Munroe Takes Rats To School

Published on November 19, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


PHILADELPHIA - Scott Munroe continued his improbable run against the Albany River Rats on Wednesday afternoon, recording a 31-save shutout to anchor a 5-0 win for the Philadelphia Phantoms. Munroe collected his second shutout of the season against Albany in front of thousands of enthusiastic students at the Fifth Annual School Day Game, while the 11:05 AM puck drop did not affect a Phantoms offense that had nine different players register a goal or an assist.

Philadelphia opened the scoring just 3:32 into the contest. While stationed deep in the Albany zone, Matt Clackson fed a pass to Jonathon Kalinski at the right side circle. Kalinski fired a wrist shot off the right shoulder of River Rats goaltender Justin Peters, who couldn't cover up the puck. Jeff Szwez was within reach of the rebound at the left post, and managed to poke it over the goal line for his first goal of the season and first as a Phantom.

The Phantoms took a 2-0 lead on Jonathan Matsumoto's ninth goal of the season at 2:15 of the second period. The River Rats were breaking out of their own end when Matsumoto stole the puck at the Albany blue line. He came into the zone and fired a slap shot from the top left corner that found a hole underneath the left pad of Peters.

Patrick Maroon padded the lead at 10:22 of the second period with a power play goal. Danny Syvret had the puck on the left point and faked a shot from the top of the zone before instead sending it to Maroon in the right circle. Maroon one-timed the pass short-side over the glove of Peters to extend the lead to 3-0.

Philadelphia capped off a three-goal second period at 12:23 with a shorthanded marker. Claude Giroux stole the puck at the Albany blue line and raced in past the River Rats defense. He was hooked and a delayed penalty was upcoming, but he made it unnecessary. Giroux deked to his right, pulled the puck to his left and backhanded it above the sprawling Peters to make the score 4-0.

Giroux then gave the Phantoms a 5-0 cushion just 39 seconds into the third when he recorded his second goal of the contest. Jared Ross found Giroux at the left-side circle, and Giroux fired a shot through traffic in front that changed direction and went past Peters. That tally ended the day for Peters, as he then yielded to backup Daniel Manzato.

The Phantoms went 1-for-6 on the power play while killing off eight River Rats advantages. Munroe turned away all 31 shots he faced for the Phantoms. Peters struggled on the night, saving 20 of 25 shots, while Manzato stopped all eight he faced in relief.

Munroe became just the second AHL goaltender to record three shutouts this season and continued a mastery against the River Rats that, although it has spanned two seasons and two largely different Albany teams, is nonetheless remarkable. In his last 356:06 of work against Albany going back to Game 5 of last year's East Division Semifinals, Munroe has allowed just one goal on 164 shots. That gives him a goals-against average of 0.17 and a save percentage of .994, along with three shutouts - two this season and the one in Game 7 of that series.

The Phantoms are back in action on Friday when the Hershey Bears return to the Wachovia Spectrum for the third time this month. The puck will drop at 7:05 and all fans are encouraged to bring a box of Mac & Cheese to use as a noisemaker for "Shake Your Mac Night". After the game, fans can donate their boxes and any other non-perishable food items that will be given to local food banks. Tickets for that game, 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

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American Hockey League Stories from November 19, 2008


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