Phantoms Down Hershey 4-2

December 20, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


(PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 20, 2002) - Peter White and Jim Vandermeer each recorded a goal and an assist and goaltender Neil Little made 23 saves to lead the Philadelphia Phantoms to a 4-2 victory tonight over the Hershey Bears at the First Union Spectrum.

Mark Greig added two assists for Philadelphia, which has won back-to-back games for the first time since opening the season with two wins. The Phantoms ended a three-game home losing streak as well as a four-game home skid vs. Hershey.

After missing the last nine games due to a sprained right knee, Little ended a personal three-game losing streak to notch his fourth win of the season and first since Nov. 8 vs. Norfolk. The Phantoms evened the 12-game season series at 2-2 with Hershey, with two more match-ups set for next weekend.

"It felt pretty good, it was nice to get back out there," said Little. "There was not a lot of work during the first period. It was a good, solid effort by the whole team. We are getting some confidence."

Following a scoreless first period in which the Phantoms established a season low for shots allowed in a period (3), White gave Philadelphia a 1-0 lead at the 4:38 mark of the second period. Vandermeer began the play with a shot from the point that deflected off a Bears defenseman out to Greig on the wing.

The captain quickly centered the puck to a wide-open White, who placed it over Hershey goaltender Peter Budaj's shoulder for his 12th goal of the year and sixth as a Phantom. White had netted the game-winner with 4:16 remaining in Philadelphia's last game - a 2-1 win at Hershey last Saturday.

Jeff Smith, who was making his AHL debut after being recalled from Trenton (ECHL) earlier in the day, made it 2-0 at the 8:11 mark on a give-and-go with Dan Peters. Smith entered the Hershey zone on the play and slapped it out wide to Peters, who centered it right back to Smith for an easy poke in from the edge of the crease.

"It was a 3-on-2, Peters called for the puck, I dropped it to him and he got it back on my stick," Smith recalled.

Mikhail Kuleshov tallied his sixth goal with 3:40 to go in the middle period to narrow the deficit, but Philadelphia put the game away with two goals 61 seconds apart in the third period.

Vandermeer began the spurt at the 8:05 mark with his third of the year - a long, high slap shot from White and Greig during a 4-on-4 situation. John Slaney widened the gap to 4-1 at the 9:06 mark after Kirby Law had skated down the far boards and offered a cross-ice pass to set up Slaney's third of the season.

Hershey's Marc Busenburg capped the scoring with 4:20 remaining to make it 4-2. Brett Clark and Riku Hahl assisted on Busenburg's first marker of the year.

"Any time you beat a team in your own division, it's big for us," said Phantoms head coach John Stevens. "Our goaltending is getting back up to par with the rest of our team. Our power play wasn't very good, but our penalty is getting things done. The special teams is a work in progress."

The Phantoms return to action on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. when they travel to take on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Philadelphia then plays at Wilkes-Barre again on Thursday, Dec. 26 before hosting the Bears next Friday at 7:05 p.m.

Phantoms Notes: Hershey did not record a shot on goal until the 10:10 mark of the first period ... Vandermeer registered his first multi-point game of the season ... The Phantoms were wearing special red & green holiday jerseys. They then auctioned them off in Bullies Sports Bar & Restaurant, with proceeds going to the National Adoption Center ... Smith's goal was his first as a pro ... Philadelphia is 3-0 all-time on Dec. 20 ... The Phantoms are 7-0-1 this year when scoring four goals or more ... White has eight points (6G, 2A) in his last five games ... Ben Stafford had a four-game point streak come to an end.



American Hockey League Stories from December 20, 2002


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