The Phantoms went 1-1-0 this weekend, bringing their season record to 10-9-4, currently sitting sixth in the Atlantic Division.
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Wade Allison
Allison scored an unassisted powerplay goal on Saturday, it was his second goal and third point in his last four games. Allison’s confidence has returned and the coaching staff has reciprocated with regular top six minutes and powerplay time. Someone is finally utilizing Wade Allison in a role that he excels at and seeing positive results? Huh. What a novel concept.
Adam Ginning
Ginning had his second AHL fight on Saturday, also wearing an “A” on his jersey while Tanner Laczynski was out of the lineup. On the whole, Ginning’s 2023-24 season hasn’t been quite as impressive as his 2022-23 outing was, but he’s been tasked with the top shutdown minutes on the team and is doing an admirable job all things considered. They clearly respect his presence on the back end and he was rewarded with an impromptu alternate captain designation.
Felix Sandstrom
Despite taking the L on Friday, Sandstrom made 23 saves on 25 shots. It was the best game of the season for him and the first in which he posted a save percentage above .900. Sandstrom has nearly two months of rust to shake off between a prolonged stint in the Flyers’ press box and a minor injury, so it’s good to see the Sandstrom of old finally return after only three games in the last three weeks and just five on the season.
Ronnie Attard
Attard picked up an assist on Elliot Desnoyers’ ENG on Saturday. He now has six points in his last six games and has a noticeable pep in his step lately. It’s got to be frustrating for Attard, who has been on the outs of an NHL roster spot, but his recent upward trajectory coming before the trade deadline could possibly earmark him for a recall if and when main roster pieces are sold.
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Zayde Wisdom
Wisdom scored his first goal (and point) of the season on Saturday, triggering the teddy bear toss. It was a cool moment for a player who deserved a positive coming his way. Unfortunately, he’s been strapped to the fourth line in a grinder role this season and only saw an uptick in deployment due to Lycksell’s absence, so it may be awhile before he lights the lamp again.
Samu Tuomaala
Tuomaala has served as one-third of the red hot Phantoms’ top line along with Olle Lycksell and Tanner Laczynski, both of whom were absent from the team this weekend. Tuomaala managed to record an assist on Saturday and had some bright spots around the net, but on the whole struggled to replicate his results without his partners in crime on an otherwise anemic offensive squad. He has 19 points in 23 games on the season.
Elliot Desnoyers
Desnoyers scored the empty netter on Saturday. It was the second goal in his last three games, but just his fourth on the season. Desnoyers is high on the “most disappointing” list in 2023-24 compared to his record-setting rookie campaign in Lehigh Valley, but now that the points are starting to trickle in, maybe it’s a sign of better days ahead.
Emil Andrae
Andrae went pointless over the weekend. He took two quick penalties on Friday, and was in the box for the Bruins’ first, and subsequently game-winning goal. There has been quite a bit of visible frustration from Andrae lately. A snarl that wasn’t really in his game before. He’s got his plate full serving as the Phantoms’ top defenseman on a unit that in general has been underperforming and is still adjusting to the North American ice. Expect the mixed bag showing to continue until he can get past the learning curve he’s in the middle of dealing with.
J.R. Avon
Avon registered an assist on Saturday. It’s his third helper and eighth point in 17 games this season, which at face value may not seem impressive, but he has been all over the ice the last few weeks showing notable improvement during his rookie season. So despite the fact he really hasn’t seen an uptick in ice time, he’s making the most of the third line minutes he’s been getting.
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Olle Lycksell
Lycksell’s incredible start to the 2023-24 AHL campaign was rewarded with his first NHL call-up of the season…. where he played just six shifts against the Coyotes and was scratched against the Avalanche, and isn’t expected to play again for the remainder of his time with the big club. The fact he can have a level of success in the AHL where the Flyers are struggling and they flat out refuse to even attempt to give him an opportunity speaks volumes about how the organization views him as a prospect moving forward.
Helge Grans
Grans missed both games this weekend with an injury. It hasn’t exactly been a great season for Grans, and the injury coming the weekend after he scored his first goal of the season is the kind of unfair timing that matches the rest of his luck from the 2023-24 season.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
brotherlypuck.com 