The Phantoms lost all three of their games this week, getting destroyed by the Rockford IceHogs 7-3 during their first appearance at the PPL Center thanks to a stinker from Cal Petersen. They snatched defeat from the jaws of victory when they lost to the Hershey Bears 3-2 in OT after an empty netter was called offsides and the Bears tied the game with less than three seconds left. And they took another loss in another close game to Hershey on the road on Sunday.
They drop to 9-8-4-1 on the season.
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Helge Grans
Grans scored two goals and tallied an assist in three games last week. He was already off to a better start in 2024-25 than he played in all of 2023-24, but he’s been on another level since he was demoted from his short stint in the NHL. The confidence is flowing and he’s gone from random dude to top prospect in the span of a few weeks. Unfortunately the NHL blue line is an overcrowded mess, but if Grans can keep this pace up there’s no reason to think he won’t return to the show again one day.
Anthony Richard
Richard had a goal and three assists last week. He may not be a prospect, but the lack of standouts elsewhere means he can get rewarded for his efforts this time. He was brought in to be a top forward and score points, and that’s exactly what he’s doing, posting 16 of them in 13 games. Yet another guy who was finding success on the main roster and should be on the radar for another call up in injury strikes.
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Samu Tuomaala
Tuomaala went pointless in two games and missed Sunday’s contest for an undisclosed reason. He’s only registered points in two of his last seven games and is a -5 in that stretch. Tuomaala came out of the gate smoking hot, and still has 20 points in 21 games, but he really needs to avoid a cold spell if he wants to prove himself as a legit call up option around the trade deadline if necessary.
Olle Lycksell
Lcyksell posted two assists, one on the powerplay and the other being his 100th AHL point, last week. Olle Lycksell doing Olle Lycksell things. He’s now up to 17 points in 22 games on the season and 101 points in 113 career AHL games.
Adam Ginning
Ginning racked up a pair of helpers in three games last week. It was only his second and third points of the season and first since early November. He did somehow manage to walk away a +2 through all three games considering the Phantoms allowed 15 total goals. Ginning’s never going to be a big scorer, but some positive trends on the scoresheet may be a sign he’s ready to break out of the funk he was in throughout November.
Ethan Samson
Samson recorded an assist on Wednesday but went -3 over the weekend. The ebbs and flows for Samson continue as he continues to adapt to a larger AHL role and this week was one of the lesser showing for Samson overall in the last month.
Jacob Gaucher
Gaucher scored the teddy bear toss goal on Saturday. So add to the list of completely random players that have scored the magical goal. He’s up to eight goals and 13 points in 22 games this season.
J.R. Avon
Avon scored his first goal of the season on Sunday and tacked on a pair of assists as well. This is really the first sign of positive life from Avon this season, so whether or not it sparks a turnaround for his otherwise forgettable campaign will be the story moving forward.
Zayde Wisdom
Speaking of signs of life, Wisdom had a goal and assist last week. It was the first time he’s recorded a point since halloween, but his four points in 18 games surpass his three points in 49 games from all of last season. The fact he’s playing more often than not and getting involved offensively now and again is a positive sign. It’s a low bar, but hey, it’s progress.
Alexis Gendron
Gendron scored a goal on Sunday. He’s more or less a mainstay in the lineup now, particularly with Garrett Wilson on the sidelines, but the consistent production hasn’t followed. It was his first goal since November 13. That being said, his raw speed and excellent shot serve as a great foundation to build on and if he ever puts all the pieces together, he could be a serviceable forward prospect in the organization.
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Massimo Rizzo
Rizzo has yet to register a point in eight games with the Phantoms, and has been tasked with centering the fourth line over the last few games. He’s still on the upswing from his appendicitis that kept him in the shelf for the first six weeks of the season, but this is certainly not what was expected out of him, even factoring in the illness. There’s still some wiggle room before the alarm bells start, but the clock is ticking.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
brotherlypuck.com 