Admirals sail away with extra point
Published on January 21, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release
PHILADELPHIA - John Slaney registered his 500th AHL point and the Phantoms outshot the league's best team 40-26, but the Norfolk Admirals used an overtime goal from Dustin Byfuglien to take a 4-3 extra-time win before 7,944 at the Wachovia Spectrum on Sunday evening. Stefan Ruzicka had two goals for the home team, while Mark Cullen contributed a pair of assists.
The Phantoms scored first just 1:19 into the contest. Ruzicka carried the puck into the Norfolk zone and performed some nifty stickwork before snapping a long, low wrister from the top of the circle, which beat Patrick Lalime.
Philadelphia went up 2-0 on a Pete Zingoni goal that came on a delayed penalty at 7:39. The puck popped to Zingoni in the top of the left wing circle, and he fired a wrist shot that beat Lalime to the stick side.
The Admirals got one of the goals back at 12:48 of the frame when Adam Burish stepped in front of a Philadelphia pass and went in on a breakaway, beating Martin Houle low to make it 2-1 at the first intermission.
Norfolk equalized affairs at 8:55 of the second period, when a centering pass hit a Phantoms defenseman and snuck over the line. Carl Corrazini received credit for the goal as the last Admiral to touch the puck.
The Phantoms took a 3-2 lead on the goal that brought Slaney's historic point. Philadelphia was on the power play when Slaney played a puck down low to Cullen. Cullen found Ruzicka in the high slot, and he fired a wrister past Lalime at 12:13 of the second period.
The Admirals tied the game again before the intermission. David Bolland put on an individual show, skating the puck from the blue line into the Phantoms end and working his way through Philadelphia personnel before sending it past Houle on the backhand with just 1:07 remaining in the frame.
After a scoreless third period sent the game to overtime, Byfuglien decided things 2:33 into the extra session. His wrist shot from the slot beat Houle high for the game-winner.
Houle took the loss with 22 saves on 26 shots, while Lalime took home the win with 37 saves on 40 Phantoms chances.
Afterwards, Slaney reflected on another milestone in his career that took place within the friendly confines of the Wachovia Spectrum.
"I actually scored my first NHL goal in this building, so there's got to be something in this building for me," Slaney said. "There's been a lot of records I've broken in this building. It's been nice to me."
Combined with Friday night's crowd of 8,556, the Phantoms welcomed a total of 16,500 fans to the Wachovia Spectrum over the weekend.
The Phantoms are back at the Wachovia Spectrum for a mid-week special with the rival Hershey Bears on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 7:05. Individual tickets for all Phantoms games, including $8 tickets for children 14 and under anywhere in the building, are on sale now at phantomshockey.com or by calling 800-298-4200.
American Hockey League Stories from January 21, 2007
- MacLean Nets Hat Trick In Shootout Loss to Manchester - San Antonio Rampage
- Monarchs Round-Up Road Trip With Shootout Win - Manchester Monarchs
- Admirals sail away with extra point - Adirondack Phantoms
- Belle scores twice as Aeros top Admirals, 6-1 - Houston Aeros
- Cumiskey and Guite returned by Colorado - Albany River Rats
- Byfuglien's OT Goal Caps Norfolk Comeback - Norfolk Admirals
- Bears get by Penguins, 4-1 - Hershey Bears
- P-Bruins Defeat Pirates 3-2 - Providence Bruins
- Sharks Top Devils, 3-2 - Albany Devils
- Kings Assign Pushkarev To Manchester - Manchester Monarchs
- Slaney Scores 500th Career AHL Point - Adirondack Phantoms
- Stortini reassigned to Hamilton - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Barker, Burish, Byfuglien and MacDonald Return to Admirals - Norfolk Admirals
- Aeros game notes - Houston Aeros
- Belle, Ward back for Milwaukee showdown - Houston Aeros
- Backes, Sejna and King Return from Blues - Peoria Rivermen
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