Bears vs Phantoms Preview, 1/17

Hershey Bears
record ~ 29-12-0-1 59 points
standings ~ 1st in East Division
most recent game ~ 5-3 Win @ Bridgeport, 1/16
last 5 games ~ 2-3-0-0
home record ~ 15-5-0-0
goals for ~ 166
goals against ~122
power play ~ 17.0% (14th)
penalty kill ~ 81.7% (21th)


Philadelphia Phantoms
record ~ 22-18-1-1 46 points
standings ~ 5th in East Division
most recent game ~ 5-4 Win vs Lowell, 1/16
last 5 games ~ 3-2-0-0
road record ~ 11-13-0-0
goals for ~ 125
goals against ~ 130
power play ~ 20.3% (5th)
penalty kill ~ 80.9% (25th)

last time teams met - Hershey won 9-0 in Hershey on November 29th.

Players to watch:

Hershey:

LW Oskar Osala (36)- Getting back into the scoring conversation with a goal and an assist last night. In 7 games against Philly so far this season he has 6 goals and 2 assists.
LW Quintin Laing (26) - He isn't known for his scoring touch and he only has 6 goals this season. But half of those goals have come against Philly.
RW Andrew Gordon (10) - Has all but disappeared over the last 10 games with only 3 points in that time. Not much better in his previous ten either with only 6 points in those games.

Phantoms:

C Jared Ross (18) - He is tied for the team lead with 17 goals and 2nd in points with 37. That includes 4 goals and 2 assists in the last 2 games.
D Danny Syrvet (25) - This former Bear is leading the team in points with 39 including 33 assists. Against Hershey he has 2 goals and 6 assists this season.
LW Boyd Kane (28) - Another former Bear is not an offensive force this season with only 8 goals on the year. BUT 5 of those goals came against Hershey.


News and Notes:

• Bryan Helmer will remain in Washington through at least today's games.
• Michal Neuvirth is expected to get the start in Hershey tonight or tomorrow night.
• Hershey leads the season series against Philly 5-2 and has won 4 straight.

• Philadelphia has struggled of late on the road winning only 1 of their last 7 road games.
• Daniel Briere has played the last 2 games for the Phantoms on a conditioning stint but is NOT expected to play in Hershey tonight.
• As of now Claude Giroux (tied for team lead in goals) remains on recall to the Flyers.
• I would expect to see Scott Monroe in net for Philly tonight.