Fan Report: Flyers Vs. Phantoms

It's definitely a day for focusing on the Phillies, but we wanted to throw a cambio in as well. Marty from digidigidigi was at the Flyers-Phantoms game on Tuesday, and provided this fan report.

Up until the sounding horn of last night’s exhibition game between the Philadelphia Flyers and their AHL affiliate, the Phantoms, yours truly held the (un-popular) opinion that such a highly touted and emotional affair was a tremendous waste of time. You, being the Flyers organization, have already said farewell to the Spectrum, home of two Stanley Cup victories among other memorable moments, in a pre-season game against the Carolina Hurricanes just a few weeks prior. And you, being the Flyers coaching staff, have just iced a lineup that opposing teams can expect to face at the start of the regular season, all the while putting your most talented and professional player’s bodies on the line for a game that wasn’t even sanctioned by the NHL. Now with all that in mind, what changed my opinion once my fanny hit the Spectrum seats? I’ll tell you, after the JUMP.

For starters, I haven’t been to the Spectrum in years. The first time I attended “America’s Showplace” was as a child for a Harlem Globetrotter’s spanking of the Washington Generals. Fast forward many years later to the clinching game of the most recent Calder Cup Championship, and there I sat in the stands, seeing the maturing skills of future captain Mike Richards, future center and Riverdeck frequenter Jeff Carter, and future head coach John Stevens. The building is notorious for being loud, no doubt due to its structure and compactness. Even as we approached the upper most row of the building to watch the game, you still felt like you’d be somewhere around the Mezzanine level at the Wachovia Center, where player’s numbers are easily discernible. 

The 8-bit scoreboard helped fuel a retro and nostalgic feeling with its meager penalty minutes ledgers on either side of the hilarious LED-like main screen, featuring cameos from “the dude”, Homer Simpson, and Uncle Fester using the Peco Energy Power Play to light a bulb in his mouth. The main (and only) concourse was completely packed before, during and after the game. It was little characteristics like these, or “scars” if you will, that made looking around the Spectrum a bit more interesting than what was happening on the ice below.

 A Simon Gagne goal after a dominating shift from what will be the Flyers top line made the score 1-0 for most of the game. Goals by Patrick Maroon, Jonathan Matsumoto and Andreas Nodl for the Phantoms made the score 4-2, with a goal by Scottie Upshall and a disallowed goal by Jeff Carter making things somewhat interesting towards the end. The most exciting aspect of the game was that no one was injured. The two teams met at center ice and shook hands before taking pictures and donating their jerseys to a silent auction.

 

Notes

- Game swag included a Spectrum poster and an Ed Snider card with matching envelope.

- Carter’s goal was disallowed for batting a puck into the net.

- Strong goaltending was the highlight of the evening, with both Biron and Nittymaki making tremendous saves.

- Randy Jones returned to action after being injured for most of the pre-season.

Comments

[lions]

what exactly is a cambio?

Cameo, maybe?

Eff it all, Go PHILS!

[theKrisheim]

true that ed snider was handing out mccain bumper stickers on the exit?

[Scott B]

how did Gagne look? healthy? ready to go?

[gootman]

Although it didn't make the glossary, cambio is Wheels' term for a change-up.

[digi]

None of this would have been possible... without Joe Manning having band practice... matt overworking himself... and Will.

I thank you all...!!!

[Tartan69]

They had to put this game on the schedule to keep season ticket holders happy. The Spectrum wasn't big enough to allow all the suite-holder and lower-bowl ticket-holders the Wachovia Center (nee Bailout Center) to sit in the lower bowl at the Spectrum. Thus they did this so that the season ticket holders that didn't get a good seat for the Canes game could get one at this game.

Thus the Flyers didn't have to do this game. They definitely bend over backwards and treat their season ticket holders better than any of the other three teams treat their's. Hands-down.

[Rick]

Who cheered for who??? I mean, if you want to see the Phantoms players be brought up to the Flyers because you ARE a Flyers fan and know that this is the farm club then when a goal was scored by the Phantoms did you stand and applaud and then when the Flyers scored, did you also stand and applaud?? The things that make you go Hmmm...???

[lutton]

>>Who cheered for who???

C'mon, it's like a scrimmage. Fans applaud good play and playmaking on both sides.

What would have been really interesting is if they were allowed to mix up the teams from period to period. Mix and match the guys right on the cusp, the ones we'll no doubt see up with the big club from time to time throughout the season.

[Cottman&Castor]

the best that night was when the whole spectrum yelled the broad street bullies....classic.

[Jonny B]

Feel good moments. Good times but raising the Stanley Cup banners again seemed a little much. I leaned over to my dad (who was around for the cups) and said "I want my own."