D-3: Hit

Published on March 7, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


NORFOLK - The East Division-leading Philadelphia Phantoms outshot the seventh-place Norfolk Admirals 46-29 Friday night, including a 20-5 shot advantage in the third period, but dropped a 4-2 decision at Norfolk Scope. The setback was Philadelphia's third in a row, but didn't cause the Phantoms to lose any ground in the East Division race.

The Phantoms were done in by a first period in which they were outshot 15-9 and outscored 2-0. The first goal came at the 6:17 mark, when Brandon Segal jumped on a long rebound and put it past starter Scott Munroe for the 1-0 lead. The advantage doubled later in the period during a power play, when Adam Henrich scored on a long wrist shot from the high slot that went through a screen and past Munroe at 13:11.

The Admirals jumped out to a 3-0 lead with an early second period tally from Blair Jones. He took a puck behind the net from the left side, came out to the right and flicked a backhander that hit the newly-installed Martin Houle and went in at 4:37.

The Phantoms answered with a power play goal at 8:23. Jonathan Matsumoto did some nifty manuvering from the right-wing half boards, walking to the top of the circle and then to the hash marks before snapping a shot past Marc Denis. The tally was assisted by David Laliberte and Denis Gauthier and made it a 3-1 game.

But Norfolk reclaimed its three-goal lead just 3:18 into the third period with another power play tally. Jones was operating in the left-wing circle and lifted a backhanded pass to the right-wing circle, where Radek Smolenak was hanging out by himself. Smolenak's one-timer beat Houle to give Norfolk the 4-1 lead.

Philadelphia got one of the goals back with 5:26 to play when Laliberte jumped on the rebound of a shot by Matsumoto, but the Phantoms could draw no closer.

The loss goes to Houle, who stopped 12 of 14 in two periods of work. Munroe turned away 13 of 15 in the first period. Denis took the win with 44 saves on 46 Phantoms shots.

Philadelphia's record now sits at 38-21-2-3 for 81 points. The loss was the team's third in a row, matching its longest such streak of the season. Combined with a loss by Albany to Worcester on Friday, the Phantoms maintain a five-point lead in the East Division with a game in hand on Albany.

The Phantoms are off for the rest of the weekend, and are next in action on Tuesday, March 11 when they host Norfolk at the Wachovia Spectrum at 7:05. It's Dollar Dog Night at the Spectrum, so bring the appetites! Tickets are available at the Wachovia Complex box office, online at ComcastTIX.com or phantomshockey.com, or by phone at 1-800-298-4200.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 7, 2008


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