Aucoin's Last-Second Goal Gives Hershey 5-4 Win Over Phantoms
February 21, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release
HERSHEY - Keith Aucoin slid home the game-winning goal as time expired in overtime to give the Hershey Bears a 5-4 overtime, come-from-behind win over the Philadelphia Phantoms on Saturday night at GIANT Center. The standings point the Phantoms gained pulled them within three points of Binghamton in the East Division playoff race.
The Phantoms took a 1-0 lead with 4:57 left in the first period. Jared Ross skated through the right-wing circle, cut into the slot and was on one leg getting ready to fall when he fired a shot past Daren Machesney. Ross's 21st gave the Phantoms the advantage at the first intermission.
The Bears appeared to seize momentum just 15 seconds into the second period when AHL leading goal-scorer Alexandre Giroux fired a cannon blast past Munroe from the left-wing circle. But the Phantoms answered with two huge goals beginning less than two minutes later when Jonathan Matsumoto stole a puck in the Hershey zone and played a pass to the right of the net, where David Laliberte deflected it past Machesney to retake the lead at 2-1.
Then 37 seconds later, Jeff Szwez found a loose puck high in the Hershey zone and blasted a slapshot that went through a hole in Machesney's armor and into the net, making it 3-1. The goal chased Machesney from the crease in favor of Kris Mayotte.
Hershey pulled within a goal at 13:41 on a tally that was a split-second too late to be a shorthanded goal. Patrick Wellar fired a shot from the point that got through traffic and beat Munroe, making it 3-2.
But the Phantoms regained the two-goal advantage during the back half of a four-minute power play. Patrick Maroon took a feed from Andreas Nodl and snapped it high over the shoulder of Mayotte, giving the Phantoms a 4-2 advantage after two periods.
A high-sticking call against Boyd Kane late in the second period gave Hershey 2:50 of power play time to start the third period, and they took advantage with a goal from Bryan Helmer. The defenseman wound up for a slapshot from the left point, but didn't get all of the puck. The mishap had a change-up effect and fooled Munroe, beating him past his glove to make it a 4-3 game.
Then with 13:12 left in the period, Hershey equalized the affair on a mad scrum in front of the net. Philadelphia's entire five rushed to the goal line to help out Munroe, but Jay Beagle poked the puck through the mess and into the net to tie the game at 4-4.
The Phantoms withstood a late penalty to reach overtime, but an icing call with 4.7 seconds left put a faceoff into the right-wing circle of the Phantoms zone. With the league's two leading scorers on the ice for Hershey in Aucoin and Giroux, Aucoin won the draw back to Giroux at the right point. He fired a shot that was blocked, but the rebound slid right to Aucoin, who tucked it inside the right post as time expired. The goal officially stood at 4:59 of the overtime session.
Munroe suffered the loss despite making 31 saves on 36 Hershey shots. Mayotte picked up the win in relief with 10 saves on 11 shots faced, while Machesney stopped 10 of 13 in 22:45 of action.
The Phantoms return to the ice with two home games next weekend, on Friday against Bridgeport and Saturday against Providence. Start time for both contests at the Wachovia Spectrum is 7:05.
Adult tickets are just $10 and kids tickets just $5 for the remainder of the 2008-09 season. Tickets are available through ComcastTIX at 1-800-298-4200, at the Wachovia Complex box office or online at Phantomshockey.com.
American Hockey League Stories from February 21, 2009
- Aeros edge Chops in shootout on Saturday, 2-1 - Iowa Chops
- Wolves Defeat Rivermen Behind 33 Saves From Pavelec - Peoria Rivermen
- Falcons Beat Sound Tigers In A Shootout - Springfield Falcons
- Moose drop second straight road game - Manitoba Moose
- Admirals Storm from Behind to Beat Senators and Claim "Series" Victory - Norfolk Admirals
- Moulson's Trick Gives Lowell A Devil Of A Time - Manchester Monarchs
- Wolf Pack wins over Portland Pirate - Connecticut Whale
- Sharks can't solve Bruins in front of sellout crowd at DCU Center - Worcester Sharks
- Bulldogs freeze Penguins 4-1 - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Wolf Pack Wins 2-1 in Overtime Over Pirates - Portland Pirates
- Aucoin's Last-Second Goal Gives Hershey 5-4 Win Over Phantoms - Adirondack Phantoms
- Wotton scores late in the third period to steal a point away from Springfield in a shootout loss - Bridgeport Islanders
- Devils Defeated By Monarchs, 7-2 - Albany Devils
- P-Bruins Defeat Sharks 4-2 - Providence Bruins
- Amerks Skate Past Marlies With 3-1 Win In Toronto - Rochester Americans
- Goaltender James Reimer Reassigned to Reading - Toronto Marlies
- San Jose Sharks Assign Three To Worcester - Worcester Sharks
- John Vigilante Joins Flames - Abbotsford Heat
- Crunch Add Defenseman Dan Spang - Syracuse Crunch
- Calgary Flames Recall Forward Kyle Greentree - Abbotsford Heat
- Lightning Send Downie and Wishart to Norfolk - Norfolk Admirals
- Moose sign Eizenman to PTO - Manitoba Moose
- Support Crittenton Crisis Nursery and Peoria Rescue Mission on Sunday - Peoria Rivermen
- Columbus Recalls Defenseman Aaron Rome - Syracuse Crunch
- Falcons Host The Sound Tigers Tonight - Springfield Falcons
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.
