The Phantoms went 2-0-1 last week, bringing their season record up to 5-3-2-1. They had 2-1 overtime loss to the Penguins on Wednesday, the flipped the script and beat down on the Penguins 5-3 on Friday night. Then they had a slow, plotting game against the winless Utica Comets on Saturday which the Phantoms won in overtime.
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Olle Lycksell
Lycksell had a goal and two assists in three games last week. The goal on Saturday was his first of the season, which was destined to happen sooner or later given his absurd 50 shots on goal (currently leading the AHL), and he’s up to seven points in 11 games on the season. After going pointless in the first three games of the year, he’s back on his typical near-point-per-game status.
Alexis Gendron
Gendron scored two goals on Friday. That brings his total up to four points in five games on the season. He’s still not being utilized particularly well by the coaching staff, but just like last season, he makes the most of his ice time when he does get the call.
Hunter McDonald
McDonald had a goal and two assists in three games last week. He’s riding a four game point streak, currently leads the team with a +7 rating, and one of those assists came on the powerplay. The Phantoms have been bullish on McDonald to start the season and after a slow start, he’s becoming much more involved and is showing up on the score sheet much more than expected. He still needs fine tuning, particularly in his own end, but there’s definitely reason to believe the Flyers may have something in McDonald.
Samu Tuomaala
Tuomaala had a goal on Saturday and an assist in Friday. He’s at 10 points in 11 games and remains one of their top forwards. It’s easy to tell he’s playing with a level of swagger he hasn’t shown before in North America, and if he can maintain this pace over the next few months, he may get his first taste of NHL action before season’s end.
Jacob Gaucher
Gaucher isn’t technically a prospect as he’s not signed to an NHL contract but rather an AHL deal, yet he’s got 10 points in 11 games so far this season. He’s been the “breakout” player of the year so far, which could very well lead to him getting an NHL deal sooner or later. The Flyers did something similar with Hayden Hodgson a few years back, and if the 23-year-old Gaucher keeps up this pace, they may do it again.
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Oskar Eklind
Eklind had a two-goal outing on Saturday. He continues to be in interesting addition for the Phantoms offense. He’s got four points in his last four games and is up to seven in 11 games on the season. He consistency needs to improve, but they’re seeing early returns on their offseason investment.
Ethan Samson
Samson had two assists, one coming on the man advantage, last week. It was nice to see the sophomore defenseman get back on the score sheet after going dark in the previous four contests, but his overall play remains at a decent level as he’s stepping into the duties as the team’s top right-handed defenseman. It’s time to see a game-breaking performance out of the guy to cement his status rather than just teasing potential as he’s done all season.
Helge Grans
Grans had an assist on Wednesday. His overall effort has improved this season compared to last, but the individual performances are still a bit hit and miss. With Attard out of the picture he has returned to the right side of the defense after suiting up on the left for much of the last few weeks.
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J.R. Avon
Avon is on a five-game pointless streak. Scoring wasn’t his biggest asset last season despite the fact he was playing well and getting numerous opportunities, but he hasn’t been doing much of anything to grab attention away from the puck this season.
Adam Ginning
Ginning is the only player to play in all 11 games and hasn’t logged a point yet. In a lot of ways, he and Grans switched M.O.s this season- Grans is now the quiet but effective player while Ginning is just quiet in the dull sense. As a viewer, quite frankly it’s easy to forget he exists sometimes. As a defenseman, that’s not necessarily a bad trait to possess because it means he’s not drawing attention in a negative way either, but it is a step back from the version of Ginning that has been present over the last few years.
Elliot Desnoyers
Desnoyers was scratched on Saturday. He hasn’t scored a goal through nine games this season and hasn’t registered a point in his last five contests. Whatever spark he had during his rookie season two years ago is, at this point, fully stomped out.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
brotherlypuck.com 