LITTLE MAKES 31 SAVES AS PHANTOMS BLANK PENGUINS 2-0

March 20, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


(PHILADELPHIA, March 20, 2002) - The new-look Philadelphia Phantoms began the final stretch of the 2001-02 season with a bang as Neil Little made 31 saves in a 2-0 shutout of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins tonight at the First Union Spectrum.

With Todd Fedoruk, David Harlock and Jarrod Skalde making their home debuts, Little returning from a 16-day stint with the Flyers and Kirby Law coming back from a groin injury, Philadelphia blanked an opponent for the third time this season. The Phantoms ended a two-game losing streak and four-game home winless streak, claiming victory at the Spectrum for the first time since Feb. 18 vs. Houston.

Playing for the first time since March 2 in Hershey, Little posted his second shutout of the year (both vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton), fifth as a Phantom and eighth as a pro. The 2002 AHL All-Star starter snapped a personal five-game losing streak and won for the first time since Feb. 6 at Norfolk.

The teams played to a scoreless tie after the first 20 minutes of action, despite Philadelphia attempting 16 shots on goal. The Phantoms had gotten off just 17 during their entire last game, a 5-0 loss in Milwaukee on Sunday.

Mike Watt finally put Philadelphia on the board 93 seconds into the second period. Pavel Brendl set up the play with a centering pass from the near boards that Watt one-timed past Penguins goaltender Robbie Tallas. Guillaume Lefebvre also assisted on Watt's eighth goal of the year.

The Phantoms doubled their lead after Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Martin Sonnenberg was sent off for slashing with 6:15 to go in the middle period. Philadelphia worked the puck around before captain Mark Greig found Vaclav Pletka alone between the circles. The Czech left winger uncorked a slap shot that beat Tallas for his 20th goal of the season at the 15:17 mark

Wilkes-Barre came closest to scoring in the third period. In the opening minute of the period with the Penguins on the power play, Little made four sprawling saves to maintain the two-goal lead. He got a bit lucky with just over five minutes remaining in the game as Tomas Surovy hit the post with a rocket slap shot.

Tallas finished with 38 saves for the Penguins, who have not scored in their last three games. Philadelphia leads the season series 6-2-2 and the all-time series 19-9-2. The teams still have a home-and-home remaining on April 3 & 5.

The Phantoms continue their busy week on Friday at 7:05 p.m., when the Hershey Bears make their final regular-season visit to the First Union Spectrum. Philadelphia then heads out on the road to battle the Norfolk Admirals on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., before entertaining the Admirals on Sunday at 5:05 p.m.

Phantoms Notes: Left wing Greg Koehler completed his three-game suspension tonight, stemming from a bench-clearing brawl at St. John's on March 9 ... Law had missed the last seven games ...Fedoruk made his presence felt immediately by engaging in a fight with Rob Scuderi 37 seconds into the game.



American Hockey League Stories from March 20, 2002


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