The Phantoms lost both of their games this weekend, one in regulation and one in a shootout, dropping their record to 17-16-5-2 and they remain seventh place in the Atlantic Division.
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Bobby Brink
Brink scored three goals in two games this weekend. Two of those goals came on the powerplay as he was filling in for the recalled Olle Lycksell. Lappy said it would give Brink “tons” of minutes, and he wasn’t lying. Turns out, if you play Brink in a big offensive role with copious powerplay minutes, he’s a really good player. Huh.
Samu Tuomaala
Tuomaala posted a pair of assists, one in each game, this weekend. That brings him to a four game point streak as well as four goals and nine points in nine games in the month of January with 34 points in 40 games on the season. He’s very good and should probably get his feet wet at the NHL level before the end of the season.
Emil Andrae
Andrae had two powerplay assists on Saturday. He’s got four points in his last three games (three of which came on the man advantage) and is up to 22 points in 31 games on the season. He’s played just 41 AHL games and already feels as though he doesn’t have much more to prove in this league. Hopefully the trade deadline means an NHL recall in his future, if for no other reason than to attempt to save the Flyers’ powerplay.
Adam Ginning
Ginning had an assist on Saturday. Don’t look now, but it’s his third point in the last four games. Ginning played unexpectedly well last season, and on the whole just hasn’t been able to regain that form this year, but he’s been far more noticeable the last few weeks, and the scoresheet seems to tell the same story.
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Wade Allison
Allison returned from a brief injury and scored the game-tying powerplay goal on Saturday. He’s been a pretty regular contributor since American Thanksgiving, and a five-game stint on the sidelines did not cool him off. He may not be an NHL option anymore (for no discernible reason) but the beaten and bruised Phantoms need him back as the push for the playoffs intensifies.
Ronnie Attard
Ronnie Attard went pointless this weekend. It’s the first time he failed to register a point in a week’s worth of games in nearly five weeks. The Phantoms are still trying their best to ignite Helge Grans and Attard basically has no more growing left to do in the AHL, so he just continues to drift along, not always taking priority on a team that has interests elsewhere, albeit still producing more often than not with 18 points in his last 26 games.
J.R. Avon
Avon had an assist on Friday. It’s his only point in the last eight games. Despite still struggling to show up on the scoresheet, Avon is getting powerplay minutes and was even given a shootout opportunity on Saturday. He’s putting together a decent little season and appears to have a big future on the team, but his limited even strength minutes and underwhelming 12 points in 34 games don’t seem to paint the same picture at face value.
Elliot Desnoyers
Desnoyers registered an assist on Friday. With an injury to Tanner Laczynski, it means Desnoyers gets bumped back to seeing a bulk of the ice time at center. He’s still on a 17-game goalless drought dating back to early December with just four assists in that time, but maybe an uptick in minutes will finally break The Destroyer out of his slump.
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Zayde Wisdom
Wisdom still has just a single goal on the season. With injuries mounting and the team trading Jordy Bellerive away, Wisdom should at least have a regular spot on the roster from here on out. But he’s not being given a ton of opportunity, and to be fair to the coaching staff, Wisdom isn’t doing much with the little time he’s given.
Tanner Laczynski
Laczynski has posted 26 points in 33 games this season with the Phantoms, but is back on the shelf with injury. He’s missed seven games throughout the season battling minor injury and illness, and undoubtedly frustrating blow to both him and the team who is benefiting from his personal best season.
Helge Grans
Grans went pointless with a -2 rating in two games this weekend. He returned to the lineup a few weeks ago after missing over a month with a broken hand and picked right back up with the mediocre season he was having before the injury. Aside from Desnoyers, Grans might be the most disappointing player on the roster this year.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
brotherlypuck.com 