Courtesy of The Post-Star

The Phantoms player I’m most interested to follow during the lockout may surprise you

In three seasons covering the Adirondack Phantoms, only two players made me stop and say, “Wow.” Brayden Schenn and Matt Read belonged in a different league from their first shifts. Instead of rookies, they looked like 16-year-olds with forged birth certificates who faked their way into some 13-and-under house league. They were the only sure things. And you didn’t need to be a hockey genius to see it. If you asked me, however, who was the third most impressive forward I covered, I bet you’d be surprised by the answer. This time last year, Matt Ford was a third-liner for the …

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Then and Now: Niko Dimitrakos

Before suffering a groin injury in the middle of February this season, Tom Sestito had played in 14 games for the Philadelphia Flyers posting an assist and 83 PIMs. The Orange and Black obtained Sestito in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets in February of 2011, where the Flyers shipped Greg Moore and Michael Chaput to Ohio in exchange for the hulking forward. Columbus was able to draft Sestito with the third-round pick they acquired in a draft-day deal with the San Jose Sharks in 2004, which sent a fourth-rounder in 2006 and a second-rounder in 2007 San Jose’s …

Image Courtesy of Aaron Eisenhauer

Minor League Update: 4/2-4/8

With one week left in the AHL regular season, the Phantoms find themselves within reach of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Adirondack sits in 10th with 76 points, which is one less than both the eighth place Manchester Monarchs (Los Angeles Kings’ AHL affiliate) and ninth place Portland Pirates (Phoenix Coyotes). The Monarchs have a Game in Hand over both the Phantoms and Pirates, as Adirondack finishes the 2011-2012 season with a pair of home games. To start the week, the Phantoms beat the Albany Devils (New Jersey) 3-2 on Friday in Adirondack. As they entered …

Image Courtesy of Jason McKibben

Minor League Update: 3/19-3/25

In response to their three-game losing streak last week, the Adirondack Phantoms came out and won all three of their contests this week. After they allowed one goal in their first two wins, the Phantoms allowed four goals last night, but were able to come up with a one-goal win against a team they have struggled against all year. Although the Phantoms only moved up to 11th place in the standings, they are now four points behind the Syracuse Crunch (Anaheim Ducks’ AHL affiliate) for eighth in the Eastern Conference. Jason Akeson’s 11th goal of the season was all Michael …

Thanks to The Saratogian

Minor League Update: 2/20-2/26

The Phantoms lost their first game of the week, but won their last two to win back-to-back games for the first time since the middle of January. With their shootout win and one-goal victory, the Phantoms are looking for their first three-game winning streak since early December. Although they are 13th in the Eastern Conference, the Phantoms, who have two road games and one game in Adirondack over the next few days, are five points out of eighth place. To start the week, the Phantoms were shut out on the road by David Leggio and the Rochester Americans (Buffalo Sabres’ AHL affiliate) on Friday night by …

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Minor League Update: 2/13-2/19

The Adirondack Phantoms won half of their games this week, as they ended their lengthy road losing streak in the process. After they went without a single road win in the months of December and January, the Phantoms finally earned a win away from home. Adirondack will try to climb back into the playoff picture this week, as they finish their four-game road trip before they return home on Sunday. The Phantoms extended their losing streak to four games on Tuesday night, as they dropped a 2-1 decision to the Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate) in overtime. Mike Zigomanis …

Minor League Update: 2/6-2/12

The Phantoms continue to struggle, as they dropped their pair of games this week to extend their losing streak to three games. Adirondack has only won one out of their last nine games and are currently on an eight-game losing streak away from the Glens Falls Civic Center. They will have a chance to end both skids with three away games and four games overall in the next seven days. Dustin Tokarski recorded his third shutout of the season on Friday night, as the Norfolk Admirals (Tampa Bay Lightning’s AHL affiliate) beat the visiting Phantoms 2-0. Tokarski stopped all 17 …

Minor League Update: 1/30-2/5

The Phantoms ended their five-game losing streak this week, as they went 1-1-0 in a pair of games in Adirondack. Despite a win in their first game of the week, the Phantoms lost their second game to drop their record to 2-7-0 in their last nine games. Adirondack is looking for a pair of wins in the upcoming week, as they play the team they beat this week twice on the road. The Phantoms ended their lengthy losing streak with a 3-1 decision over the Norfolk Admirals (Tampa Bay Lightning’s AHL affiliate) on Friday night. The newly acquired forward Matt Ford …

Phantoms Q&A with Tim McManus

Flyers Faithful would like to thank Tim McManus for taking time out of his busy schedule once again to provide insight on the Adirondack Phantoms. We are eternally grateful for all of the help he has given to us. Flyers Faithful: Last season the Phantoms finished 13th in the conference with a .450 win percentage. This season, they’re 12th but have a .524 win percentage and are only 3 points out of a playoff spot with some games in hand over teams above them and 2 points out of first in the division. Are theymbetter than their standing suggest or …

Minor League Update: 1/15-1/22

The Adirondack Phantoms could only notch one win this week despite taking part in four contests, as they went 1-1-0 at home and 0-2-0 on the road. The one win and three losses this week moved the Phantoms to 4-5-0 for the month of January, while they are two points out of first place in the Northeast Division with a game in hand on the division leading Connecticut Whale (New York Rangers’ AHL affiliate). Adirondack hopes to gain possession of first place in the division following their upcoming three-game week, as they finish January by taking on the Albany Devils (New Jersey …

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