Devils Held Off By Phantoms, 5-4

Published on January 16, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release


PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Michael Swift's second straight two-goal game helped the Lowell Devils rally from a three-goal deficit, but it was the Philadelphia Phantoms pulling out the 5-4 win on Friday at the Wachovia Spectrum.

Though Danny Syvret scored on a power play early in the second to put Philadelphia up, 4-1, the Devils would dominate the rest of a period that saw them hold a 14-2 shot advantage and pull within one.

Matt Halischuk - in his first game action since November 7 - started the Lowell down the comeback trail with his sixth goal of the season. Goalie Scott Munroe was able to deny Barry Tallackson and Nicklas Bergfors on their chances in close, but he couldn't stop Halischuk's backhander from just above the goal line.

Lowell then made the score, 4-3, when Swift converted on the man-advantage with 2:37 left until the break. The Devils center walked off the right boards and to the net before sniping a wrist shot into the top corner.

Swift again struck on the power play, this time banging home a rebound 3:37 into third to tie things up and notch his ninth goal of the year.

The Phantoms were able to weather the storm and regain their lead for good at 12:01 as Jeff Szwez beat Dave Caruso with a long backhand shot to the glove side.

Five minutes into the first period, it was the Devils striking first, as Bergfors' had initial shot from the far circle kicked away by Munroe, but Ryan Murphy jumped on the rebound and threw into the open net.

Philadelphia went on to score three power play goals over the remainder of the stanza to carry a 3-1 lead into the first intermission. Andreas Nodl needed only 1:35 after Murphy's goal to tie the score, gathering a loose puck in the slot and quickly firing it under the blocker of Jeff Frazee.

Skating on a 5-on-3 later in the period, Jared Ross blasted home a slapshot from the point at 14:12 that gave his team their first lead of the match. David Laliberte made it a two-goal edge for the Phantoms with a goal just before the second man-advantage expired.

Frazee would leave the contest after Laliberte's marker, finishing the night with five saves on eight shots over 16:05. Caruso suffered the loss in relief, as he turned aside 10-of-12.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 16, 2009


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