The Phantoms picked up an overtime victory and a shootout loss in a series on the road in Charlotte this week. They’re now 12-11-4-1 on the season and sit seventh in the Atlantic Division.
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Samu Tuomaala
Tuomaala registered a goal and assist on Thursday. He has seven points in his last six games and is up to 25 points in 28 games on the season, tied for the team lead with veteran Cooper Marody. Tuomaala just continues to improve, even now that he’s been moved away from Laczynski and Lycksell, the trio that was leading the way before the latter’s recall, which is a great sign that he can adapt and succeed on his own.
Emil Andrae
Andrae posted three assists, one of which was on the powerplay, in two games this week. Don’t look now, but he’s on a five game point streak where he’s racked up two goals and eight points. Andrae is absolutely cooking these days, and given the stale point production from the main roster’s defense, could be carving out a reason to return to the NHL sooner rather than later.
Tanner Laczynski
Laczynski posted two goals and four points in two games this week. His days as a “prospect” with the Flyers may be over, but he’s easily having the best season of his professional career. He’s posted 22 points in 23 games through the 2023-24 season, it should pique the interest of other teams during the 2024 free agency period for a much needed fresh start.
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Wade Allison
Allison scored a goal on Friday, it was his sixth of the season and fourth in December. Similar to Laczynksi, it’s clear the organization has moved on, but Allison has worked himself back into the classic form fans are familiar with after an uncharacteristic bad start.
Olle Lycksell
Lycksell had the primary assist on Thursday’s overtime winner. It was his first AHL game since December 3rd and first game action since December 7th when he played six shifts for the Flyers before spending two weeks in the press box. Lycksell is still a top producer for the Phantoms, and despite the fact that his future with the Flyers seems bleak after repeatedly being refused opportunities, he’s a huge piece for a Lehigh Valley team that needs all the help they can get producing offense.
J.R. Avon
Avon scored the game-tying powerplay goal on Thursday. The 20-year-old rookie now has 10 points in 22 games and has clearly earned some trust from the coaching staff. So even though his offense is coming in streaky, and for the most part is taking up residency on the third line at 5-on-5, there could be a bright future for Avon.
Felix Sandstrom
Sandstrom picked up the W on Thursday with an overtime victory making 21 saves on 23 shots. Now that Sandstrom is back and playing regularly and finding a rhythm, the Phantoms are getting the consistently good player he has always been at the AHL level.
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Elliot Desnoyers
Desnoyers has been centering the third line flanked by Samu Tuomaala and J.R. Avon, two of the hottest players on the team and he still has just one point (an empty net goal) in his last seven games. The sophomore slump is real for Desnoyers as his four-goal, 10-point performance in 24 games on the season is uncharacteristic at best, and a serious hiccup in his development at worst.
Zayde Wisdom
Wisdom scored the teddy bear toss goal back on December 9, and hasn’t posted a point since. In fact, that goal remains his only point of the season. He was seeing an uptick in his ice time with Lycksell recalled, but his still stuck on the fourth line with very little usage elsewhere.
Ethan Samson
Samson picked up an assist on Friday, it was just his fourth point of the season. The 20-year-old’s rookie season continues to be rough, and even in the absence of Helge Grans, he’s still struggling to gain momentum in the lineup. Not all is lost for Samson, but he’s definitely a front runner for most disappointing rookie in Lehigh Valley this season.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
brotherlypuck.com 