back to our end and Matsumoto blocks a shot. Then we get some chaos in our end and the bears pull the goalie. Come on, guys, 30 seconds left. YOu can do this! Oh, THANK GOODNESS. Boy, that was a hairy ending to the game, but the Phantoms hang on to pull off the win.

Looks like the SOG were tweaked for Hershey in the second period, as now the box score says the shots at the end of the second frame were Hershey 17, Phantoms 12. But we're still waiting to see the final shot tally, as well as the stars of the game. I think Backlund should be a star, for sure, because some of his saves as the game progressed definitely kept us in this game. Absolutely no doubt about it.

The Phantoms now have improved their record to 2-2. This game is a superb win, considering that we held on and prevented one of the best teams in the league, not to mention the Calder Cup champion team, from coming back to tie the game. Hershey threw everything but the proverbial kitchen sink at our net, and they were unable to get the equalizer. We can take a LOT of good things away from this victory.

But we can't revel in it too long, as we have our new regional rivals in town tomorrow night: the Albany River Rats will be in the GFCC.

The final SOG total was just announced during the postgame show: Hershey 27, Phantoms 15. Good job, Phantoms! Now exterminate some Rats tomorrow night!