Falcons Fall To Phantoms 5-2
December 12, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
December 12, 2008 - The Springfield Falcons entered Friday night's home contest against the Philadelphia Phantoms looking to climb up the standings in the claustrophobic Atlantic Division after earning a point in three of their last four contests.
Other than a third period surge after going down 4-0 over the first two periods, however, the Falcons couldn't match the Phantoms and were defeated 5-2 in front of 3,112 fans at the MassMutual Center.
The home crowd didn't have much to cheer about through the first 40 minutes as Philadelphia controlled much of the action. That was until Falcons leading scorer Ryan Potulny broke through on a 5-on-3 power play and hammered a rebound past Phantoms' goaltender Scott Munroe, ruining his shutout bid just under halfway through the third period. The goal, Potulny's 14th of the season, energized the team and the home crowd alike.
Seconds later, Potulny broke free of the pack in the neutral zone and in on a breakaway, only to be hooked by Danny Syvret to put Springfield back on a 5-on-3 advantage. Springfield cashed in again just as the first penalty expired to pull within 4-2 on a brilliant tip by Sebastien Bisaillon off a Taylor Chorney drive from the point.
That was as close as Springfield would get, however, as Philadelphia took advantage of a power play of their own only four minutes later, a point blank slap shot by Claude Giroux to end any Falcons hopes for an unlikely comeback.
Philadelphia jumped out strong in a choppy, penalty filled first period, outshooting the Falcons 13-7 in the opening frame and carrying much of the play in Springfield's zone.
The Phantoms' Jared Ross opened the scoring with a power play goal midway through the period, picking up a missed clear by the Falcons and tucking the puck away past Devan Dubnyk's outstretched pad.
Springfield's troubles in their own zone in the first continued five minutes later. Philly winger David Laliberte caught a sharp pass in the corner behind the goal line and skated out untouched, sliding the puck under a Dubnyk pokecheck and through the goaltender's legs to stake Philadelphia to a 2-0 lead.
It looked like Springfield would hold Philadelphia to two goals until a scramble in front of Dubnyk with only three seconds remaining in the period somehow got past him off the stick of Ross for his second goal of the period and a commanding 3-0 Phantom lead as the period expired.
Springfield showed signs of life in the second frame, especially on back-to-back power play opportunities later in the period. It was the Phantoms, however, that recorded the only goal of the period to extend their lead to 4-0.
Nate Raduns circled the Springfield net just as Theo Peckham was returning to the ice after serving a penalty and, before Peckham could get back into the play, snuck the puck into the net on the wrap around for his second goal of the season.
Springfield was outshot by the Phantoms 33-22 on the night.
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