Class of the League

Three out of four possible points on the home stand – against the top team in the NAHL no less – proves that not only can we play with the best, but we can beat the best, and possibly are the best.

Although a win on Saturday would have been ideal, if someone had told me that the Phantoms would have gone 1-0-1 this weekend against the Bandits, I would have taken it. Anyone else?

Coach Carr brought up a good point after Saturday’s game, in realizing that the boys had played five games in the past eight days and looked tired early in the game. It was a completely different tempo. It probably also had a lot to do with how the Bandits changed up their game plan towards the middle of Friday’s game and the entire second game. They just, plain and simple, started playing better and more aggressively.

Bartus was the main reason the Phantoms were able to salvage a point out of the game, as he continued playing brilliantly. Derek Graham’s goal, his seventh consecutive game with a tally, came at the right time… it appeared that the Bandits were ready to pull away, and that shifted the momentum at least back to neutral.

I was surprised that we couldn’t convert more than once in the shootout. The end of every practice is usually when the team works on breakaways – the same time that you would be taking them in the game as well, after you’re tired. It could have just been the continuance of hot goaltending, Mike Johnson had a great game, but now we are 2-2 in shootouts this season.

How about Johnny Meo’s goal on Friday? Unreal. He really plays a physical game, always keeps his motor running, and earns everything. That shorthanded goal at the end of the first sparked the second period flurry, and boy do the fans respond to him, and then the team responds to that. Six points in two games (USA on Tuesday, and Friday vs. St. Louis) – he definitely deserved that Player of the Week. Congrats.

The crowd and the atmosphere were great, and I, along with the players and coaches, can’t wait to play in front of the home crowd again on Thanksgiving weekend.

Although Graham had a great weekend, so did Adam Cardwell (9-21-30) from Wichita Falls. He notched five points on Saturday to take the NAHL lead in points, two ahead of Graham (14-14-28).

We’ve seen Alpena now four times this season, and are 2-2 against them. This will be the team’s last trip up to Northern Lights Arena in the regular season, I’m sure we’ll see them in the playoffs. With the weekend success, the Phantoms have moved into sole possession of second place in the North, six points behind St. Louis… Alpena is nipping at our heels in third, just three points back.

The U.S. is right there too, but they seem to be tailing off here lately – even though they are tied for third place, they have the worst win percentage in the division (.500). The parity this year in the North is unparalleled – last place and second place are only separated by five points.

Each team has the ability to just light it up offensively. Inconsistency seems to be plaguing everyone except St. Louis, although, even the Bandits had a bout of it this weekend. It’ll be interesting to see where they go now that they face the opposite situation as us – playing the majority of their remaining season on the road.

It was great meeting some of you in the parking lot on Friday before the game. If you ever see me roaming the halls of the Ice Zone before a game, don’t hesitate to pull me aside! I’m always up for suggestions, and of course some hockey talk.

Until next week…