With Ilya Bryzgalov posting less than pleasing statistics this year while playing for CSKA of the KHL, the Flyers have goaltending issues even during a time where no players are even allowed to wear a Flyers logo. The Phantoms don’t have either issue.
Scott Munroe (University of Alabama-Huntsville) has taken sole possession of the starting goaltending position and has done a stellar job of doing so. In his second stint with the Phantoms, Munroe has posted a 3-2 record in 5 games with a .923 save percentage, 2.62 GAA, and 1 shutout. Rookie backup Cal Heeter (Ohio State) surprised many by beating out Niko Hovinen for the second goaltending spot, but has since struggled – 3.21 GAA and 8.75 SV% in 5 games.
(Dennis Nett, The Post-Standard)
As expected, Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier continue to lead the team in scoring – 4G, 7A, 10GP and 2G, 8A, 9GP, respectively. Scoring seems to be a struggle, though, for the Phantoms as they have only scored a combined 25 goals in 10 games. Many of the team’s players have negative numbers in their plus/minus columns, with a team total of -36. Scott Munroe can only be hot for so long.
Notable players with NHL experience, such as Harry Zolnierczyk (3G 0A), Eric Wellwood (0G 1A), and Marc-Andre Bourdon (1A, -3 plus/minus) will need to advance their game and chip in offensively if the Phantoms hope to improve.
With a 5-5 record and the third seed in the Northeast division just 10 games into the season, the Phantoms aren’t too worried. They’ll need to make improvements, and they will. They took the ice last night in Albany against the Devils losing 2-1 and their next game is Wednesday in Manchester, New Hampshire against the Kings’ affiliate, the Monarchs.
John Feldman
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