Five-Goal Third Period Gives Hershey 7-3 Win Over Phantoms

November 15, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


HERSHEY, PA - The Philadelphia Phantoms held a 3-2 lead after playing a spirited second period, but the Hershey Bears erased those sentiments with a five-goal third period as they roared to a 7-3 win at the GIANT Center on Saturday night. Oskar Osala posted a hat trick against the Phantoms, who picked up two goals from Jonathan Matsumoto in a losing cause.

The Bears took the lead 9:31 into the first period. Francois Bouchard stole a puck behind the Phantoms net and threw it back out in front, where Greg Amadio put a shot on net. J.S. Aubin neutralized the effort, but could not do the same for Osala's rebound shot, which slid under the netminder to make it 1-0.

But after being outshot 11-5 in that first period, the Phantoms turned the tables with a 14-7 second-period shot advantage while manufacturing a three-goal middle stanza with two power play tallies and a penalty shot. The first goal came from Danny Syvret when he wristed a shot from the top of the left circle past Simeon Varlamov to the glove side, upper left corner. That goal made it 1-1 just 3:39 into the period.

Then just past the halfway point of the frame, Matsumoto was awarded a penalty shot after he was hooked as he came into the Hershey zone on a breakaway. Matsumoto came down to the right of the slot just inside the right circle, and upon arrival at the crease cut back hard to his left and beat Varlamov high with a backhander. The marker at 9:56 gave the Phantoms a 2-1 lead.

Hershey pulled even with 7:42 to play in the period with a power play goal of its own. Sami Lepisto fired a shot from the left point that got through traffic and past a heavily-screened Aubin, making it 2-2.

But the Phantoms responded with another power play goal with just over three minutes to play in the period. Michael Ratchuk fired a shot from the left point that Varlamov stopped, but Matsumoto got to the rebound and snapped it high to the upper right corner over Varlamov's glove, giving the Phantoms the lead back at 3-2 in the second intermission.

However, the third period changed the face of the game. The Bears outshot the Phantoms 23-6, coming up one short of the franchise record for shots against by a Philadelphia opponent in a single period, and also became the eighth Phantoms opponent in franchise history to score five goals in a single period. The first goal came from Chris Bourque on the power play at 7:04, followed by Osala's second of the night at 8:58 and then the completion of the hat trick while on the power play at 11:03. Keith Aucoin piled on at 13:57, and Quintin Laing added another power play goal at 16:33.

The game included several other unusual events. Matsumoto's successful penalty shot was the first for Philadelphia since Jared Ross scored on one in Toronto on December 2, 2007, while Osala's hat trick was just the second against the Phantoms since February of 2007. It's the most goals the Phantoms have surrendered in a game since giving up seven to Norfolk in a similar 7-3 loss on November 21, 2007.

Aubin took the loss with 34 saves, while Varlamov earned his third win of the year against the Phantoms by stopping 22 of 25.

The Phantoms now return home to host the Albany River Rats at the Wachovia Spectrum in the annual School Day Game on Wednesday at 11:05 AM. Following that, the Phantoms will be home on Friday, November 21 against the same Hershey Bears. Tickets for the games, as well as all 2008-09 regular season games, are available by calling 1-800-298-4200 or visiting phantomshockey.com.

The best way for fans to secure a ticket for the final regular season game at the Wachovia Spectrum on April 12, 2009 is to purchase either a game plan package or season tickets. Packages are available now in convenient blocks of 6, 10, 16 and 20 games, as well as pro-rated full season tickets for all remaining home games. All packages receive an impressive list of exclusive benefits, discount prices and the same seat for each game, beginning at just $60!

For more information or to make a deposit, call the Phantoms at 215-465-4522 during normal business hours. More information is also available at the Phantoms website, Phantomshockey.com.



American Hockey League Stories from November 15, 2008


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