The Second Season

After nearly eight months of camps, practices, big wins, tough losses, bumps, bruises, tough breaks, blood, sweat, and tears, we have finally reached the pinnacle of the season – the NAHL Playoffs.

It all begins Friday of course with Game 1 of the North Division Semi-Finals against the Alpena Ice Diggers in the friendly confines of the Ice Zone.

It is quite obvious to me that the Phantoms are playing some of their best hockey of the season. After suffering through their toughest stretch of the season (going 3-6-1 in a 10 game span between January 25 and February 24), the Phantoms have rebounded to go 9-2-0 since, and finished up by winning six of their last seven games.

The U.S. weekend was really a perfect precursor to the playoffs. After trailing 1-0 and 2-1 midway through the third period, Johnny Meo and Miles Winter stepped up and proved why they are clutch performers, showed their veteran leadership and savvy, and brought the Phantoms back to win a tight one.

The Phantoms used that momentum to come out and put on a scoring clinic on Saturday. The second period showed off the team’s firepower, while the third period showed the competition the kind of defense and goaltending the Phantoms are capable of putting together throughout the post-season.

Miles Winter was huge in the playoffs last year, and he appears to really be hitting his stride. Playing alongside Boeckman and Kenney on the team’s second line, and on the number one power play unit seems to be suiting him well.

Of course the line of Graham, Blakey and Hirschfeld cannot be left unaccounted for. Since Hirschfeld’s return, the team is 8-2-0. Even if the number one line isn’t producing statistically, they are extremely effective at neutralizing the opposing team’s top line, and opening up some opportunities for the Phantoms to show off their depth – everyone has responded.

Goaltending, as any hockey fan knows, is the key to a team’s longevity in the post-season. The two 3-2 grinds against Alpena on March 21-22 were definitely the brand of hockey you should expect to see, and Bartus played very well in both.

Between Bartus and Jordan Tibbett, the Phantoms have a combined .929 save percentage against Alpena this season – very good. One thing you can probably bet on is Nick Graves being between the pipes for each game of the series. Although his record is just 1-3-0 against the Phantoms (since he’s been with Alpena), he is the only Ice Diggers’ goalie with a save percentage above .885 in the season series (at .911).

The Ice Diggers and Phantoms have faced off 12 times already this season. The rivalry from last season carried over, there is no shortage of animosity between the two, and by the time these teams are three games more familiar with each other, expect a very rough series. Mahoning Valley is 8-4-0 against Alpena, 4-2-0 at each location.

Although five of the team’s top six scorers are veterans, the rookies have played a big role all year as well. Blakey, Scott Moser, and Stefan Salituro might be experiencing some of the biggest pressure situations of their careers… but after 58 games, they really cannot be considered rookies any more.

Derek Graham and Miles Winter have led the way in scoring over the past 10 games, but Kyle Bailey, Salituro and Brian McGinty have combined for 29 points over that span – thus proving my point about the team’s versatility and depth.

Friday night is National City Bank Thunder Stix night – the first 500 fans will get free Phantoms Thunder Stix – which should make the crowd overwhelmingly loud. Saturday, every fan will get a coupon for a free chicken sandwich at Chic-Fil-A.

The pressure is almost tangible, the excitement will be incredible. We’re just two days away now!