AHL Norfolk Admirals

Phantoms keep Norfolk on the skids

by David W. Unkle
Published on January 18, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals


(PHILADELPHIA)---Patrick Sharp had two goals and the defense contributed seven points as the Philadelphia Phantoms dropped the Norfolk Admirals 4-1.

It was the fourth consecutive loss for the Admirals and their sixth in the last seven games.

Antero Niittymaki stopped in 32 shots to earn his 12th victory of the season and came with 7:36 of his second consecutive shutout.

Michael Leighton stopped 23 of 26 Philadelphia shots in a losing effort. In his second consecutive start since being sent down to the Admirals, Leighton has surrendered eight goals on 44 shots.

Randy Jones gave Philadelphia the 1-0 first period lead backhanding a Freddy Meyer rebound past Leighton at 18:37. For Jones, it was his fourth goal of the season and his second goal in his last three games.

Ben Stafford gave Philadelphia a two goal lead at 15:12 of the second period on a P.J. Stock feed catching Leighton moving right-to-left.

After Patrick Sharp scored the first of his two third-period goals, Anton Babchuk ended Niittymaki's shutout bid on a defensive lapse in the Phantoms' end of the ice.

Phantoms' defenseman Freddy Meyer turned the puck over behind the Philadelphia net. Admirals' forward Yorick Treille took the feed from Igor Radulov and found Anton Babchuk at the bottom of the left wing circle.

The one-timer easily beat Niittymaki who has just three losses in his last nineteen appearances (10-3-3 with 3 no-decisions).

"I think he has arrived" is how Phantom's Head Coach John Stevens summarized the second-year goalie's success this season.

Stevens added "I think (Niittymaki) matured...it seems like each game he gets a little better. He was spectacular in the first period on 1 or 2 shots and he stopped a breakaway in the second period. Right now, he's playing with a lot of confidence, he's aggressive and he's making good decisions".

With Leighton pulled in favor of the fifth skater (Philadelphia was on a power play), Sharp added an empty-netter with 40.4 seconds to play in regulation.

Philadelphia collected four of a possible six points this weekend as they prepare to face the Division-leading Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Friday.

Just 3 points separate the two teams with the Sound Tigers having two games in hand.

After winning the first game of the season series 3-1, the Phantoms are winless in their last four contests against the Sound Tigers (0-3-1). Bridgeport is in the midst of their first slump of the season losing six of their last ten games (4-4-0-2). 

SCORING

NOR	0-0-1

PHL	1-1-2



SHOTS ON GOAL

NOR	15-10-8

PHL	9-12-6

Scoring
PERIOD	TEAM	GOAL		ASSIST(S)		TIME	SCORE

1st		PHL		Jones (4)	White/Meyer		18:37	1-0

2nd		PHL		Stafford (8)	Slaney/Stock		15:12	2-0

3rd		PHL		Sharp (14)	Slaney			00:58	3-0

3rd		NOR		Babchuk (7)	Radulov/Treille	12:34	3-1

3rd		PHL		Sharp (15)	Jones/MacNeil		19:19	4-1
Penalties
PERIOD	TEAM	PLAYER	PENALTY		TIME	GOAL	

1ST		PHL		Skolney	Tripping		2:24	N

1ST		NOR		Germyn	High-sticking		7:27	N

1st		PHL		MacNeil	Obst-Interference	14:38	N

1st		PHL		J. Vandermeer Cross-checking	17:03	N

1st		NOR		Lang		Roughing		17:03	Y

2nd		PHL		Jones		High-sticking		1:14	N

2nd 		PHL		P. Vandermeer High-sticking		8:18	N

2nd		PHL		P. Vandermeer	 Slashing		8:18	N

2nd		NOR		Ellison		Slashing		9:01	N

2nd 		NOR		Balan		Cross-checking	13:03	N

2nd		NOR		Treille		Holding		17:56	N

2nd		PHL		Stock		Goalie Interference	18:17	N

3rd		NOR		Balen		Roughing		2:34	N

3rd		NOR		Balen		Roughing		2:34	N

3rd		NOR		Germyn	Fighting		6:40	N

3rd		PHL		Murphy	Fighting		6:40	N

3rd		NOR		D. Keith	Hooking		16:24	N

3rd		NOR		M. Keith	Slashing		17:57	Y

GOALIES			S	SA	MIN


Leighton (NOR)		26	23	59:47

Niittymaki (PHL)		22	32	60:00
STARS OF THE GAME
1. Antero Niittymaki (PHL)

2. John Slaney (PHL)

3. Patrick Sharp (PHL)
Selected by: Patrick Williams from theahl.com
NOTES:
1. These two teams have faced each other eight times this season with Philadelphia holding a 4-3-1 edge in the season series. Philadelphia is 16-16-2-2 in the all-time series including an 8-9-1 mark at home.
2. Philadelphia's Kirby Law has 11 points (4G, 7A) in his last eight games while teammates Peter White (2G, 3A in his last six) and Mike Siklenka (1G, 3A in his last five) to lead the Phantoms to a 6-1 record over the last two weeks. 
3. The Phantom's Ben Stafford went thirteen games without a goal but has two in his last two games.
4. Sunday road games continue to be unfriendly to Norfolk; the Admirals remain winless (0-5-1). 
GAME OFFICIALS
Referee:	Dan O'Rourke

Linesman:	Jim Doyle

Linesman:	Mike McDevitt
ATTENDANCE: 5,684

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics

Share: 

	Facebook
|
	Twitter/X
|
	LinkedIn
|
	Reddit
|
	Email

	



American Hockey League Stories from January 18, 2004



The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
OurSports Central