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Meltzer's Musings: Friday Hockey Fix, Super Series

November 9, 2012, 6:27 AM ET [36 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Even with the European leagues on schedule break, today is a busy day of Flyers-related games. There are nine matches, spanning the minor leagues, junior hockey and collegiates games. All start times are in Eastern time:

FRIDAY GAMES: FLYERS FARM TEAMS

AHL: PHANTOMS (4-5-0) @ Rochester Americans (6-3-1) -- 7:00 PM

The Adirondack Phantoms have been idle since shutting out Albany, 4-0, last Saturday night. The Flyers' American Hockey League affiliate has road games each of the next two evenings. Tonight's opponent is the Buffalo Sabres' top farm club, Rochester.

The Phantoms and Amerks have already squared off once this season. On Oct. 27, the teams played a penalty-filled game in Rochester, which the Amerks won 6-2.

In that game, Harry Zolnierczyk and Mike Testwuide tallied the goals for the Phantoms. Goalie Scott Munroe was peppered with 50 shots in the game, stopping 45. Rich Schofield scored a pair of goals for Rochester. The Amerks had 10 power play in the game, converting twice. The Phantoms went 0-for-7 on their own power plays.

Tonight's match will be another good test of whether head coach Terry Murray's defensive system has started to sink in with his young team. The club played its best all-around game of the season in the last game against Albany, but that was six days ago. In addition, Rochester enters this game having scored 39 goals in its 10 games played to date this season; the AHL's second-best goals-per-game average.

The Phantoms are also going to have to get more players contributing offensively. Of the 23 goals that the club has scored, one or both of Brayden Schenn and/or Sean Couturier have had a hand in 19 of them. Beyond Schenn's 11 points and Couturier's 10, the next highest scorers (Tye McGinn, Erik Gustafsson and Ben Holmstrom) have four points apiece.

On the injury front, Matt Mangene remains out of the lineup with an upper-body injury. Defenseman Brandon Manning dealt with an especially vicious flu bug over the past week but returned to practice each of the last two days.

With the Phantoms having played their best game of the season last time out, Murray may go with essentially the same lineup as the one shut out Albany. It should be added, however, that the Phantoms coach has been juggling personnel and line combinations all season; both after wins and losses.

Based on the Albany game, the Phantoms' lines may look like this:

McGinn - Schenn - Rinaldo
Zolnierczyk - Couturier - Harper
Wellwood - Bordson - Holmstrom
Brown - Roe - Ford

Gustafsson - Bourdon
Syvret -Manning
Lauridsen - Eddy/Dimmen

Munroe
[Heeter]

Injuries and potential scratches: Mangene (upper body, day to day), Johnston (healthy), Testwuide (healthy?), Konan (healthy), FitzGerald (healthy), Dimmen/Eddy (healthy).

PHANTOMS NOTABLES: Brayden Schenn (9 GP, 4 G, 7 A, 11 PTS), Sean Couturier (9 GP, 2 G, 8 A, 10 PTS), Tye McGinn (9 GP, 3G, 1A, 4 PTS, 19 PIM), Zac Rinaldo (9 GP, 2G, 1A, 3PTS, 17 PIM), Eric Wellwood (8 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PT, 2 PIM), Erik Gustafsson (9 GP, 1 G, 3 A, 4 PTS, -6), Marc-Andre Bourdon (7 GP, 0 PTS, -3, 27 PIM), Brandon Manning (8 GP, 2G, 0A, 2PTS, -6, 10 PIM), Cal Heeter (4 GP, 1-3-0, 3.76 GAA, .853 SV%),Scott Munroe (5 GP, 3-2-0, 2.62 GAA, 1 SO, .923 SV%).

AMERICANS NOTABLES: Marcus Foligno (10 GP, 5 G, 6 A, 11 PTS), Cody Hodgson (9 GP, 1 G, 9 A, 10 PTS), Zemgus Girgensons (10 GP, 1 G, 3 A, 4 PTS), T.J. Brennan (10 GP, 4 G, 6 A, 10 PTS, -2), Brayden McNabb (10 GP, 0 G, 6 A, 6 PTS, +4), David Leggio ( 9 GP, 6-3-0, 3.27 GAA, .902 SV%).

BROADCAST LINKS: The game broadcast is available for free via the streaming Phantoms radio broadcast or you can purchase a streaming video webcast via AHL Live. A single-game webcast costs $6.99, with a variety of multi-game purchase options.


ECHL: TITANS (5-4-0) vs. Reading Royals (4-5-0)

The Titans will attempt to go back to the drawing board tonight after a rough weekend last Friday and Saturday. The Flyers' ECHL affiliate is in the midst of a stretch in which it plays the Reading Royals five consecutive games. Reading won both games last weekend.

Niko Hovinen, who had an uneven return to the lineup for Trenton last Friday night, appears likely to get the nod in goal tonight.

Sixteen different Titans players have scored at least one goal on the season to date, but goals were hard to come by last weekend against the previously struggling Royals. Rookie forward Marcel Noebels recorded points in each of the first eight games of the regular season before seeing his streak snapped last Saturday in Reading.

The Trenton blueline is anchored by its team captain, Bensalem native Ray DiLauro. The 33-year-old minor league and international hockey veteran has five points (2G, 2A) to date. The club has also received strong play thus far from Phantoms training camp tryout player Mitch Versteeg (5 PTS, 7 PIM, +6).

TITANS NOTABLES (FLYERS/PHANTOMS PROSPECTS INDICATED IN BOLD): Andy Bohmbach (9 GP, 2 G, 10 A, 12 PTS), Marcel Noebels (9 GP, 2 G, 7 A, 9 PTS), Jason Akeson (9 GP, 2 G, 6 A, 8 PTS), Stephen Schultz (6 GP, 4 G, 1 A, 5 PTS), Blake Kessel (9 GP, 2 G, 3 A, 5 PTS, E), Luke Pither (9 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 3 PTS), Tyler Hostetter (8 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 2 PTS, +3), Ian Slater (9 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PTS, 26 PTS), Andrew Conboy (8 GP, 0 G, 3 A, 3 PTS, 51 PIM), Scott Wedgewood (7 GP, 4-3-0, 2.74 GAA, .909 SV%), Niko Hovinen (3 GP, 1-1-0, 2.57 GAA, .921 SV%).

ROYALS NOTABLES: Yannick Tifu (10 GP, 3 G, 5 A, 8 PTS), Brett Fleming (10 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 5 PTS, 25 PIM), Alex Berry (10 GP, 3 G, 2 A, 5 PTS, 21 PIM), Chris Langkow (9 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 4 PTS), Philipp Grubauer (6 GP, 3-3-0, 2.35 GAA, .902 SV%).

BROADCAST LINKS: Tonight's game is available via a free radio stream. Alternatively, a webcast can be purchased here for $8.

*************

Friday Games: Flyers junior prospects

* OHL: Peterborough Petes @ Erie Otters -- 7:05 PM: This is battle of two struggling teams. Derek Mathers and the Petes (5th place in the East Division, 4-11-2-1 record) head into Pennsylvania to take on the equally woeful Otters (5th place in Midwest Division, 4-11-2-1 record). Erie's rookie goalie, Columbus Blue Jackets 2012 second-round pick Oscar Dansk, has taken some frightful beatings (4-9-2, 4.04 GAA, .897 save percentage) behind the porous Erie defense.

BROADCAST LINKS: A free radio stream of the Petes' broadcast is available or you can purchase a live webcast for $6.99.

* OHL: Oshawa Generals vs Barrie Colts -- 7:35 PM: In contrast to the Petes-Otters game, this is a battle of first-place teams. After representing Team OHL in last night's Super Series game in Guelph, center prospect Scott Laughton will resume serving his 10-game suspension (tonight is the 6th game). Defenseman Colin Suellentrop will start in the Oshawa lineup. Tonight, the Generals (1st place in East Division, 11-6-0-2 record) are right back in action to take on the Barrie Colts (1st place in Central Division, 13-4-0-1 record).

BROADCAST LINKS: You can purchase a live webcast for $6.99. Neither the Generals nor Colts have a radio stream available.

* OHL: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds @ Kitchener Rangers -- 7:35 PM: Center prospect Nick Cousins (18 GP, 8 G, 19 A, 27 PTS, 30 PIM) enters tonight seventh on the Ontario Hockey League scoring charts. Tonight, the Greyhounds (4th place in West Division, 9-8-1-0) will look to get back on the winning track after a tough weekend last week. They will face a Kitchener Rangers team (3rd place in Midwest Division, 11-5-1-1) that has won each of its last three games heading into tonight.

BROADCAST LINKS: A free radio stream of the Soo broadcast is available or you can purchase a live webcast for $6.99.

* WHL: Portland Winterhawks @ Vancouver Giants -- 10:35 PM: Portland is arguably the hottest team right now in any of the three CHL-affiliated leagues. The team has racked up a 9-0-1 record in its last 10 games. Left wing prospect Taylor Leier (11 GP, 3 G, 6 A, 9 PTS) and the rest of the Portland team will look to keep on rolling up the victories. The Winterhawks (1st place in the U.S. Division, 13-3-1-0 record) are on the road tonight to take on the struggling Vancouver Giants (5th place in the British Columbia Division, 5-12-0-0 record).

BROADCAST LINKS: A free radio stream is available (Portland broadcast) or a webcast stream can be purchased for $6.99.


FRIDAY GAMES: FLYERS COLLEGIATE PROSPECTS

* Union College @ Harvard University -- 7:05 PM: There are Flyers-drafted prospects on both teams. Union sophomore defense prospect Shayne Gostisbehere (7 GP, 3 G, 6 A, 9 PTS) has continued his emergence as one of the top offensive-minded defensemen in the ECAC. Conversely, sophomore Harvard winger Petr Placek (3 GP, 0 PTS) has yet to work his way up into the top six of his team's forward lineup. After facing off tonight in Cambridge, Union takes on Dartmouth tomorrow night, while Harvard remains at home to take on RPI.

BROADCAST LINKS: There will be a free audio stream available and a webcast is available for $7.50 purchase from the same site.

* Cornell University @ Princeton-- 7:05 PM: Cornell is off to a good start this season, and earned 3 of 4 possible points last weekend against Colgate. Freshman defenseman Reece Willcox (4 GP, 0 PTS, 0 PIM, E, 5 blocks) has not looked out of place in the starting lineup. After tonight's game in Princeton, the team is in Hamden, CT tomorrow night to play Quinnipiac.

BROADCAST LINK: There will be an audio stream available for tonight's game.

* University of Nebraska- Omaha @ Michigan Tech -- 7:05 PM: Freshman goaltending prospect Anthony Stolarz (3 GP, 0-3-0, .871 SV%) did not appear in either of his team's games last weekend against Michigan Tech. Senior John Faulkner has played well early this season and is likely to get the start tonight -- it's homecoming night at UN-O -- in the first of two weekend games against Minnesota Duluth.

BROADCAST LINKS: There will be a free audio stream available plus an webcast available for $8 purchase.

* University of North Dakota vs. St Cloud State -- 8:35 PM: Sophomore UND forward prospect Michael Parks has yet to play in the regular season, due to a leg injury sustained in an Oct. 6 exhibition game. He is apparently still not ready to return, according to the SCTimes game preview.

BROADCAST LINK: There is an
audio stream available.

*************

There's not much of a "roundup" from Thursday, as there were only one game of Flyers-related interest played yesterday. Even so, the one game was a significant one.

Team Russia improved its Subway Series record to 2-1-0 and snapped an 18-game losing streak against Team OHL with a 2-1 victory last night in Guelph. Considering the fact that the Russians had played the previous night in Val d'Or and the OHL squad had time to prepare for this tilt, it was a missed opportunity for the Canadian side to go ahead in the two-game Ontario portion of the series.

With the back-to-back games, Russia's reserve goaltender, Igor Ustinski, got the call in net. He made some fine stops (23 saves on 24 shots) but the OHL side's shooting was also rather poor in this game.

After a scoreless first period, Minnesota Wild center prospect Tyler Graovac got the game's first goal, tallying a shorthanded marker early in the second period. Team OHL nursed the skinny lead through the second period and the first 12:41 of the third period. Suddenly, Anton Shenfeld (Metallurg Magnitogorsk) and Chicago Blackhawks prospect Maxim Shalunov (Chelmet Chelyabinsk, VHL) struck for goals spaced just 24 seconds apart to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead. Team OHL never recovered.

Boston Bruins goaltending prospect Malcolm Subban and St. Louis Blues draftee Jordon Binnington each played roughly half the game in net. Binnington, who replaced Subban in goal at the first stoppage of play past the midway point of the second period, took the loss as a result of yielding the two goals in the third period.

Scott Laughton, the Flyers' 2012 first round pick, was permitted to play in the game for Team OHL despite being under a 10-game suspension in league play. He did not get on the scoresheet in somewhat limited ice time. Laughton will not be in the lineup for the Nov. 12 game in Sarnia. He was only selected for the first game.

*************

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