2,919 days ago, the Phantoms played in their most recent playoff game. It was a 1-0 loss to the Hershey Bears at the Giant Center, the final game in the history of the Philadelphia Phantoms. It closed out a sweep in that East Division Semifinal series, and it was the first of four series wins for the eventual 2009 Calder Cup Champion Bears.
Some things have changed in those 2,919 days. The now-Lehigh Valley Phantoms have called two different cities home since. They’ve recycled mediocre prospect after mediocre prospect, toiling away for six seasons in AHL irrelevancy. They’ve opened a brand new arena in Allentown, and they’ve finally reached the playoffs again thanks to Ron Hextall’s commitment to building the Flyers organization at all levels.