Matsumoto powers Phantoms

Published on March 4, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


PHILADELPHIA - Jonathan Matsumoto snapped home a power play goal with 4:50 left in regulation to lift the Philadelphia Phantoms past the Norfolk Admirals 4-3 at the Wachovia Center on Wednesday night.

The Admirals drew first blood just 1:36 into the game. Blair Jones came down the left-wing boards and cut to the top of the circle before firing a shot that went in the perfect place just over the glove of Scott Munroe and into the upper right corner for the 1-0 lead.

The Phantoms answered 4:10 into the period on a pretty play by Andreas Nodl, who fired a pass from near the right-wing boards across the top of the crease to Boyd Kane on the left post. Kane tipped it past Riku Helenius to tie the game at 1-1.

Philadelphia jumped ahead just over four minutes later during a power play. Patrick Maroon fired a shot from the right circle that was blocked, but ricocheted right to David Laliberte. He snapped a wrister on net before Helenius could react, and it was 2-1 Phantoms at the 8:14 mark. The score stood at the first intermission.

In the second period, Norfolk knotted the game again just after a power play. While still set up in the zone, Ty Wishart fired a shot that Jones deflected past Munroe. It made the game a 2-2 contest 4:58 into the middle stanza.

The Phantoms jumped back on top just a few minutes later. Vladimir Mihalik misplayed a puck in front of his own net and the error sent it right to Rob Sirianni, who fired it past Helenius 6:07 into the frame for a 3-2 lead.

But 30 seconds into the third period, Radek Smolenak tied the game up at 3-3. He took a shot from the left side that changed direction and got past Munroe, hitting the base of the right post before going in. .

That set the stage for Matsumoto's winner with 4:50 left in regulation. It came on a power play off a shot from the right side that hit a defenseman's leg and came back to Matsumoto. He snapped it past Helenius to give the Phantoms the 4-3 advantage, which stood for the rest of the night.

Munroe took the win with 30 saves on 33 shots, while Helenius absorbed the loss with 29 saves on 33 Phantoms bids.

After a two-game road trip this weekend with games in Worcester on Friday night and Bridgeport on Saturday, the Phantoms return to the Wachovia Spectrum to host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Wednesday at 7:05 PM.

Adult tickets are just $10 and kids tickets just $5 for the remainder of the 2008-09 season. Tickets are available through ComcastTIX at 1-800-298-4200, at the Wachovia Complex box office or online at Phantomshockey.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 4, 2009


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