Niittymaki earns first AHL shutout
by David W. Unkle
Published on November 16, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
(PHILADELPHIA) â The Philadelphia Phantoms, buoyed by the continued strong goaltending of Antero Niittymaki, ended a four game winless streak with a 1-0 victory over the Providence Bruins.
"It (the shutout) feels great, but the most important thing is we got the win tonight," said Niittymaki.
The Phantoms solidified their standing as the AHL penalty leader with another 29 minute effort. Coming into Sunday night's game, the Phantoms led the league with 30.25 minutes per game. Their 27 major penalties are also tops in the AHL.
With only three seconds played in the game, the Phantoms Peter Vandermeer squared off at center ice with the P-Bruins' Brendan Walsh, setting the tone in which both teams were whistled for a total of 25 infractions.
With the Phantoms' Jim Vandermeer and Jeff Woywitka serving minor penalties, Dennis Seidenberg stole the puck from Bruins forward Ted Donato along the near side boards feeding White for the breakaway.
White pulled Bruins' goaltender Hannu Toivonen out of the net and wristed a shot to the top right corner of the net.
Providence had their chance to even the score in the second period when forward Ivan Huml was pulled down by Dennis Seidenberg, earning a penalty shot in the process.
Unfortunately, Huml showed little imagination, as his shot from the top of the far circle hit Niittymaki in the pads.
"I thought (Haml) was a defenseman, that's what guys told me. So I kind of knew he would shoot instead of fake. I just tried to be in the right position."
SCORE BY PERIODS
Providence 0-0-0 Philadelphia 1-0-0
FIRST PERIODâ Scoring: PHL White 4 (Seidenberg) 14:09 (sh). Penalties: PHL P. Vandermeer (fighting) 0:03; PRO Walsh (fighting) 0:03; PRO VanOene (hooking) 2:41; PRO Herr (boarding) 9:38; PRO Leahy (slashing) 10:54; PHL Law (interference) 11:05; PHL J. Vandermeer (roughing) 12:14; PHL Woywitka (slashing) 13:42; PRO Walsh (hooking) 16:08; PRO Walsh (unsportsmanlike conduct) 18:16.
SECOND PERIODâ Scoring: none. Penalties: PHL Abel (roughing) 4:09; PHL Kane (roughing) 8:03; PRO Bench Minor served by Walsh (too many men on the ice) 11:17; PHL Kane (hooking) 15:34; PHL Furey (roughing-double minor) 18:49; PRO VanOene (roughing) 18:49; PHL Seidenberg (cross-checking) 19:58.
THIRD PERIODâ Scoring: none. Penalties: PRO Leahy (high-sticking) 6:32; PHL Somik (interference) 6:51; PRO Wilde (delay of game) 8:07; PHL Law (unsportsmanlike conduct) 12:35; PRO Metcalf (unsportsmanlike conduct) 12:35; PHL J. Vandermeer (slashing) 14:01; PRO Samuelsson (cross-checking) 16:24.
SHOTS ON GOAL
Providence 8-8-8 Philadelphia 9-4-11
SPECIAL TEAMS STATS
PPG ADV SHG
Providence 0 9 0
Philadelphia 0 10 1
GOALIES
S SV TIME
Niittymaki (PHL) 24 24 60:00
Toivonen (PRO) 24 23 59:03
STARS OF THE GAME
1. Antero Niittymaki (PHL)
2. Peter White (PHL)
3. Mike Peluso (PHL)
Selected by: David W. Unkle (WNJC 1360-AM)
NOTES
1. The Phantoms hold a commanding 11-3-1 lead in the all-time series including a 6-1-1 mark at home. The two teams did not meet last season.
2. Philadelphia's Peter Vandermeer added 5 minutes to his league leading total of 149 minutes. Vandermeer also is also tops with 11 major penalties.
3. Philadelphia has held their opponent scoreless in the first period in ten of their seventeen games. They are 3-5-1-1 in those games.
GAME OFFICIALS
Referee: Steve Kozari
Linesman: Aaron Lundbohm
Linesman: Paul Nicholls
ATTENDANCE: 5,216
The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central.
American Hockey League Stories from November 16, 2003
- Phantoms blank Bruins 1-0 - Adirondack Phantoms
- P-Bruins fall to Philadelphia - Providence Bruins
- Sound Tigers Now Unbeaten In Regulation In Eleven - Bridgeport Islanders
- Columbus Recalls Todd Rohloff - Syracuse Crunch
- Niittymaki earns first AHL shutout - OSC Original by David W. Unkle
- Jim Fahey Re-Assigned to Cleveland - Cleveland Barons
- Checkers Earn A Point In 3-2 Shootout Loss To Florida - Charlotte Checkers
- Falcons Rally for Comeback Win over Manchester - Springfield Falcons
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
