Phantoms Hibernated By Bears

Published on April 11, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Phantoms held a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes on Friday, but the Hershey Bears scored three goals in the third period to take a 4-2 win at the Wachovia Spectrum. Chris Bourque scored two power-play goals to pace the Bears, who moved within a point of clinching the East Division's final playoff spot.

Philadelphia jumped on the board just 3:07 into the game. Chad Anderson let fly with a slapshot from the left point that pinballed first off of Denis Gauthier and then off Triston Grant before going in. Grant was credited with his 10th goal of the year, and the Phantoms led 1-0.

Hershey answered with 6:44 elapsed on Bourque's first, which came off a feed from Danny Syvret. He found Bourque unmarked on the right side of the slot, and Bourque's slapper beat Michael Teslak to the upper right corner.

In the second period, Ryan Potulny gave the Phantoms a 2-1 lead with a rare 4-on-3 goal. He fired a slapshot from the right circle that Frederic Cassivi initially stopped, but the remnants trickled over the line at 8:33. Michael Ratchuk, playing in his first professional game, set up the goal for his first point as a pro.

It only took 2:55 of the third period for Hershey to draw even on Bourque's second, which came on a five-on-three advantage. He fired a shot from high between the circles that made it through traffic and past Teslak, knotting the game at 2-2.

Kyle Wilson secured the game-winner just over 3 ½ minutes later. He was hanging out in the Phantoms crease and was in the right place when Jonathan Paiement sent a slapshot on net. Wilson deflected it past Teslak to give Hershey its first lead at 3-2 with 6:30 gone in the third. Giroux sealed matters with an empty-netter with just over 32 seconds remaining.

The Phantoms outshot Hershey 33-25, including a 22-14 advantage over the final two periods, but Cassivi stopped 31 of the bids to take the win. Teslak was hit with the loss with 21 saves on 24 shots faced.

The East Division playoff picture cleared up a bit after the evening's play, which included a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton win over Albany and a Bridgeport win over Lowell. Binghamton was eliminated tonight, and Hershey moved within a point of clinching the fourth playoff spot in the East. A Bears win or overtime/shootout loss in either of their final two games will secure the spot, as would a Bridgeport loss of any variety in its last two contests.

At the top of the division, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton opened their lead over the Phantoms to three points. The Penguins can clinch the division with a win tomorrow over Norfolk or a Phantoms loss to Hershey.

The Phantoms and Bears will do it again Saturday night at GIANT Center in Hershey. Philadelphia will close out its regular season on Sunday evening when the Albany River Rats visit the Wachovia Spectrum. The Phantoms will give away over 500 prizes, including the shirts off the players' backs after the game. One lucky fan will win the world - a team autographed globe signed by the entire Phantoms roster, as well as Phantoms Platoon leader Jim Brown, who has signed Afghanistan.

Tickets are sitll available for Fan Appreciation Night, and playoff tickets are also available for Games "A" and "B" which will be played Friday, October 18 and Sunday, October 20 at the Wachovia Center. Tickets are available at the Wachovia Complex box office, online at ComcastTIX.com or phantomshockey.com, or by phone at 1-800-298-4200.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 11, 2008


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