Phantoms Fall 3-2 To Norfolk

October 25, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


(PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 25, 2002) - The Philadelphia Phantoms were done in by a former teammate as all-time leading scorer Peter White netted the game-winner 5:46 into the third period to give the Norfolk Admirals a 3-2 win tonight at the First Union Spectrum.

White, who compiled 361 points for Philadelphia from 1996-2000, followed in a miss by Mike Peluso for his fifth goal of the year and first game-winner in 2002-03. Peluso finished with a goal and two assists, while goaltender Michael Leighton made 26 saves for Norfolk, which leads the AHL's South Division with 11 points.

Rookie goaltender Antero Niittymaki stopped 20 shots for Philadelphia, which dropped its second in a row following a 2-0 start. The Phantoms had a two-game winning streak vs. Norfolk come to an end, but still lead the all-time series, 9-8-1-1.

Norfolk jumped out to a 1-0 lead 3:49 into the game on Peluso's fifth goal of the year. Moments after overcoming a two-man deficit, Philadelphia had trouble clearing the puck from in front of Niittymaki. Peluso pounced on it and easily wristed it in, with assists going to Marty Wilford and White.

Casey Hankinson doubled the Admirals lead at the 6:54 mark when he took a pass from Peluso at the blue line, skated in a few strides and blasted a slap shot over Niittymaki's right shoulder.

Philadelphia finally got on the board 17 seconds after Peluso was sent off for tripping. Mark Greig and David Harlock worked the puck to Savage, who streaked across the crease and backhanded it past Leighton with 4:10 to go in the opening period.

Savage had a couple of chances during the first half of the second period to even the score, but couldn't light the lamp. After an Admirals defenseman was called for closing his hand on the puck in the crease, Savage attempted a penalty shot at the 32-second mark, but Leighton stuffed him. Savage was also stopped by Leighton on a breakaway with 13:40 left.

The Phantoms found themselves on the ropes toward the end of the middle period when Jim Vandermeer was sent off for obstruction-hooking and David Harlock received a game misconduct for boarding. Philadelphia successfully killed off the 5-on-3 situation and then hit Vandermeer coming out of the penalty box.

Leighton stopped Vandermeer on the breakaway, but Ian MacNeil darted in to knock in the rebound and make it 2-2 with 1:32 remaining in the period. Brad Tiley also assisted on MacNeil's first goal of the year.

The Phantoms continue their busy weekend on Saturday when they travel to take on the Hartford Wolf Pack at 7:05 p.m. Philadelphia then returns home to entertain the Cleveland Barons on Sunday at 5:05 p.m.



American Hockey League Stories from October 25, 2002


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