Four Power Play Goals Give Phantoms Fifth Win, 5-2 Over Penguins
October 14, 2007 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release
PHILADELPHIA - The Phantoms power play caught fire again Sunday night with four goals in a 5-2 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the back half of a home-and-home series at the Wachovia Spectrum. Darren Reid and Stefan Ruzicka each scored two goals for the Phantoms, who have won the first five games of the season for the first time in franchise history.
Much like the night before in a 3-2 win at Wilkes-Barre, the Phantoms scored first - in fact, they did so for the fifth straight game, this time on the power play. This time it took just 47 seconds for Ryan Potulny to beat Ty Conklin off a feed from Ruzicka.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton tied the game with a power-play goal just over nine minutes into the period. Scott Munroe, making his first start of the season for Philadelphia, went to the right post to block a scoring bid. The puck slid back out in front and Nathan Smith was on hand to place it into the open net to make it 1-1.
Philadelphia regained the lead at 12:15 with a goal in a five-on-three power play situation. Potulny blasted a slapshot from near the top of the left circle that Conklin stopped, but the rebound came to Jared Ross on the right side. He fired a puck through the crease that made it to Ruzicka, who was leaning up against the left post undisturbed, watching the proceedings. He merely had to place his stick on the puck to alter its course into the net for the 2-1 advantage.
The lead grew to 3-1 just 38 seconds later as the Phantoms scored on the ensuing 5-on-4 advantage. It was a goal of nearly identical qualities, as this time it was Jonathan Matsumoto finding Reid with plenty of time on the left post. Reid tucked it in at 12:53.
The Phantoms did not score in the second period despite four power play opportunities and 15 shots. They found the touch again though in the third period, getting their fourth power play goal of the night from the same line of Reid, Matsumoto and Kyle Greentree. Reid's second of the game made it 4-1 at 4:59 of the final stanza.
The teams traded a final pair of goals in the period, with Alain Nasreddine scoring at 12:30 of the frame only to see Ruzicka answer off the ensuing faceoff with a top-shelf slapper just eight seconds later.
Ruzicka and Ross each posted three points on the night, with Ruzicka adding an assist to his two goals and Ross contributing three helpers. Rookie Jonathan Matsumoto had two assists, giving him at least one point in all five games so far this season. The power play unit scored its four goals on 10 opportunities, giving the unit an efficiency rating of 27.3 percent for the season (12 for 44).
The 5-0 start is the first in Phantoms franchise history. Previously, the best sprint from the starting line was a 4-0 mark posted by the 2001-02 club.
The Phantoms return to action on Saturday, October 20 when they host the Providence Bruins at the Wachovia Spectrum. The Phantoms will be honoring the 40th anniversary of the first-ever Philadelphia Flyers game at the Spectrum, which took place on October 19, 1967. The team will be wearing replica jerseys patterned after the 1967-68 Flyers club, and four alumni involved in that first game - players Bernie Parent, Gary Dornhoefer, and Joe Watson and team publicist Joe Kadlec - will be on hand for a pregame puck drop. Tickets are available at the Wachovia Complex box office, online at ComcastTIX.com or phantomshockey.com, or by phone at 1-800-298-4200.
Phantoms season tickets and game plans are still available for the 2007-08 season. Fans can secure the same great seat at a discount for 6, 10, 20 or prorated season tickets for Phantoms home games this season while receiving an impressive list of exclusive benefits. Packages start as low as $60!
For more information or to make a deposit, call the Phantoms at 215-465-4522 during normal business hours. Single-game tickets for the entire season are available via ComcastTIX at www.phantomshockey.com, with kids tickets only $10 for any seat, any game, all season long. More information is also available at the Phantoms website, Phantomshockey.com
American Hockey League Stories from October 14, 2007
- Four Power Play Goals Give Phantoms Fifth Win, 5-2 Over Penguins - Adirondack Phantoms
- Big third dooms Monsters - Cleveland Monsters
- Devils Dump Portland, 4-1 - Albany Devils
- Falcons Host Admirals Sunday at 4:00 PM - Springfield Falcons
- Admirals fall to Falcons - Norfolk Admirals
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