Phantoms defeat Lowell 6-2
Published on November 21, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release
(PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 21, 2003) - Mike Peluso scored three times and added an assist and Peter White tied a team record with four assists as the Philadelphia Phantoms posted a 6-2 victory over the Lowell Lock Monsters tonight at the Wachovia Spectrum.
Mark Murphy added a goal and two assists for Philadelphia, which matched its highest scoring output and largest margin of victory this season. The Phantoms finished 3-for-4 on the power play in extending its current home unbeaten streak to three games (2-0-1).
Goaltender Antero Niittymaki, who received the AHL Player of the Week award prior to the game, made 24 saves. The second-year native of Finland had recorded his first AHL shutout in his last start on Sunday vs. Providence.
Dany Sabourin stopped 25-of-31 shots for Lowell, which has won just one of its last six road games. The Lock Monsters have now surrendered 16 goals in their last three games.
Lowell had four power-play opportunities during the first period and snapped a scoreless tie during its third try. With Craig Berube serving a cross-checking minor, Josh Green and Matt Davidson worked the puck to Jason Morgan, whose centering pass from the side ricocheted off a Phantom's skate and in. It was Morgan's fifth goal of the year.
Philadelphia only waited until its second power play of the game to even the score at 1-1. With five seconds to go in Martin Sonnenberg's tripping minor, Murphy found Peluso between the circles for a one-timer that sailed into the top left corner of the net. White also assisted on Peluso's fourth of the season at the 4:00 mark of the second period.
"He (Peluso) is playing well. He's shooting the hockey puck and getting chances, and Peter White is the kind of guy who can find him," said Phantoms head coach John Stevens. "We expect big things from both of them and tonight was very timely, getting some production on our power play when we needed it."
Just 27 seconds later, former Lock Monster Ian MacNeil gave Philadelphia a 2-1 advantage. White set up the play, offering a quick pass from the middle that MacNeil barely nudged by Sabourin.
Lowell knotted the score at 2-2 with 9:32 to play in the second - 40 seconds after Berube was sent off due to a high-sticking major. Brad Fast netted his first of the year, with assists by Green and Chad LaRose.
The Lock Monsters remained on the power play, but Fast was called for holding just over 90 seconds later and the Phantoms re-took the lead during a 4-on-4 situation. On a counter rush, Patrick Sharp took a feed from Kirby Law and hit Dennis Seidenberg, who tapped it by Sabourin at 12:45 for his fourth of the year.
Peluso padded Philadelphia's lead to 4-2 at 6:34 of the third with another power-play goal. He completed his hat trick with 9:44 remaining, with Jeff Woywitka and Sharp receiving assists on the play.
"You look back at the games and I'm averaging five or six shots a night," said Peluso. "That's how it works, some days they go in and some days they don't. Once you get a feel like that, your confidence comes back."
The hat trick was the 19th in Phantoms history and the first since Law accomplished the feat on Feb. 9, 2003 vs. Syracuse.
Murphy capped the scoring with 3:34 left, as Peluso and White set up his fifth goal and third power-play marker of the year.
The Phantoms continue their busy weekend on Saturday when they travel to take on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at 7:05 p.m. Philadelphia then returns home on Sunday to entertain the Portland Pirates at 6:05 p.m.
Phantoms Notes: Defenseman James Laux, from Cherry Hill, N.J., made his AHL debut ... Philadelphia is 5-0 all-time on Nov. 21 ... Berube, who was signed to a tryout contract on Tuesday, played in his first AHL game since the 1988-89 season ... Seidenberg has seven points (2G, 5A) in his last seven games ... Sharp has 10 points (4G, 6A) in his last eight games.
American Hockey League Stories from November 21, 2003
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- Thompson, Senators Blank Monarchs 2-0 - Manchester Monarchs
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- Road Trip Perfect as Brule Leads Bears Past Penguins, 4-3, in OT - Hershey Bears
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