Phantoms fall 2-1 in OT to Sound Tigers

Published on January 8, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


(PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 8, 2003) - Daniel Tkaczuk's goal with 12.1 seconds left in overtime was the difference tonight at the First Union Spectrum as the visiting Bridgeport Sound Tigers edged the Philadelphia Phantoms, 2-1.

After Philadelphia's Mike Lephart evened the score at 1-1 with 9:56 to play in regulation, the Phantoms failed to take the lead during a 5-on-3 advantage less than two minutes later. Bridgeport also went on the power play late in the third period but couldn't convert and the game went into overtime.

The Sound Tigers outshot the Phantoms 4-1 in the extra session and were able to snap a four-game winless streak (0-3-1) during a 2-on-1 rush in the final seconds. Tkaczuk brought the puck up the near side and blasted a shot past Phantoms goaltender Antero Niittymaki for his fourth goal of the year.

Niittymaki finished with 33 saves for Philadelphia, which had won six of its last nine games overall and had a season-high four-game home win streak halted. The Phantoms ended the season series with Bridgeport with a 2-1-0-1 record.

The first period featured 16 saves by Niittymaki and just one combined penalty as the game was scoreless heading into the intermission. It remained uneventful for the first 16 minutes of the second stanza until Phantoms left wing Peter Vandermeer received a double minor for roughing and cross-checking.

Philadelphia's Eric Betournay and Lephart caused some havoc in the neutral zone for the first 30 seconds of the Bridgeport power play before Eric Manlow came up with a loose puck in the Phantoms end. The center skated into the near circle and uncorked a slap shot that hit the crossbar. The goal light never went on and Niittymaki fell on the puck, but the referee ruled it a goal at the 16:51 mark.

Manlow's 11th goal of the season ended a Phantoms scoreless streak of 135:59 that dated back to the second period of Friday's win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Philadelphia had killed off 29 of its opponents' last 30 power-play chances prior to the goal.

"We were lucky to get a point," said Phantoms head coach John Stevens. "We were outplayed and outworked. Give Niittymaki credit for the point. We're not going to get better as a team until we win games like this, and climb up the standings. We got what we deserved tonight."

The Phantoms increased the pressure in the third period and knotted the score at the 10:04 mark during a flurry in front of Sound Tigers goaltender Rick DiPietro. Ian MacNeil and Jack Baker assisted on Lephart's third of the season - a follow shot of a rebound off DiPietro.

"We weren't ready to play from the start," said Phantoms captain Mark Greig. "We weren't involved for 40 minutes, and salvaged a point in the last 20. We were a little sloppy tonight. We didn't win the loose pucks along the boards. When you don't play well, you don't win many games. We didn't deserve a point, but will take what we got."

Philadelphia travels to take on the Lowell Lock Monsters this Friday and the Albany River Rats on Saturday before returning to the First Union Spectrum on Sunday, Jan. 12 at 5:05 p.m. to meet the Norfolk Admirals.

Phantoms Notes: The Phantoms are now 3-3-1 in overtime this season ... Bridgeport also ended a five-game road winless streak (0-3-2) ... Guillaume Lefebvre played in his 100th game as a Phantom ... The Phantoms lost for the first time in four tries on Jan. 8 ... DiPietro assisted on Tkaczuk's game-winner.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 8, 2003


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