Boucher, Phantoms Strike Another 6-0 Win

Published on November 30, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


HAMILTON, Ont. - Rookies and veterans alike enjoyed a standout night on Friday as the Philadelphia Phantoms stormed to their second consecutive 6-0 win, this one coming against the Hamilton Bulldogs at Copps Coliseum. Brian Boucher turned in an effort identical to his last game by blanking the Dogs with 28 saves, while David Laliberte and Josh Beaulieu both scored their first American Hockey League goals.

The Phantoms got down to business 7:33 into the game when the line of Jonathan Matsumoto, Kyle Greentree and Darren Reid potted yet another goal. Reid got the puck to Greentree on the right wall, who fired a shot from a sharp angle. Matsumoto buried the rebound for the 1-0 lead.

The score stayed the same until late in the second period, when the Phantoms began to pull away. The two rookies posted goals within 40 seconds of one another, with Laliberte going first. He closed within close range before snapping a shot high past goaltender Yann Danis, making the score 2-0 with 3:13 remaining in the frame.

The clock had only ticked down to 2:33 when Beaulieu picked up his first professional goal. Playing in front of several friends and family from his home province of Ontario, Beaulieu was part of a scramble in front of the Hamilton net and was able to shove the puck over the line. It gave Philadelphia a 3-0 lead at the second break.

The Phantoms did the rest of their work on the power play. At 12:39 of the third period, Maxim Lapierre was assessed a five-minute slashing major and a game misconduct for a hit on Reid that knocked the winger from the game. The Phantoms struck three times on the ensuing power play, first when Alexandre Picard extended his goal scoring streak to four games with a slapshot from the high slot at 13:52. Sixty-one seconds later, Matsumoto made it a 5-0 game off assists from Stefan Ruzicka and Greentree. Then at 17:27, Jared Ross closed out the scoring with a goal from Picard and Ruzicka.

Ross earned the game's first star with a four-point night on a goal and three assists, the first four-point game for a Phantom since Kane and Mark Cullen both accomplished the feat last season in a 6-4 win over Springfield on March 23 at the Wachovia Spectrum. Boucher was the second star, and Laliberte took the third star nod with a goal and an assist.

In its last game last Saturday night, Philadelphia shut out Hershey 6-0, also behind a 28-save performance from Boucher. It's his third shutout of the season and fourth in which he was involved - he combined with Scott Munroe to shut out Worcester on November 3.

Boucher's last goal allowed was at 6:11 of the third period in last Friday's 2-1 loss to Hershey, giving him a current shutout streak of 133:49. Boucher holds the NHL record for the longest shutout streak, going 322:01 without allowing a goal while with Phoenix during the 2003-04 season.

The Phantoms continue their three-game road trip Saturday night in Cleveland against the Lake Erie Monsters before wrapping it up on Sunday in Toronto against the Marlies. They'll return to the Wachovia Spectrum to host the Norfolk Admirals on Friday, December 7 at 7:05 PM. Tickets are available at the Wachovia Complex box office, online at ComcastTIX.com or phantomshockey.com, or by phone at 1-800-298-4200.

Phantoms season tickets and game plans are still available for the 2007-08 season. Fans can secure the same great seat at a discount for 6, 10, 20 or prorated season tickets for Phantoms home games this season while receiving an impressive list of exclusive benefits. Packages start as low as $60!

For more information or to make a deposit, call the Phantoms at 215-465-4522 during normal business hours. Single-game tickets for the entire season are available via ComcastTIX at www.phantomshockey.com, with kids tickets only $10 for any seat, any game, all season long. More information is also available at the Phantoms website, Phantomshockey.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from November 30, 2007


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