Phantoms Get Opening Night Win

October 8, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Phantoms 10th Anniversary season kicked off in grand fashion on Saturday night as the defending Calder Cup Champions celebrated their 2005 crown. A lavish pregame ceremony highlighted the pregame festivities at the Wachovia Center, as championship rings were presented to the players and staff. Mark Murphy touched off the postgame party with an overtime goal in the Phantoms 4-3 win over Binghamton.

When the puck was dropped, the visitors struck first. After serving the Senators maiden penalty of the season, veteran Steve Martins was fed perfectly from the box and in on a breakaway. A wrister sealed the deal at 8:44. The Phantoms, however, charged right back. A shade under three minutes later BJ Abel would score his first of two on the night.

The play developed deep in the Senators zone, as Triston Grant broke clean from the B-Sens defenseman at the hash marks for a 2-on-0. A goalmouth pass from the rookie to Abel tied the game. Abel was on the spot again for the go-ahead goal with 5:26 remaining on the first period clock. He was camped alone at the top of the crease as Eric Meloche forechecked behind the net and sent the puck to the awaiting Abel.

In the second, the Senators tied the game in an ugly fashion on the power play. A wrister from the left wing boards pinballed off a Phantoms defender in front, hit Philadelphia goaltender Jamie Storr, and then trickled over the line. Filip Novak was given credit for Binghamton's good fortunes.

Danny Bois reclaimed the lead for the Senators in the opening moments of the third with a short-range shot, filtering off the right pad of Storr and in. The visitors gained their momentum with a 15-9 shots advantage in the second, after being outgunned 17-7 in the opening stanza.

That score looked like it would stand at 3-2 in favor of Binghamton until newly anointed Phantoms Captain John Slaney scored with just 2.2 seconds remaining. With the goaltender on the bench in favor of the extra skater, Slaney was presented with a perfect pass from R.J. Umberger in the left wing circle and he one-timed the equalizer over the shoulder of Thompson.

In the extra session the Sens pushed the pace, but it was Mark Murphy's breakaway goal that gave the Phantoms the extra point and the win. Murphy was directed in on a breakaway from the neutral zone by defenseman David Printz. When Murphy went to make a move on Thompson, the puck slipped off his backhand and through the legs of the netminder, stirring the crowd of 11,584 into a full lather.

Coach John Stevens reflected on the win noting, "We did a lot of things wrong tonight, but the fact that we didn't go away, stayed with the hockey game and got two points - We've got a lot to work on, but we've got a lot to work with too."



American Hockey League Stories from October 8, 2005


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