Phantoms fighting to the finish
Published on April 9, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release
PHILADELPHIA - In a game that had everything, from a hat trick to a goalie fight to a game-winner in the final minutes, the Phantoms knocked off the Norfolk Admirals 6-5 at the Wachovia Spectrum on Sunday night. Tony Voce was the hero, providing a three-goal night that was punctuated by the game-winning goal with 1:07 remaining.
"We told our guys going into the weekend, we are still defending Calder Cup champions and we're gonna play as such, " commented Phantoms Head Coach John Stevens. "I know we're out of the playoffs, but until someone wins that trophy it's ours."
The Phantoms played like it.
For the first time since March 18, the Phantoms allowed the game's first goal. Les Haggett picked up his first AHL goal when he redirected a shot from the left point at 2:39, giving his club a 1-0 lead. Philadelphia evened the match while on the power play at the 5:16 mark. Alexandre Picard took a feed from Pat Kavanagh and flicked a 50-foot wrister that beat Adam Munro high to the glove side.
The seesaw tilted back towards the Ads at 14:40. The Phantoms were controlling deep in the Norfolk line, but a blocked shot bounced out to the Admirals blue line. Former Phantom Eric Meloche took the loose disc and was off to the races. He snapped it past Martin Houle to take a 2-1 lead.
The Phantoms drew back square at 16:47. Picard blasted a shot from the left point that Munro stopped, but B.J. Abel was on the doorstep and was able to poke home the rebound for his first goal since Feb. 11.
Philadelphia later took the lead with another power play tally. Kavanagh put a puck on net from the bottom of the right circle, which pinballed to Brent Kelly on the left post. Kelly tucked it in at 18:48 for the 3-2 intermission lead.
The game moved to a 3-3 tie at 4:13 of the second period. Norfolk forced a giveaway in the Phantoms end and Philadelphia scrambled to recover, with Houle and his defensemen blocking several chances before puck came to Haggett. He beat the wall of Purple for his second of the game.
Voce then turned the tables with two goals in a span of 22 seconds. First, at 12:11, he took a pass from Stefan Ruzicka and roofed it past Munro at the short pipe for the 4-3 lead. Then at 12:33, Voce completed a scramble in front of the net by sweeping one past Munro from the left side of the slot to make the score 5-3.
With 7:15 remaining in the middle frame a fight broke out behind the Norfolk net, with Munro stoking the battle between a pair of combatants. Houle took notice and skated to his blue line to observe. Once Munro caught a glance, they both departed for center ice. Just two nights after Philly goaltender Neil Little was inducted into the Phantoms Hall of Fame, Houle took a page from the feisty backstop's playbook and bettered the bigger Munro. Both goalies received game misconducts and were replaced by Jamie Storr and Corey Crawford, respectively.
"I wasn't having a great game and neither was the other goalie," said Houle. "After Reds (Ryan Ready), I went up there and he looked at me and I said let's go and we just went at it."
Norfolk drew back within a goal at 7:27 of the third period during a five-minute power play. Carl Corazzini blasted a one-timer from the left circle that beat Storr for a 5-4 score. Then Pavel Vorobiev tied things up at 5-5 when he stole a puck at his own blue line and skated in for a shorthanded breakaway, beating Storr through the legs at 14:21.
But Voce would have the last word. With his club on a two-man advantage due to a series of Norfolk indiscretions, Voce beat Crawford with a wrist shot from the right circle to complete the hat trick and take the 6-5 victory.
Storr took the win in relief with 15 saves on 17 shots, following up Houle's 18 saves on 21 shots. Crawford took the loss with nine saves on 10 shots, while Munro had 17 saves on 22 Phantoms opportunities. Norfolk held the overall shot advantage 38-32.
The Phantoms close out the home portion of their 2005-06 schedule on Friday night when they host the Hershey Bears at the Wachovia Spectrum. It's Fan Appreciation Night, with the annual Shirts Off Our Backs event and many more prizes and activities for the Phantoms faithful. Tickets are available online at www.phantomshockey.com or by phone at (215) 336-2000, (856) 338-9000 or (302) 984-2000. As always, kids tickets for all Phantoms games are just $8.00. www.phantomshockey.com.
American Hockey League Stories from April 9, 2006
- Phantoms fighting to the finish - Adirondack Phantoms
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- Two third period goals prove too much for Bears - Hershey Bears
- Rampage Game Day - San Antonio Rampage
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