Lehigh Valley Phantoms: Games to Gun For

Games to gun for will go over specific games and opponents fans might want to see. Criteria are based upon AHL rivalries, fun teams to watch in the AHL and regional rivalries between the local NHL teams. Consider it a guide for casual fans to know how to get the biggest bang for their buck.

PA Announcer @joewowk is ready for Phantoms hockey. Are you? https://t.co/2kPcHKoMJw #RiseUp 10.10.15 pic.twitter.com/aAMIejTDZb

— LehighValleyPhantoms (@LVPhantoms) September 11, 2015

Normally I find a real picture, but the tweet really says it best this time

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are the last team in the North Division I have to cover here for Games to Gun for. Let's face it, its Flyers all around in that area. Your rivals are Flyers rivals. Your fan base, all Flyers, and luckily, the affiliate team is also the Flyers. Now, typically I'm not as big of a fan of such market saturation, but the team is far enough away to make it work, if you can get fans to buy in to either one or the other. Last year, the Phantoms failed to make the playoffs, settling for the low end of the spectrum at 13 in the conference, and only topping the Norfolk Admirals  in their (then) division. This year their slogan is Rise up (#RiseUP) which is a good goal because placing worse in their division would mean that the Bridgeport Sound Tigers did something better than you.

Home Opener: October 10
Opponent: Syracuse Crunch
Analysis: Hmmm how sweet this match up is. The Flyers have a reputation of being thuggish in the league, and the Crunch have been in the top five for most fights in the past three years. If you like hard hitting hockey, then I can't think of how perfect this match up should be. If there ever was a chance you might see an all out brawl on opening weekend, this game might be it. 

Opponents:
1. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Local rivals, national rivals, twelve match ups, six at home. This is a great rivalry on all levels. The match ups at the national level, the match ups at the AHL level, they are never not rivals. As a Phantoms fan, you hate the Penguins. Penguins hate you. Hate equates to strong emotional play and strong emotional play is what makes for a great game.

2. Hershey Bears
Capitals are also a good Flyers rival, but not as big as the Penguins, and so forth. But Hershey is also a huge rivalry at the AHL level. They face each other twelve times as well, six times at home. A good chance to face off against the NHL rival, a local rival and good historic team while you're at it.

3. Hartford Wolf Pack
At the risk of repeating myself: Rangers, division, rivalry. That said, it wasn't until recently that the Wolf Pack became a division rival. Sure, the hate might be there, but it isn't there as it is with the previous two teams mentioned. They face six times, three at home.

4, Providence Bruins
There are no shortage of NHL/AHL rivalries in the division. Bruins are another one that has faded a bit in recent years on the Flyers side of things, due to how the competition has developed and competetor has developed, but there should be plenty of residual hate. Plus with the new divisions, it means that the Bruins are another opponent the Phantoms have to try to stand over. They play six times.

5. Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Normally I look for an out of division opponent to use at some point, but this one is easy. And it boils down to something said before: Bridgeport Sound Tigers are the worst team in the division. Phantoms were on the verge of being the worst team last year. That means that the Sound Tigers are going to look to over take the Phantoms to not be the worst, and Phantoms have to be afraid of that. Nobody wants to be the team that is the joke. Phantoms have to beat down the Sound Tigers first and foremost to prevent that from happening if they don't do so hot this year.