Phantoms Jump Into Fourth Place With 3-0 Win Over Norfolk

Published on April 5, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


PHILADELPHIA - David Laliberte scorted twice and Scott Munroe made 30 saves to lead the Philadelphia Phantoms to a 3-0 win over the Norfolk Admirals on Sunday night at the Wachovia Spectrum. The win, which was Philadelphia's sixth in a row, allowed the Phantoms to jump past the Binghamton Senators into the fourth and final playoff slot in the East Division with each team having three games left to play.

All three goals came in the first period. Michael Ratchuk started the scoring with a highlight-reel end-to-end goal that was similar to his first professional goal about a year ago at this time. He came the length of the ice and eluded all Norfolk threats before reaching goaltender Craig Kowalski and jamming the puck home 7:27 into the game. Munroe picked up the only assist on the play.

The next two goals came from David Laliberte, with the first taking place during a two-on-one shorthanded rush. He came in on the play with Jonathan Matsumoto to his left, but called his own number and blasted a shot past Kowalski at the 9:16 mark.

Then with 2:23 to play in the period, Laliberte picked up his second. He was on the left side of the net when he finished up a scramble in the Norfolk end by beating Kowalski from the bottom of the left circle.

Kowalski stood tall the rest of the way, stopping 20 Philadelphia shots the rest of the way despite his club playing with a depleted lineup. The Admirals started the game with just 16 skaters and lost two of those during the game, with only four true defensemen available for almost half the contest.

Munroe's 30 stops earned him first star and his fourth shutout of the year. Kowalski ended up with 28 stops on 31 Philadelphia bids.

The win came in Philadelphia's final game-in-hand on the Binghamton Senators. Both teams have three games remaining and will take the ice on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday of this week. Although the Phantoms only have one more point, than the Senators, they have two more regulation wins and were 5-2-0-1 in the season series with Binghamton this year. Any combination of points gained by the Phantoms and lost by the Senators during those three games adding up to five would clinch a playoff spot for Philadelphia.

Before tonight's game, Peter White was inducted into the Phantoms Hall of Fame. The team's all-time leading scorer becomes the seventh player so honored and joins Frank Miceli in the 2009 class.

Tonight's Wachovia Spectrum ice giveaway saw 5,000 collectible jars given away that each contained approximately two teaspoons of melted ice taken from the Spectrum ice surface by the Zamboni. That translates to approximately 108 pounds of Spectrum ice distributed to the 5,000 fans that received them.

The Phantoms head to Albany for a Wednesday night contest against the River Rats before coming back to Philadelphia for the final regular season game at the Wachovia Spectrum this Friday night against the Hershey Bears. Limited tickets are still available but are going fast. All adult tickets are just $10, while kids tickets are just $5. Tickets are available at the Wachovia Complex box office, online at Phantomshockey.com, or via ComcastTIX at 1-800-298-4200.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 5, 2009


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