Final score: Penguins 3, Phantoms 1

Oliver Lauridsen makes it 3-1, very late in the third period. Good job! Assist: Holmstrom.

With 14.7 seconds remaining in the third period, the Phantoms go on the PP.

But the Phantoms are unable to score with a 5 on 3 advantage in the final seconds of the period. Final score: Penguins 3, Phantoms 1.

Click here for the Phantoms' official game recap.

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 at Binghamton Senators, 11-26-09: Postgame

Um, OUCH. Wow, the Phantoms had a rough go of it in Bingo, losing 7-0 to the Senators on Thanksgiving night.

I'll get the postgame coverage in here during the weekend.

In the meantime, in Friday afternoon's Flyers game, Jared Ross was injured because of a check from behind. Jonathon Kalinski was recalled from the Phantoms. He'll join the Flyers in Atlanta on Saturday.

The Phantoms have the second of a 3-games-in-3-nights on Friday night at home vs. the Hershey Bears, followed by a game on Saturday vs. the Bears in Hershey.

Phantoms at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins: Postgame

Neither the Flyers nor the Phantoms had a good day, as they both came out on the wrong end of 3-1 scores on the road. In the Phantoms' case, the opposing team was the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

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

There aren't Post-Star blog posts about the game but HERE is the game article from the Post-Star.

HERE is the game recap from the Phantoms site.

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 @ Albany River Rats, 11-7-09: Postgame

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

HERE is the game article from the Post-Star.

HERE is the post on the Post-Star Phantoms blog.

HERE is the game recap on the Phantoms website.

Phantoms @ Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 11-04-09: Postgame

Well, THAT turned into a nice comeback win. The Phantoms scored three unanswered goals in the third period to take a 4-2 victory. :)

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

HERE and HERE are game articles from the Post-Star.

HERE is the post on the Post-Star Phantoms blog.

HERE is the game recap on the Phantoms website.

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 @ Toronto Marlies 10-30-09: Postgame

(This post will be brought up-to-date as the content I plan to link to becomes available.)

HERE is the box score for this game from the AHL's site.

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

HERE and HERE are the game coverage from the Post-Star's Phantoms blog.

HERE is the game recap from the Phantoms website.

Phantoms at Albany River Rats, 10-24-09, Postgame

HERE is the box score of this game from the AHL's site.

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

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

HERE is the game recap from the Phantoms' site.

Here are the video links to the fights during the game:

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 @ Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 10-18-09, Postgame

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

HERE is the article from the Post-Star site.

HERE is the coverage from the Post-Star's Phantoms blog.

HERE is the game recap from the Phantoms website.

And here is a fight between Matt Clackson and Joel Rechlicz, which I apparently missed during those first few minutes when I was trying to establish an internet connection:

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 @ Syracuse Crunch, 10-10-2009, Postgame

Unfortunately, my attempt to listen to the online stream was an abject failure, as I couldn't get the darn stream to cooperate until halfway through the third period.

However, as the final score was Syracuse 6, Phantoms 1, it doesn't take a Sherlock Holmes to infer that the Phantoms had a rough go of it tonight. Ouch.

For more information:

HERE is the box score on the AHL site.

HERE is the game blog on the Post-Star site.

HERE is game article on the Post-Star site.

HERE is the coverage of the game from oursportscentral.com.

HERE is the game recap on the Phantoms website.

And here are some YouTube videos of Matt Clackson's two fights:

Phantoms vs. Springfield Falcons, 10-09-2009, Postgame

Here is the link to this game's box score on the AHL's site.

Here is the game recap from the Phantoms website.

Here's the game article from the Post-Star.

Here is the postgame writeup for the game on the Post-Star's Phantoms blog.