Phantoms lose 3-1 to Hershey

December 6, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


(PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 6, 2002) - Charlie Stephens and Eric Bertrand each recorded a goal and an assist to lead the Hershey Bears to a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phantoms tonight at the First Union Spectrum.

Antero Niittymaki made 14 saves and Jim Vandermeer scored the lone goal for Philadelphia, which lost its third straight game overall and sixth in a row to Hershey. The teams were meeting in Philly for the second consecutive Friday, as the Bears posted a 2-0 win a week ago.

Phil Sauve finished with 23 saves for Hershey, which is 3-0-1 in its last four games overall and 4-0 in its last four road games. The Bears will host the Phantoms for the first time next Saturday, Dec. 14.

Philadelphia averted a second straight shutout to the Bears when Vandermeer netted his second goal of the year 4:03 into the game. Ben Stafford won a face-off in the Hershey zone and sent it back to Vandermeer, who uncorked a high slap shot from beyond the near circle.

The lead held up for over 10 minutes until Brian Willsie evened the score with 5:15 left. Stephens and Bertrand set up the play by moving the puck from behind the net to the side to Willsie out front, who knocked it past Niittymaki for his 11th of the season. Willsie had tallied both of Hershey's goals in last week's game.

Hershey assumed a 2-1 lead with nine seconds to go in the opening period. With the Bears on a man advantage, Brad Larsen and Brent Thompson assisted on Stephens' ninth goal and third power-play tally of the year.

Neither team scored during the second period, but Philadelphia had the best chance with its second penalty shot attempt of the season. With 10:42 to play in the period, Mark Greig hit Wade Skolney coming out of the penalty box and the rookie defenseman was pulled down from behind by Hershey's Marc Busenburg during a breakaway. However, Sauve stuffed Skolney on the penalty shot and the Bears took a 2-1 lead into the third stanza.

Bertrand extended the Bears lead to two goals 54 seconds into the third period. As the Phantoms were being called for a delayed penalty, the left wing skated down ice unmolested and netted his fifth goal with a blast over Niittymaki's left shoulder.

The Phantoms return to action on Saturday, when they make their second and final visit of the season to Bridgeport. Next week, Philadelphia entertains the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Friday, Dec. 13 and play at Hershey on Saturday, Dec. 14.

Phantoms Notes: The Phantoms did not allow a shot on goal until the 8:45 mark of the first period ... Andre Savage attempted Philadelphia's first penalty shot of the season on Oct. 25 vs. Norfolk and also was denied. There have only been seven penalty shots in the AHL this season ... Stafford had gone six games without recording a point.



American Hockey League Stories from December 6, 2002


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