Phantoms @ Norfolk Admirals, 4-3-09: First Period

Per the pregame comments, Jeff Szwez is out of the lineup tonight with a "boo-boo" (LOL!); he is replaced by Josh Gratton who is back in the lineup after abdominal issues. Kukkonen is back from "minor surgery" and will be taking the place of Jason DeSantis., who is back in Philadelphia with a leg muscle injury.

Ross/Kane/Sirianni
Matsumoto/Laliberte/Maroon
Gratton/JVR/Kalinski
Raduns/Beaulieu/Clackson
Guenin/Syvret
and presumably BaRtulis/Kukkonen and Curry/Ratchuk are the other two D pairs, though they haven't been officially read back to us.

It's nearly impossible to do a live blog right now, between having the Phantoms on the computer and the Flyers on television. But I will jot down significant details here and there... such as JVR's first professional penalty.

RATCHUK from CLACKSON! Oh, NICE! Beaulieu and a Norfolk defenseman were providing the screen, and we take a 1-0 lead just past the 15-minute mark.

However, we go on our third PK soon afterward. So we will see what comes of this. We successfully killed the previous two infractions, giving up four SOG in the process. Round 3 will now ensue.

Kalinski and Raduns get a SH opportunity, and draw a hooking infraction into the bargain. So we will be at 4 on 4 for a while, and then the Phantoms will get about a minute's worth of PP time.

OH so close to doubling our lead... some nice defense by a Norfolk player is the only reason that David Laliberte didn't roof a puck over Helenius. He had his stick placed in just the right position to keep Laliberte from getting the shot off; otherwise, he had the whole top 2/3 of the net to aim at.

Nice save by Munroe to keep it 1-0 in- the final minute of the period.

At the end of the first period, the Phantoms lead 1-0.