Rapid Reaction: King's Thoughts on Preseason Loss to Phantoms

Despite seeing an early 1-0 lead courtesy of Dalton Smith give way to the disappointment of an eventual 4-1 road loss to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Saturday, Hershey Bears head coach Derek King attempted to evaluate the outcome by looking from a broader view.

“Obviously it wasn’t the outcome we wanted, especially when you score early like that with Smitty getting one,” King said following the preseason exhibition contest at PPL Center. “It was sloppy at times, but there were some good things and the majority of the not-so-good] things is stuff we can correct.

“It was our first game. [We haven’t had] a lot of structure in the practices. It’s been more or less just getting the pacing. We’ll get there.”

King acknowledged that he didn’t have to worry so much about evaluating Smith – who managed two goals in 60 games last season in a bottom-six forward role for Hershey – along with fellow returning players such as Matt Strome, Grant Cruikshank, and Sam Bitten.

“You know what you’re going to get from them,” King said.

Many of the players in the lineup for both teams have spent large portions of their careers in the ECHL, and with that comes a learning curve in the higher-level American Hockey League.

“It’s a lot of systems stuff that these guys have probably never played before, and we’re trying to throw everything at them all at once,” King said. “It’s not fair, but you can see who can pick it up quickly and who can’t, and we’ll be better tomorrow.” 

King came away with some early praise for at least one newcomer.

“I liked [Kyle] Jackson for our team,” King said. “I thought he was one who just looked like he wanted the puck and was trying to make stuff happen. This was an opportunity for guys to kind of step up and just shine for a little bit. I did see a bit of that from guys, but not enough.”

As for tomorrow’s 3 p.m. preseason finale at GIANT Center against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, fans should expect some tweaks to the game roster. With a number of unknowns in terms of who the parent Washington Capitals may eventually send to Hershey in the days ahead (and notwithstanding those who could be claimed on waivers by other NHL clubs), King could have some options.

“I think there’ll be some changes. If some guys are coming back to us, some of the young guys that don’t have to clear waivers should be coming back,” King said. “I’ll have to wait and see and hear from our management group. If we’re getting some of our players back, we’re definitely going to put them in.”

If there is any early concern, it would be for goaltender Mitch Gibson, who exited the game with an apparent lower-body injury after allowing a goal that made it 3-1 in favor of the Phantoms late in the second period. King had yet to confer with head athletic trainer Max Finley on what Gibson’s status would be.

“I think it was more precautionary, but I still have to talk to Max and get the scoop on it,” King said.

Written by Bears media specialist Jesse Liebman