Defense Keeps Streak Alive in Phantoms Win
by David W. Unkle
Published on January 25, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms
(PHILADELPHIA)--- Nick Deschenes was somewhat of an anomaly for the Phantoms this weekend. Being the only forward to light the lamp over a three-in-three weekend usually indicates a team in the midst of a slump.
That's definitely not the case for the Philadelphia Phantoms.
Winners of their nine of their last ten games, the Phantoms continue their improbable trek towards the top of the American Hockey League. With tonight's victory, the Phantoms are on top of the Eastern Conference and three points behind league-leading Grand Rapids.
Unlike past seasons, an offensive slumber signaled a drop in the AHL standings.
"I don't know what it is", said Phantoms coach John Stevens. "With our resilience, we always feel like we can come back and win. Tonight we found a way to stay in the hockey game."
This year, the new-look Phantoms have a defensive corps which is equally impressive at both ends of the ice.
Eleven goals in ten games from veterans John Slaney (3G) and since recalled (and injured) Jimmy Vandermeer (1G) along with rookies Randy Jones (3G), Kirk Furey (2G), and Freddy Meyer (2G).
"It's tremendous anytime you get production from your backend", said Stevens.
But none of this would be possible if not for two key November additions.
The Phantoms are 21-6-2 since Craig Berube joined the club on November 21 and the Chief, along with P.J. Stock are largely credited for changing the team's fortunes.
What Stock and Berube bring cannot be located on the scoring sheet; there are no columns to tally the mental and physical toughness displayed by the Phantoms tonight is present for the first time in the last few seasons.
Which brings us to tonight's contest.
The Phantoms killed off their last twenty penalties. And along the way, they had an impressive streak of shutouts against Bridgeport and Hershey.
That all came to an end when Frantisek Lukes ended the scoreless streak at 130:00 in the opening minutes of the game.
Kirby Law was whistled for holding at 1:25 of the game and with less than a minute to go in the power play, Lukes stuffed a rebound past Little from the left side of the Phantoms net.
Surrendering the early power play goal did little to ruffle the Phantoms' feathers.
Neither did the ensuing additional five power plays that the Falcons were handed in the opening twenty minutes.
"We were shorthanded for half the hockey game", said Stevens. "It's a difficult way to play having three games in three nights".
The Phantoms next opportunity to self-destruct came during a four minute stretch midway through the second period.
Three straight minor penalties gave Springfield the opportunity to expand their lead but the league's worst power play unit held true to form and the score remained 1-0.
Freddy Meyer knotted the score at one as the teams played four-on-four hockey. Kirby Law and Ben Stafford worked the puck to Meyer, who put the puck over David LeNeveu's shoulder from inside the right circle.
For Meyer it was his second goal in as many nights.
Simply put, Meyer describes his recent offensive prowess as "puck luck".
"And I hope it continues", said the rookie defenseman.
Erik Westrum gave the visitors a 2-1 lead before Randy Jones, with his second goal in as many nights, evened the score at two.
LeNeveu was unable to corral Jones' shot which hopped a few times on the Philadelphia ice before coming to rest in the back of the Falcons' net.
It was up to Deschenes, another fellow rookie, to close out the night's scoring. Of his five goals, two are game-winners.
Ben Stafford assisted on all three goals and Phantoms' leading scorer, Kirby Law added two helpers.
Neil Little stopped 24 shots in earning his second victory in as many nights.
After the team toppled the team they've chased all season, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Stevens lauded the play of his young defensemen.
"We've said all along that the play of Kirk Furey, Randy Jones, and Freddy Meyer has been tremendous and certainly unexpected".
Stevens went on to add, "...aside from John Slaney, there are no superstars back there".
"But collectively they're very effective.
And that collective play has the Phantoms at the Conference helm for the first time in recent memory.
SCORING SPR 1-0-1 PHL 0-1-2SHOTS ON GOAL SPR 10-11-5 PHL 9-9-13
Scoring
PERIOD TEAM GOAL ASSIST(S) TIME SCORE 1ST SPR Lukes (2) Bezina, Ferraro 2:34 0-1 2ND PHL Meyer (4) Law, Stafford 12:21 1-1 3RD SPR Westrum (10) Tselios 1:27 2-1 3RD PHL Jones (5) Hope, Stafford 6:50 2-2 3rd PHL Deschenes (5) Stafford, Law 15:34 3-2
Penalties
PERIOD TEAM PLAYER PENALTY TIME GOAL 1ST PHL Law Holding 1:25 Y 1ST PHL Jones roughing 5:32 N 1ST PHL Jones roughing 5:32 N 1ST SPR Westrum roughing 5:32 N 1ST SPR Wilson roughing 5:32 N 1ST PHL Little roughing 5:32 N 1ST SPR Ferraro hooking 9:28 N 1ST PHL Kane unsportsmanlike 10:31 N 1ST PHL White cross-checking 12:39 N 1ST PHL Law high-sticking 14:15 N 1ST PHL Meyer elbowing 14:49 N 1ST SPR McCarthy hooking 16:36 N 2ND SPR Knyazev roughing 5:26 N 2ND PHL Furey cross-checking 7:50 N 2ND PHL Jones slashing 8:46 N 2ND PHL White elbowing 11:55 N 2ND SPR Stutzel boarding 12:06 N 2ND PHL Peluso misconduct 14:37 N 2ND PHL Peluso misconduct 14:37 N 2ND PHL Kane hooking 16:14 N 3RD PHL Furey obstruction-hooking 4:16 N 3RD SPR Lukes cross-checking 5:19 N 3RD SPR Bezina cross-checking 15:41 Y 3RD SPR Westrum cross-checking 19:00 N
GOALIES S SA MIN LeNeveu (SPR) 29 32 59:48 Little (PHL) 24 26 60:00
STARS OF THE GAME
1. Nick Deschenes (PHL)
2. Ben Stafford (PHL)
3. Kirby Law (PHL)
Selected by: David W. Unkle of WNJC 1360-AM (Philadelphia)
NOTES:
1. Phantoms defensemen Jim Vandermeer and Dennis Seidenberg are out due to injuries while on recall to the Philadelphia Flyers. Goalkeeper Antero Niittymaki is up with the parent club serving as a back-up to Robert Esche while Jeff Hackett recovers from a middle ear condition. Forward Patrick Sharp was recalled to the Flyers following the trade of Justin Williams to the Carolina Hurricane.
2. With the Phantoms 2-0 shutout of the Hershey Bears last night, Philadelphia registered its club-record seventh shutout of the season. It was the third time in franchise history that the Phantoms recorded back-to-back shutouts and the first since February-March 2001.
3. The Phantoms' John Slaney played in his 700th game as a pro; the 13-year veteran blue liner is three goals away from breaking the AHL record for most career goals by a defenseman.
4. Springfield snapped a four game losing streak with a 2-1 victory against the Norfolk Admirals.
5. The anemic Springfield power play, already ranked last in the AHL, further secured their positioning by netting only six goals in their last 72 opportunities.
6. The Falcons' Peter Ferraro has three goals and six assists in his last thirteen games.
GAME OFFICIALS
Referee: Steve Kozari
Linesman: Angelo D'Amico
Linesman: Leo Boylan
ATTENDANCE: 6,553
American Hockey League Stories from January 25, 2004
- Defense Keeps Streak Alive in Phantoms Win - OSC Original by David W. Unkle
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- Wolf Pack Snap Monarchs Win Streak With Four-Goal Second Period - Manchester Monarchs
- Griffins battle to extend unbeaten streak to 11 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Cincinnati Mighty Ducks Preview - Cincinnati RailRaiders
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The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
