Phantoms vs. Bnghamton 12-06-08: Third Period

The Phantoms scored during the remaining PP time that we had at the beginning of the thrd period. It was impossible to see the puck with the scrum gong on in front of the net, but the fans behind the net started to jump up and cheer a few moments before the goal lght went on. :) Maroon is well on his way to being the first star, having scored his second goal of the night and fourth point of the game so far. I am LOVING how our two scoring lnes have played lately! Between Ross's line and Matsumoto's lline, there's a genuine threat to the other team regardless of we're on the PP, even strength, or shorthanded.

Speaking of Ross's line, Ross just crashed the net at about 90 miles an hour. This earned him the privelege of getting flattened behind the Sens net, causing a ten-skater shoving match in front of Elliot. The Phantoms drew a powerplay out of the deal, we are busy trying to make them pay where it counts: on the scoreboard. Binghamton took a page from our book and tried to get a shorthanded opportunity, but it came to nothing. Ross and his line are out again, and we just clanged one off the iron. Bah, it would've been nice to see Ross avenge himself on that shift. That's OK, we have 9:05 remaining in the period to do the Payback Thang. ;) SOG Phantoms 25, Senators 19.

Guenin blocked a shot. Again. Honest to gosh, he's got more chutzpah than anyone I've seen in a long time, where laying out in front of a flying puck is concerned.

We are seeing a lot of Kalinski/Clackson/Szwez in the waning minutes of the game. Clearly the goal is to keep the Senators from getting scoring chances.

Unfortunately, with three minutes and change remaining in the period, Sean Curry gets sent off for delay of the game. That rule is a nuisance, I swear it. So Kane, Kalinski, Guenin, and Syvret are out. Fortunately, with 42 seconds left in our penalty, Zubov of the Sens gets sent off for slashing, so there goes their PP. We'll be at 4 on 4 for a while, then on the PP for most of the remainder of the game. (Presuming no other calls get made, that is.)

With about two minutes remaining, Binghamton pulled their goaltender, so they now have five skaters to our 4, with an empty net. Maroon is on the ice, and I would love to see him get, er, a bunch of free hats from the fans. Now our guy is back from the sin bin, we're on the PP, and Maroon just scored the empty net goal for his HAT TRICK :) :) :). Yeah, talk about earning the first star of the game -- the man has figured in ALL FIVE of our goals tonight. Assists went to Kane and Munroe. Jonathan Matsumoto collected the puck for Maroon. :) Moments after play resumed, the Phantoms returned to the PP with about half a minute remaining in the game.

Our stars of the game were:

#3 Guenin
#2 Ross
#1 Maroon

On to Wilkes-Barre tomorrow, to take on some Pens! Go Phantoms!