Phantoms Capture East Division Finals

Published on May 16, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


The Phantoms won Games Four and Five of the East Division Finals last week to eliminate the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins from the Calder Cup Playoffs. Following a disappointing 3-1 road loss in Game Three, Philadelphia returned to Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday and posted a 5-3 victory to assume a three-games-to-one lead in the best-of-seven series. Jon Sim and Mike Richards each recorded a goal and an assist in the game, and Antero Niittymaki stopped 26-of-29 shots. Philadelphia wrapped up the series on Friday in dramatic fashion, overcoming a three-goal, third-period deficit by scoring six times in the final stanza of a 7-4 victory. Jeff Carter and Jon Sim each scored twice in the third, Ryan Ready had the game-winning goal and two assists, while Patrick Sharp and Richards contributed two points apiece. Niittymaki started and ended the game, but it was Neil Little who came on for 13 minutes in the third and held the Penguins scoreless to earn the win.

TEAM-RECORD SIX GOALS IN ONE PERIOD
The Phantoms engineered their biggest comeback in club playoff history on Friday to post a 7-4 victory over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and a 4-1 series win in the East Division Finals. After Philadelphia fell behind 4-1 just 37 seconds into the third period, Josh Gratton began the rally with his second playoff goal at the 8:37 mark. Jeff Carter scored on the power play at 11:45 to make it a one-goal game and Jon Sim tallied the equalizer 64 seconds later. Ryan Ready then scored his first postseason goal at 13:56 to put Philadelphia ahead for good before Carter and Sim both scored again to complete the historic win.

Philadelphia's six goals in the period is a new club playoff record, breaking the previous mark of five accomplished on May 3, 1997 vs. Hershey and matched on May 22, 1998 at Albany. The scoring outburst was the most in a single period in the Calder Cup Playoffs since Hartford scored seven times in the third frame of a 7-4 win over New Haven on April 17, 1998.

MORE PLAYOFF RECORDS
* Philadelphia's current six-game home playoff win streak is the longest in club history, breaking the previous record of five set during the 1999 postseason (May 7-22 vs. Kentucky & Rochester).
* The scores by Jeff Carter, Jon Sim and Ryan Ready 2:11 apart in the comeback win were the fastest three goals in Phantoms playoff history. The old mark of 3:54 was accomplished by Jeff Lank, Craig Darby and Mike Maneluk on May 22, 1998 at Albany.
* Mike Richards tied a club record for most shorthanded goals (2) in a playoff series. Sean O'Brien first accomplished the feat against Kentucky during the 1999 Western Conference Semifinals.
* Philadelphia's 21 goals in the East Division Finals obliterated the previous team record of 13 for series that last five games. The 33 combined goals also broke the previous five-game series record of 28. Both marks were set during the 2000 Mid-Atlantic Division Semifinals against Hershey.
* The Phantoms matched a team record with eight power-play goals in the Wilkes-Barre series. The club did it in three prior series, most recently against Hershey in the 2000 Mid-Atlantic Division Semifinals.

REVENGE!
After two previous playoff series losses to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Philadelphia finally exacted some revenge with a 4-1 series win in the East Division Finals. The Phantoms fell in six games to the Penguins during the 2001 Western Conference Semifinals and then again in six games in last year's East Division Finals. Philadelphia also lost six of 10 regular-season meetings with Wilkes-Barre in 2004-05.

PHANTOMS VS. PROVIDENCE
The Phantoms swept both meetings with the Bruins in 2004-05 and have captured the last five match-ups vs. Providence. Philadelphia posted a 4-3 overtime victory in Providence on Nov. 21 when Patrick Sharp evened the score with 1:20 left in regulation and Jon Sim tallied the game-winner 1:14 into the extra session. Three days later, Sim scored twice more and Antero Niittymaki stopped 20-of-21 shots in a 4-1 decision that included a combined 208 penalty minutes and seven fights.

In the two games vs. Providence, Sim topped Philadelphia with five points (3G, 2A), including the game-winning goal in each game, while Niittymaki made both starts in net and recorded a 1.98 goals-against average. Patrice Bergeron and Brent Thompson each had two points to lead the Bruins.

The teams are meeting in postseason play for the first time.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME
The Phantoms have compiled a combined 11-1 record this season when playing at their other home arena, the Wachovia Center. The team sported a 5-1 mark in six regular-season contests there before going 6-0 thus far in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Philadelphia is now 18-8 all-time when playing at the Wachovia Center during the postseason.

PLAYOFF FACTS
* The Phantoms' 12 combined goals in Games Four and Five of the division finals are the most in consecutive playoff games since the club also scored 12 from May 16-20, 1999 vs. Kentucky and Rochester.
* Philadelphia's 7-4 win in Game Five was its highest-scoring playoff game since an 8-2 win over the Penguins on April 27, 2001.
* Philadelphia went 8-for-24 (33.3 percent) on the power play vs. the Penguins and was 19-for-23 on the penalty kill (82.6).
* A different Phantom has scored the game-winning goal in each of the team's eight victories this postseason.
* Jeff Carter has a five-game point streak (5G, 2A).
* Neil Little's relief appearance in Game Five was his first playoff action since 2002.
* The Phantoms are 53-36 all-time in postseason play, including a 32-15 mark at home.

PHANTOMS AMONG THE POSTSEASON LEAGUE LEADERS (thru 5/15)
* Jeff Carter is tied for first in goals (9), tied for second in points (13), tied for second in power-play goals (4) and fourth in shots (42). He is also first among rookies in goals, points, power-play goals and shots, and tied for first in plus/minus (+4).
* Josh Gratton is first in major penalties (3).
* Antero Niittymaki is second in saves (316), third in wins (7), minutes (643:11) and goals-against average (2.05), and fourth in save percentage (.935).
* Joni Pitkanen is tied for fourth among defensemen in plus/minus (+7) and fifth in shooting percentage (.154).
* Ryan Ready is tied for 11th in points (10) and tied for third in assists (9).
* Mike Richards is tied for first in shorthanded goals (2). He is also first among rookies in shorthanded goals, tied for third in points (7), tied for second in goals (3), tied for fifth in assists (4) and third in shooting percentage (.300).
* Dennis Seidenberg is tied for sixth among defensemen in points (5) and tied for fifth in assists (4).
* Patrick Sharp is tied for fourth in points (12) and tied for third in assists (9).
* Jon Sim is tied for 11th in points (10), tied for fourth in goals (6) and tied for second in power-play goals (4).
* John Slaney is tied for sixth among defensemen in points (5) and tied for fifth in assists (4).
* R.J. Umberger is tied for sixth among rookies in points (6) and tied for fifth in assists (4).
* The Phantoms are second in goals allowed per game (2.09) and goals per game (3.36), third in power-play percentage (19.7) and fifth in penalty killing (88.7 percent).

TICKET INFORMATION
Individual tickets as well as strips for the entire playoffs, are on sale. Walk-up prices for individual Phantoms playoff games are $16, $20 and $21 for adults, and $10 for all children 14 and under. However, fans ordering tickets in advance can save $1 per ticket off the walk-up price. Contact the Phantoms sales office at 215-465-4522 to purchase 16-game playoff strips or for information on group discounts. In addition, the team is offering Playoff Family Value Packs for the first time at $52 (upper level) and $69 (lower level). Seats can also be charged by phone by calling 215-336-2000, 856-338-9000 or 302-984-2000, or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS (best-of-seven)
Date Opponent Site Time (ET)
Friday, May 20 Providence Bruins Wachovia Center 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, May 21 Providence Bruins Wachovia Center 7:05 p.m.
Monday, May 23 Providence Bruins Dunkin' Donuts Center 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday, May 25 Providence Bruins Dunkin' Donuts Center 7:05 p.m.
*Friday, May 27 Providence Bruins Dunkin' Donuts Center 7:05 p.m.
*Sunday, May 29 Providence Bruins Wachovia Center 7:05 p.m.
*Tuesday, May 31 Providence Bruins Wachovia Center 7:05 p.m.

EAST DIVISION FINALS (won series 4-1)
Date Opponent Site Result
Wednesday, May 4 W-B/Scranton Penguins Wachovia Center W 4-1
Friday, May 6 W-B/Scranton Penguins Wachovia Center W 4-1
Saturday, May 7 W-B/Scranton Penguins Wachovia Arena L 3-1
Tuesday, May 10 W-B/Scranton Penguins Wachovia Arena W 5-3
Friday, May 13 W-B/Scranton Penguins Wachovia Center W 7-4

* if necessary

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from May 16, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central