Phantoms vs. Norfolk Admirals 3-15-09: First Period

I can see our injured announcer, Keith Jones (not the former Flyer, but the person who also does races at Philadelphia Park), in the press box talking to Mike Thornton. However, unfortunately, from the bits and pieces of info I've gleaned, his jaw is wired shut and Lou Nolan, the Flyers announcer, will have to take his duties over for the time being. The injury list that I saw was a broken jaw, 4 lost teeth, and 55 stitches. :( Having said that, Lou isn't in the announcer's box today. I don't know who it is, but I'm sure he'll introduce himself at some point.

Scratches: DeSantis, Klotz, Gratton, Bellamy.
Starting Lineup: Munroe, Guenin, Syvret, Laliberte, Matsumoto, Maroon.

Gratton's still out. He limped up the tunnel after the second period of our previous home game on Wednesday, and we haven't seen him in the lineup since. Rats -- whatever it is, I hope it doesn't sideline him for long. If we're going to make a push for that last playoff spot, we need to be a healthy team.

Regarding my post a few days ago expressing some surprise at seeing some Phantoms left off the Clear Day Roster: we had at least two of those guys in the lineup last night in Albany. Beaulieu and Sirianni are not on the CDR, and aside from players on the CDR being our prospective playoff roster, they are also intended to be the ones who are allowed to be in our lineup for the remainder of the regular season. So, seeing a couple of non-CDR players in the lineup puzzled me.

However, then I realized that other players are allowed to be added in case of injury or emergency. And we do have several guys on that CDR who are currently on the Flyers' roster. I guess that was how we allowed for some insurance to have guys like Powe and Parent in the Phantoms lineup if the Flyers send them down... But if they're not down, then maybe that means we're allowed to use some of our "emergency" players on our roster instead. In any event, I'm glad to see our guys who are on the roster playing, and not in the press box.

Ugh. We're down to single dgits in the ""Games Left" Countdown. :( 9 games remain in the Spectrum, including this one.

OK, now that the piece of glass in front of our goal judge has been replaced, we can get the game under way. Matsumoto and Maroon proceed to crash the net. Matsy pretty much took that one literally, nearly colliding with the goalie. Faceoff is in the Norfolk end. Ross, Kane, and Sirianni are out with Bartulis and Kukkonen.

Next up: Szwez, Kalinski, Nodl and Curry/Ratchuk. Then Beaulieu, Clackson, Raduns.

Four and a haf inutes into the period, the Phantoms have the only two shots on goal in the game. Munroe did sare one with his glove, but t was a puck that would have hit the side of the net and perhaps gone into a dagner zone if he hadn't caught it. But as it would have gone wide of the goalmouth, he doesn't get credit for a save.

Nice speed on Syvret's part, getting to a loose puck first instead of the Admiral who, if he'd have arrived first, would have had a clear shot on net from the slot.

With 12:44 remaining, the Phantoms now have the only FOUR shots on goal in the game. Ross's line is out and we are about to go on the PECOOOO POWER PLAY. Ross's ine is out with Kukkonen and Syvret, ane ARGH we just barely missed scoring. Kane was stationed at the crease and according to the fans at that end of the ice, he must have come this-close to augmenting his point total.

Scotty is baning his stick on the ice to signal the end of the PP. Ratchuk make a nice keep-in, but we didn't manage to get set back up for an even strength chance. The Admirals came out and threatened to set up a scoring chance before we could get the puck back down to Helenius's end.

Ha -- at somewhere between 10 minutes and 9:30 minutes left, a puck directed at our net by Norfolk was originally credited to them as a shot on goal. However, a few moments later, it was rescinded. I think the faint ping of puck brushing metal was enough to count it as a hit post instead of a shot. We, meanwhile, haven't given Helenius anything to do since that near-miss during the PP. SOG are currently 5-0, Phantoms, with 6:30 left in the period.

We have another PP coming up with 5:51 left in the period. NOW the Ads have a shot on goal.Ross, Kane, and Sirianni are out with Kukkonen and Syvret. Srianni took the faceoff... And we promptly give up a shorthanded break. Eek. OK, that won't do. There goes Norfolk's second shot on goal.

I'm glad that the people who actually have tickets for the row in front of me came in, late though they are, and claimed their seats. The two gents who moved down from wherever their seats were to that row must be HEAVY smokers, judging from the smoke scent clinging to their clothes. Don't know where they moved to, but it's not somewhere where I'm getting smoke-fested to death.

Riku Helenius is driviing me up the walls... He made a couple of ten-bell stops on the Phantoms just now to keep the game scoreless. Pain in the tail. ;) I see the Phantoms' penalty bendh opening with3:11 left. Kalinski is goingn off for interference SOG Phantoms 9, Admirals 3 and that was a nice clear. We have Ross, Kane, Syvret, and Guenin on the ice. Matsumoto and Laliberte are the next forward pair. NICE save by Munroe, who hangs on to freeze the puck and allow our D pair to change (Bartulis and Kukkonen). Also, Raduns came off the bench to replace Laliberte. Matsumoto remained on the ice. Wotj 21 secpmds ;eft om the {L. We are back to Ross, Kane, Guenin, Syvret. Aah, drat... With 1:17 left in the flipping period, the Admirals draw first blood with a PP goal. SOG are Phantoms 9, Norfolk 7, and at least four of those came during this past PP.

Zenon Konopka scored that goal. Doggone Phantoms killer. Seem to recall us having all sorts of fun dealing with him in our recent visit from Norfolk a few games ago.

There goes the end of the period. SOG are even at 9-9. The score is Norfolk 1, Phantoms 0.