The Phantoms went 2-1-0 this week, bringing their record to 22-20-5-2. They are still seventh in the Atlantic Division, which means they’re out of a playoff spot, and have just 23 games remaining on the season to climb back in.
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Olle Lycksell
After a month trapped in an NHL press box, Lycksell returned to the AHL and posted two goals and two assists in his first game back. He immediately returned the the NHL and recorded two assists in a game against the Penguins. Hopefully this was the spark Lycksell needed for the organization to realize he can be a valuable player when given an opportunity.
Emil Andrae
Andrae posted three assists in three games this week, two of which came on the powerplay. His 27 points put him fourth in the team in scoring and remains the lifeblood of the Phantoms’ blueline. With the deadline right around the corner and the health of the Flyers’ defense coming into question, does he get an NHL recall sooner rather than later?
Bobby Brink
Brink had three goals, including the OT winner on Saturday, and five total points in three games this week. He’s up to 11 points in 11 games since his return to the Phantoms. The offensive forward is succeeding in a scoring role that he’s best suited for. Who’d’a thunk?
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Ronnie Attard
Attard registered a shorthanded goal on Saturday. On the whole his play has cooled off a bit compared to the level it was a few weeks ago, but much like Andrae, with the trade deadline upon us, he has to be holding his breath to see whether or not the organization finally gives him an opportunity on the main roster.
Samu Tuomaala
The Phantoms’ rookie forward has just two assists in his last six games since he returned from the All-Star break earlier this month. Tuomaala unexpectedly burst onto the scene and paced the Phantoms offense for most of the season thus far and is easily still second on the team in points and goals, but it’s natural to expect some bumps in the road as he continues to develop in the North American game.
Adam Ginning
Ginning went pointless with a -1 rating this week. While his play this season hasn’t been as noteworthy as it was last, he has rounded out his game as the season has gone on. Also worth nothing that he’s been wearing an “A” for the team in the absence of the entire leadership group (Wilson, Laczynski and Belpedio) over the last few weeks, which speaks volumes of how the team feels about the sophomore defenseman.
J.R. Avon
The story of J.R. Avon’s rookie season remains the same. He’s playing well but isn’t finding himself on the scoresheet very often. He’s got just two goals and five points since the new year. That being said, he’s easily the most critical depth forward the Phantoms have and points aren’t telling the whole story of how good Avon has been.
Ethan Samson
Samson scored the first goal of his professional career on Sunday. It hasn’t been a great year for the rookie defenseman, but he did walk away with a +3 rating during a weekend where the Phantoms allowed a total of 11 goals.
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Elliott Desnoyers
Desnoyers’ goalless drought has now hit 26 games. It’s an incredible fall from grace after he set the Lehigh Valley Phantoms’ rookie goalscoring record last season, and a double whammy considering he’s the only center prospect in the organization at the moment. He’s got four goals and 17 points in 45 games on the season.
Wade Allison
Allison is riding a five-game pointless streak. On the whole, his season has turned around from the depths it started at, but creating consistent offense just hasn’t come naturally to him this season, and he’s on his longest point drought since Christmas.
Zayde Wisdom
Wisdom hasn’t played since February 3. He’s been taking part on warmups, so that suggests this isn’t injury related as much as it is Lappy related. Wisdom has just a single goal on the year, but has played just 30 of the Phantoms’ 49 games and isn’t seeing anything more than fourth line minutes during that time.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
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