The Phantoms won all three of their games last week. They beat Hartford in overtime 5-4 on Wednesday, then they pulled out two comeback wins in a back-to-back with the first and third best team in the Eastern Conference, being Hershey and Laval. They took down the Bears in overtime and finished Laval in regulation with a three goal third period.
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Samu Tuomaala
Tuomaala had two goals (including the OT winner on Wednesday) and two assists in three games last week. Both goals came on Wednesday and are the only goals he’s scored in his last five games, but he’s still at 20 points in 19 games on the season.
Olle Lycksell
Lycksell also had two goals (including the OT winner on Friday) and two assists in three games last week. Much like Tuomaala, Lycksell had a two-goal outing on Friday which were his only two goals in the last six games. He remains a pillar of their offense even though the goal hasn’t been filled this season. Lycksell is up to five goals and 15 points in 19 games so far in 2024-25.
Ethan Samson
Samson potted a goal on Wednesday plus posted two assist on Saturday. He missed Friday’s game with an illness, but is riding a three-game point streak, and has five points in his last five games all while being relied upon defensively as well. It’s been quite the breakout season for the sophomore defenseman, and he keeps raising his own bar.
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Hunter McDonald
McDonald picked up a pair of assists last week. It’s been status quo for the rookie otherwise. He’s big and trying to mesh his physicality in with the skills of a real defenseman. He’s been on the top pair with Louie Belpedio all season, so he’s getting plenty of ice time to figure it out, but it’s a rollercoaster from good to “meh” on a night-to-night basis.
Massimo Rizzo
The rookie forward is now five games into his AHL career after recovering from appendicitis. He has been slotted in as the team’s first line center, but hasn’t really been doing anything of substance. There’s some leeway in his game as he’s not only still working back to form, but stepping into the shoes of a top center, so take his early games with a grain of salt at the moment, but it is worth noting that he hasn’t been overly impressive out of the gate.
Elliot Desnoyers
Desnoyers scored a goal on Saturday. He was healthy scratched on Friday. He’s not playing poorly this season, per se, but he isn’t anywhere close to his rookie form either. Settling in as a fine but unspectacular AHL dude certainly doesn’t help his chances at ever earning an NHL gig.
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Alexis Gendron
Gendron was riding quite the hot streak in late October and early November but is now on a six game pointless drought and has also been scratched once. An injury to Garrett Wilson forced Gendron back into the lineup on Saturday, but if he’s not scoring, he isn’t gaining any favor with Ian Laperriere, who has been pretty hard on the rookie forward dating back to last season.
J.R. Avon
Avon hasn’t posted a goal this season and only chalked up three helpers through 15 appearances. It’s been disappointing that Avon hasn’t been able to build off his impressive rookie season. He’s helping out more than his barren score sheet suggests, but the inability to finish his chances are going to cap his ceiling as a viable NHL prospect.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
brotherlypuck.com 