One Week Left

While a pair of wins this weekend would obviously be ideal, the main goal of the team will probably to be to remain healthy in order to do what needs to be done to prepare for the playoffs. If building momentum by going out on a winning note is that vital, then so be it.

As some of you might have noticed last Saturday, Graham and Ringel were held out of the lineup – obviously two very key players for the playoff run. Whether or not they are playing this weekend, probably won’t be decided until game day, but they are both healthy and skating full steam at practice.

With all of the injury problems the Phantoms have suffered through this season, it really is quite amazing to have a 34-18-4 record and be sitting in second place right now. It is even more amazing that the team is as healthy as it is now – although I’m sure there are some bumps and bruises, everyone is cleared to play – Brent Dexter is back in the line-up after a month-long hiatus.

As you all know by now, the Alpena weekend was a preview of what is to come in the next couple of weeks in the first round of the North American Hockey League playoffs. With Friday’s win the Ice Diggers clinched third place and will face the Phantoms in a best-of-five series beginning Friday, April 4 at 7:15 p.m. at the Ice Zone. This series is going to be an intense physical grind, where defense and goaltending is going to be key.

Both goalies had amazing weekends. Bartus and Graves each earned honorable mentions for Player of the Week, while keeping their team in the game each night.

To be honest, I was not expecting Graves to come out and play the way he did. He had been solid all season for both Southern Minnesota and Alpena, and helped lead the Ice Diggers on their incredible run back in February, vaulting them back into the middle of the pack.

I even watched him at the Phantoms Hockey Showcase, and he was very solid there as well. However, the first time he came back to the Ice Zone at the end of February, the Phantoms chased him from the net both nights, lighting him up with seven goals in less than 60 minutes.

Although the fourth liners continued to play important roles against Alpena, it was Graham, Winter, Boeckman, and the usual suspects doing the majority of the scoring last weekend.

There isn’t a whole lot to say about the upcoming weekend games against the U.S. National Team. The Phantoms are only 5-4-1 this season against the U.S. and haven’t played them since splitting a weekend series with them back on January 11 & 12 (3-2 los on Friday and a 6-2 win on Saturday) at the Ice Zone. Derek Graham and Johnny Meo have led the way, scoring 16 and 13 points respectively against the Americans.

For the U.S… it is hard to predict which team is going to show up – literally. It could be the Under-17s, could be the Under-18s, but most likely it will be a mix of their top performers. During the NAHL regular season, international competition sometimes interferes, but doing well in the playoffs is a major focal point for them, and will most likely draw their best 20-man unit.

Over their last 6 games, the U.S. has clinched a playoff spot by going 4-1-1 in that span. With the exception of one game in St. Louis, Team U.S.A. has been getting some very solid goaltending – Nick Maricic has not allowed more than one goal per game yet in March.

It wasn’t until last weekend that the rest of the North Division was been decided, however. With St. Louis sweeping Traverse City and the U.S. taking down Marquette twice, the U.S. officially clinched the fourth and final playoff spot in the North, and will face St. Louis in the first round – thus eliminating both the North Stars and the Rangers.

This Friday at the Ice Zone, the first 500 fans through the door will receive a free coupon for a Dairy Queen treat. So, be sure to come early!