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?

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

10-9-10 Phantoms @ Albany: Phantoms 5, Devils 3, plus weekend wrap-up

I wasn't able to watch the Phantoms/Albany tilt live. However, I was pleased to see that we've earned the first win of the season, defeating Albany 5-3.

Here is the coverage of Saturday's games in The Post-Star:

Phantoms' efforts pay off in victory
Phantoms Forum: Phantoms 5, Devils 3 (FINAL)
Phantoms Forum: Postgame: Phantoms 5, Albany 3

Here is the box score from the AHL's 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 @ 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 @ Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 11-04-09: Pregame

I won't be able to watch the entire game online, so I will post comments afterward.

Phantoms defenseman Logan Stephenson is suspended for 1 game because of his late-game-fight in Sunday's contest. That's why David Sloane was recalled from K-zoo.

Go, Phantoms!

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 @ 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 @ Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 10-18-09, Third Period

Nodl is on the bench, but he has not come out with either the third or the fourth lines. Not sure if that means he's in the Coach's Casa del Cane, or if he's gotten dented. We shall see. And right on cue, there goes Ross out with Clackson and Klotz.

Clackson is going off for slashing, however, so the next thing we'll see is the Phantoms' PK unit.

NICE stop by Boucher. The Phantoms have done well at closing down Bridgeport and limiting their opportunities, but the Sound Tigers just got a nice shot through and Boucher was equal to the task.

We're back to even strength, and we are starting to get some end-to-end play. We're not a team that's built for a river-hockey style, so I hope we can go back to just shutting down the opponent.

Whoops, there goes a delay-of-game penalty against Bartulis. I never did like that infraction. (See: my previous Phantoms blog, where I griped about its existence repeatedy.)

Phooey, and I have even less reason to like that penalty, as the Sound Tigers just scored to make it 3-2. Now all of a sudden Bridgeport and their fans are awake again, insead of just going through the motions. We have 6:25 left in the period, so it's time to buckle down and not let the Sound Tigers back in.

Eee, we get a scramble in front of our net with under two minutes left. The fans get loud, but the puck stays out. We end up icing the puck with 1:04 left, so the Sound Tigers pull their goalie for the faceoff in the Phantoms' end. They also take their timeout.

Ross is out to take the draw. Boooosh! We clear the puck, sending it out slowly enough to avoid another icing. Bridgeport has five forwards and one D out there. Another clear IS called icing, but it was close to not being icing and Gilbert is not pleased.

Yet another faceoff in our end, and this time we carry the puck out and SCOOOORE! Kolanos! 4-2 Phantoms with 19 seconds left!

And the Phantoms win! 4-2 is the final score! I can hear Ross being announced as a star of the game, and I can also hear Phantoms fans who are in attendance cheering. :) The stars are:

#3: MacDonald (BRI)
#2: Boucher
#1 Ross.

We got 5 out of a possible 6 points this weekend, and we have raised our record to 3-2-1-0. Well done, Phantoms!

Phantoms @ Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 10-18-09, Second Period

Early on, Ross tried to check someone only to find that the ref feels the puck was too far away. He gets whistled for interference. Coach Gilbert begs to differ, but the call stands.

So we do the PK thang with Matsumoto, Laliberte, Mormina, and Marshall.

Shortly after we return to full strength, Jason Ward gets banged up during a check. The trainer checked him out, but it appears he is staying on the bench. His shoulder or his arm appeared to be the issue at the time. Here's hoping it's nothing to be concerned about.

Beaulieu, Klotz, and Clackson are a line now that we are dressing 12 forwards. In the gaes when we have dressed 11 forwards, Klotz and Clackson have been combined with the centers from the other three lines.

Boucher is looking good, particularly given the fact that he hasn't played in weeks, nor in a Real Game since last season.

The Phantoms are about to get a PP, though for a few moments nobody knew who was headed to the sin bin. Both penalty box doors were opened at one point. But in any event, here we go on th man advantage. Ward, Kolanos, and Ross are out. So far we have given up two SH rushes, but we took the puck back and SCOOOORE Ward! Looks like his arm and shoulder are good, eh? That was his 100th career AHL goal. WTG! 3- Good Guys! Assists from Ross and Ratchuk. I Spy with my Little Eye a multi-point game for Ross. Nice!

Kalinski, Kaspar, and Nodl are the other forward line. And they are working hard to get the puck out of our end. Finally, they succeed and we can get a line change. Ross's line is buzzing the B'port net in a big way. I don't know how Lawson managed to freeze the puck, but if we hadn't, Ross was right there waiting for the rebound.

Now we're having another "is there a penalty?" moment. Long story less long, Joensuu goes to the box and the Phantoms get a PP. Bridgeport is doing a great job of clearing the puck out, and the Sound Tigers kill the penalty. At the end of the period, we had Beaulieu out with Kalinski and Kaspar, prompting the radio announcer to wonder if Nodl has been moved to the fourth line. We'll see what happens in the next frame, though, as the second period is now over.

The Phantoms lead 3-1. SOG are Phantoms 25, Sound Tigers 20.

Phantoms @ Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 10-18-09, First Period

I spent the first few minutes of the game having issues connecting. I got the game and the correct audio just in time to see Bridgeport score a PP goal. Brian Boucher is in goal for the Phantoms, as he's down for a conditioning stint.

Moments after the goal was scored, the Phantoms went on the PK again.

On the PK, we have Bartulis with a defenseman I can't see, Ross with Nodl.

Boucher is wearing #34.

Hey, the B'port arenavision, which is the source of the online video stream, is showing a family that was awarded a prize of orange Sound Tigers sweatshirts (and, if they're using a promotion similar to what we did in Philly, probably a seat upgrade as well). The shirts have just the team logo on them. If anybody's listening from the Adirondack front office, please make similar sweatshirts available for the Phantoms: just the logo, no words. I would happily buy one.

OK, back to the game after the radio timeout. We have Ratchuk with Bartulis as one of our D pairs. Last night, the Phantoms played six D for the first time, and Ratchuk was one of the scratches.

The Phantoms are about to get their first PP of the game. Bartulis, Ratchuk, Laliberte, Matsumoto, Maroon. SCOOOORE! Maroon ties it... we think. It could possibly have been Laliberte. So of course the announcement says.... MATSUMOTO from Bartulis and Laliberte. LOL. Nice to see Matsy get off the schneid with his first goal of the season. Hopefully, Ross will follow suit.

I would like to see the video stream get off the schneid, as it keeps freezing up. I want to see moving pictures, not a hockey slide show.

SCOOOOOORE! Ross! LOL, he heard me typing a couple paragraphs ago. :) Good for him! 2-1, Good Guys! Assists to Kolanos and Bourdon.

Boooosh! :) Nice stop!

Marshall/Mormina is an even strength D pair. Marshall's usual partner, Jones, is today's veteran scratch. Bartulis/Bourdon is another pair. So that leaves Curry/Ratchuk, as we have six D dressed today. Lines include Ross/Ward/Kolanos and Matsumoto/Laliberte/Maroon.

Aaaand Bourdon gets called for a trip when someone stepped on his stick. Bah. PK time. Ross/Kalinski with Marshall/Mormina. We did a god job of getting the puck out of our zone early on. And again, we clear. Now we have Nodl, (can't see who), Curry, and Bartulis. Matsumoto/Laliberte come out to replace the forwards after a stoppage in play. Oh, we get a scramble in front of our net, but we survive it with our lead intact. Bourdon exits the sin bin, marking the end of a solid penalty kill, and the horn sounds moments later to end the first period.

The Phantoms lead 2-1. SOG at the end of the period: Phantoms 12, Sound Tigers 12.

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!