NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Phantoms lose 4-3 in Wilkes-Barre

January 17, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


(WILKES-BARRE, Pa., Jan. 17, 2004) - Kris Beech's power-play goal 6:01 into the third period was the difference tonight at the Wachovia Arena as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defeated the Philadelphia Phantoms, 4-3.

Beech's 12th goal off a rebound of a Patrick Boileau shot was the Penguins' third power-play marker of the night. Beech and Matt Murley each finished with a goal and an assist for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, which ended a three-game losing streak vs. the Phantoms.

Andy Chiodo made 26 saves to register the win for Wilkes-Barre, while his counterpart Neil Little stopped 31-of-35 shots.

P.J. Stock recorded a goal and an assist for Philadelphia, which had a season-high five-game win streak halted. Ben Stafford and Jim Vandermeer also scored as the Phantoms suffered just their second road loss in their last 12 tries.

Wilkes-Barre opened the scoring at 8:01 of the first period while Stock was serving a charging minor. During a scramble in front of the Phantoms net, Reid Simpson beat Stafford to a rebound and placed a wrister over Little's left shoulder. Shane Endicott and Toby Petersen received assists on Simpson's fourth of the year.

But the momentum swung Philadelphia's way 49 seconds later when Penguins center Marquis Mathieu was sent to the box for five minutes for high sticking Wade Skolney.

Stafford evened the score at the 10:25 mark with his seventh goal of the season. After a Wilkes-Barre clearing pass hit John Slaney in the back while still inside their zone, Kirby Law picked up the loose puck and sent a cross-ice pass to Stafford, who uncorked a slap shot from the far circle.

While still on the power play, Mike Siklenka skated around the Penguins net and found Stock at the back door for an easy tap-in with 6:13 left in the period. Craig Berube also assisted on Stock's second of the year and first in 28 games as a Phantom.

Matt Hussey made it a 2-2 game at 4:40 of the second with his first goal in 30 games this season. Ross Lupaschuk and Rob Scuderi set up the shot from between the circles. Wilkes-Barre then re-took the lead at the 8:05 mark on a power-play goal by Murley. Boileau and Beech assisted on Murley's seventh of the year.

But the Phantoms knotted the score at 3-3 with 4:19 to go in the middle period as Vandermeer beat Chiodo with a slap shot into the lower left corner of the net. Mark Murphy and Stock set up the defenseman's first AHL goal this season.

After Beech gave the Penguins a 4-3 advantage, the Phantoms came up empty on a pair of third-period power plays. Little was pulled for a sixth attacker with just over a minute remaining, but to no avail.

The Phantoms are back in action on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. when they host the Norfolk Admirals. Next weekend, Philadelphia entertains the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Friday at 7:05 p.m., plays at Hershey on Saturday and hosts the Springfield Falcons on Sunday at 5:05 p.m.

Phantoms Notes: Joey Hope and James Laux did not travel due to injury, while Ian MacNeil and B.J. Abel were healthy scratches ... Siklenka has a four-game point streak (1G, 3A) and recorded his 100th point as a pro ... Mike Peluso played in his 300th AHL game ... Law extended his point streak to seven games (4G, 7A) ... Stock's goal was his first since Oct. 25 when he was with Providence ... Little has lost just three of his last 12 decisions ... Philadelphia still holds a 3-2 lead in the season series and a 29-14-3-1 advantage all-time.

• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...

American Hockey League Stories from January 17, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Adirondack Phantoms Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central