Phantoms lose 4-2 to Norfolk in regular-season finale

April 17, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


(PHILADELPHIA, April 17, 2005) - Anton Babchuk scored twice and added an assist to lead the Norfolk Admirals to a 4-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phantoms tonight in front of a crowd of 13,223 at the Wachovia Spectrum in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Matt Keith and Pavel Vorobiev also scored, while Adam Munro stopped 30-of-32 shots to help Norfolk end a four-game losing streak and capture the season series, six games to four.

Philadelphia will have the opportunity to seek revenge next weekend when the teams begin a best-of-seven East Division Semifinals series against each other. Games One and Two will be played in Philadelphia at the Wachovia Center on Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23, both at 7:05 p.m.

R.J. Umberger and Josh Gratton each scored and Joni Pitkanen had two assists as Philadelphia had a four-game win streak come to an end. Neil Little made 38 saves on 42 shots to suffer the loss.

Philadelphia opened the scoring 9:47 into the game on Umberger's 21st goal of the year. Tony Voce and Pitkanen set up the shot from up top that sailed over Munro's shoulder.

Norfolk answered with Keith's 18th goal at the 11:39 mark before a series of Phantoms penalties led to a pair of Admirals power-play goals late in the second that made it a 3-1 game.

The Phantoms were shorthanded for a stretch of just under eight minutes, beginning at the 13:40 mark of the second period when Patrick Sharp was sent off for hooking, a boarding major and game misconduct.

After Vorobiev tallied his 19th goal with 4:03 left to make it 2-1, minor penalties on Voce and Eric Meloche gave Norfolk more power-play time, resulting in Babchuk's first goal of the night at 19:47 of the middle stanza during a 5-on-3 situation.

"I thought we had a really good first period, but handed ourselves some self-inflicted wounds in the second," said Phantoms head coach John Stevens. "Whoever we face (in the playoffs) is going to be a formidable opponent and Norfolk certainly is. We've had tough games against each other all year and I expect the same next weekend."

Gratton netted a power-play goal of his own at 7:55 of the third period, redirecting a shot by Pitkanen, to cut the gap to 3-2. Jeff Carter also received an assist on Gratton's ninth goal to notch his first career regular-season point as a pro.

But Babchuk struck again at 9:07 with a blast off the post to seal the win for Norfolk.

Despite the loss, Philadelphia finished with 48 wins, which is the second most in club history.

Phantoms Notes: Joey Hope, John Slaney, Jon Sim, Dennis Seidenberg and Ryan Ready were scratched ... Defenseman Charlie Cook made his pro debut ... Keith's goal snapped Norfolk's scoreless streak at 198:36. The Admirals had been shut out in their previous three games.



American Hockey League Stories from April 17, 2005


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