Phantoms lose 3-2 to Grand Rapids

Published on March 21, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


(PHILADELPHIA, March 21, 2004) - Jeff Nelson scored the winning goal on the power play with 7:47 to go in the second period as the visiting Grand Rapids Griffins posted a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phantoms in front of 10,256 at the Wachovia Spectrum.

Danny Groulx and Derek King also scored for Grand Rapids, which avenged a 5-3 home loss to the Phantoms on Feb. 29. Marc Lamothe notched the win by making 22 saves.

B.J. Abel and Mike Peluso each scored for the Phantoms, who had won five of their last seven games. Neil Little turned aside 11-of-14 shots over the first two periods before Antero Niittymaki stopped all three shots he faced during the third stanza.

"I didn't think we were very good," said Phantoms head coach John Strevens. "I thought we played for 20 minutes - the first two periods we were getting outworked by at least a half a step, maybe a step. We got killed on face-offs, not just our center, but all five guys. It's usually a reflection on how you are competing. And they are probably one of the best teams in the league in protecting a lead."

Despite the loss, Philadelphia remained tied with Bridgeport for first place in the AHL's East Division. The Phantoms and Sound Tigers also trail the Eastern Conference-leading Hartford Wolf Pack by two points.

Grand Rapids opened the scoring just 1:25 into the game when Groulx fired a low line drive through traffic and in between Little's pads from the near circle. Jiri Hudler and Michel Picard set up Groulx's seventh of the year.

But Philadelphia answered 47 seconds later on Abel's fifth goal. Peter Vandermeer began the sequence with a centering pass from behind the net and Abel was able to back hand it by Lamothe. Nick Deschenes also received an assist on the play.

The Griffins struck again 46 seconds into the second period to make it 2-1 when King followed in a miss by Matt Ellis for his ninth of the season. But Peluso responded at the 7:15 mark to again even the score at 2-2. James Laux took a feed from Abel on the play and blasted a shot that sailed wide left. The puck caromed off the end board back to Peluso, who deposited his 13th goal.

Grand Rapids took a 3-2 lead into the second intermission, though, thanks to Jeff Nelson's power-play goal at the 12:13 mark. Picard and Travis Richards set up the slap shot from the left point that made its way through traffic and went in off the post for his 13th of the year.

Philadelphia outshot Grand Rapids, 11-3, in the final period, but was unable to net the equalizer.

"We're a little bit disappointed, especially after our effort on Friday (3-2 OT win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton)," said Abel. "We were facing a really tough team and having an outcome like this, it's tough to take. But we'll learn from it."

The Phantoms will conclude their four-game homestand on Friday at 7:05 p.m. vs. Bridgeport. The game will be televised live on CN8.

Phantoms Notes: Les Borsheim, Wade Skolney, Stephen Wood and Craig Berube were scratches ... Wood was signed to a tryout contract earlier in the day ... Dennis Seidenberg continues to recover from a broken leg ... Vandermeer recorded his 200th point as a pro ... The Phantoms lost on a Sunday for just the fourth time in 16 tries ... The Griffins hold a 3-1 lead in the all-time series ... The first 4,000 fans received a Neil Little bobblehead doll, courtesy of Wachovia.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from March 21, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central