The Phantoms went 1-2-0 last weekend, bringing their record to 29-29-6-3. They still hold sixth place, and the final playoff spot, in the Atlantic Division. They’ve got five games remaining with a four point lead on Springfield for the last playoff seed.
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Matt Miller
Undrafted collegiate forward Matt Miller out of the University of Nebraska-Omaha inked a PTO with the Phantoms to finish out the 2023-24 season and signed a deal for the 2024-25 season. He scored a goal in his pro debut on Friday. We’ll see what, if anything, Miller can bring to the table long-term, but considering how desperate the team is up front, they’ll welcome him with open arms in the meantime.
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Tanner Laczynski
Laczynksi scored the game winning overtime goal on Friday night. It was his only point in his last five games, which is an unusual quiet streak from the veteran forward.
Emil Andrae
Andrae failed to register a point and walked away with a -3 rating in three games over the weekend. It’s fair to ask whether or not Andrae is playing through an injury, because it’s been about a month now since he look like his usual dynamic self. His first full season in North America was still overall successful, but it has been a crawl to the finish line for the 22-year-old Swede.
J.R. Avon
Avon had an assist on Friday. He and played center for the first time this season on Saturday, which was his junior position but he’s been on the left wing for his rookie season with the Phantoms. The story hasn’t really changed for Avon; he’s playing hard and overall very well, but only has three assists in his last 21 games and just 18 points in 60 games on the season.
Ethan Samson
The rookie defenseman has started to come around late in the season. He clearly had trouble adjusting to the professional level early on, but has risen to the occasion now that Ronnie Attard is in the NHL. He had an assist on Sunday, which was his third point in his last six games, a much better (and more on par with expectations) pace than his eight points in the previous 53 games the rest of the campaign.
Hunter McDonald
Hunter McDonald registered his first AHL assist on Friday. After he miraculously avoided serious injury the week prior, he returned to PPL Center ice and picked up his first professional point. Don’t expect very many of those moving forward, but it’s definitely a feel good start to his career.
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Elliot Desnoyers
Elliot Desnoyers’ goalless streak hit 40 games on Sunday. His last goal came on December 9. He set the Lehigh Valley Phantoms rookie goalscoring record last season with 23. This year he has just four. Just an astounding fall from grace.
Samu Tuomaala
Tuomaala walked away pointless with a -5 rating in three games over the weekend. He now only has one goal in the last five games and two points total over the last 12. Ironically, he fell off a cliff shortly after the All-Star game that he was named to and just hasn’t been able to get the scoring swagger back on what has become a very dry Phantoms’ offense.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
brotherlypuck.com 