Phantoms vs. Albany River Rats 1-18-09: Second Period

The Phantoms have 19 seconds remaining on the PK to start the second period. Briere, Ross, Parent, and Syvret are out. When Sirianni exited the sin bin, he wen
t to the bench and was replaced by Giroux. That line proceeded to create a scoring threat, even though they weren't credited with a shot on goal. (I'm not sure how that is, since it was by our efforts that the puck wound up frozen under the goaltender, but I'll keep my peace.)
Our next shift saw us right back in front of the Albany net, though, so whatever Paddock said to the troops between periods, they appear to have taken to heart. Next shift: Klotz vs. Blanchard. Short, active fight with more punching than jersey-hauling. I'd give Klotz the takedown and the edge where the punches were concerned. (Particularly so since it was a punch by Klotz that made the difference i n sending Blanchard to the ice.)

With 14:57 left in the period, the SOG are Albany 15, Phantoms 2. We have not gotten ANY pucks on net, and the Rats have gotten a grand total of one, since the start of the period. Ah, that should count as a shot for us. FINALLY. 37 seconds after I said something, we get a puck on goal. 'Bout time -- maybe I should have griped sooner. ;)

Other than that, however, we hafe seen a lot of end-to-end skating and passing, but nether team has made a lot of noise yet.

Matsumoto's line came the closest so far to getting us a goal. Matsumoto's shot and the subsequent rebound were enough to bring the crowd to ts feet, but unfortunately the puck remained on the wrong side of the goal line.

It's interesting -- we seem to have reverted back to the Briere/Ross/Nodl line we were using last night Let's see if that brings us onto the scoreboard. Of course, it's not going to bring us anythng unt we get back to the Albany end, instead of havng Rats cycling the puck in front of Munroe like they are right now. Giroux, meanwhile, has been moved onto a line with Matsumoto/Laliberte (who just gave us a nice rush and a shot on goal. Giroux took the ensuing faceoff in the Albany end.

Whoops -- Ratchuk gets two for tripping, so now we get to put our PKing skills on display again. This invoved Ross and Briere heading up the ice for a SH break, but unfortunately, no goal resulted.

We are back at even strength, and spending more time than I would like to see in our own end of the ice. With 3:30 left, the SOG are ALbany 21, Phantoms 7. We aren't going to tie the score while we're parked in front of Munroe.

We did generate some valid scoring opportunities in the waning minutes of the period. However, at the end of the second period, the score remained Albany 1, Phantoms 0. The shots on goal are River Rats 23, Phantoms 8.