Phantoms lose 5-3 in Albany

April 9, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


(ALBANY, N.Y., April 9, 2004) - Joe Hulbig and Steve Kariya each recorded a goal and two assists to lead the Albany River Rats to a 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phantoms tonight at Pepsi Arena.

Craig Darby, Tuomas Pihlman and Aaron Voros all added two points for Albany, which scored three power-play goals on six chances tonight. Matus Kostur notched the win by stopping 23-of-26 shots.

Mark Murphy and John Slaney each had a goal and an assist for Philadelphia, which had a three-game road win streak come to an end. Antero Niittymaki made 27 saves to suffer just his second loss in his last seven starts.

Due to the loss, Philadelphia is now even with Hartford for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. The teams both have 98 points with two games remaining. The Phantoms also sit two points ahead of second-place Bridgeport in the East Division. Philadelphia and Bridgeport will meet on Saturday night in Connecticut.

The score was tied at 2-2 entering the third period before Hulbig and Matt DeMarchi scored power-play goals to put Albany ahead for good. Hulbig netted his 21st of the year at the 5:42 mark, with assists going to Darby and Kariya. DeMarchi then tallied the game-winner with 7:37 remaining, with Hulbig and Kariya assisting.

Slaney narrowed the gap to 4-3 with 4:27 remaining on a power-play score of his own. Murphy and Kirk Furey set up the defenseman's 19th goal and team-best 11th man-advantage marker.

Niittymaki was pulled for a sixth-attacker late in the game and Voros sealed the win with an empty-netter at 19:28. Steve Guolla and Pihlman assisted on Voros' second of the year.

Philadelphia was outshot, 32-26, and finished 1-for-4 on the power play. The Phantoms had won the last four meetings with Albany since dropping the first match-up of the year on Nov. 1.

The Phantoms struck first for the eighth game in a row, as Kirby Law did the honors just 35 seconds into the game. Peter White and James Laux set up the score, which was Law's team-leading 31st of the season.

But Albany responded after Philadelphia's B.J. Abel was sent off for tripping less than six minutes later. Krisjanis Redlihs tallied his ninth goal on the play, with assists going to Voros and Pihlman at the 8:04 mark.

The River Rats continued the pressure and took a 2-1 lead with 9:53 to go in the opening period on Kariya's 16th of the year. Darby and Hulbig set up the go-ahead goal.

Philadelphia trailed by a goal entering the second stanza but evened the score at 2-2 during a 4-on-4 situation. P.J. Stock led a 2-on-1 rush before sending the puck to Murphy, who placed it top shelf for his 16th goal. Slaney was also credited with an assist on the lone tally of the second period.

Albany had lost four of its last five games.

Philadelphia continues its season-ending road trip on Saturday night vs. Bridgeport. The Phantoms then wrap up the regular season on Sunday in Hershey.

Phantoms Notes: Craig Berube, Stephen Wood and Les Borsheim were scratched ... Dennis Seidenberg, Ben Stafford, Randy Jones and Brett Engelhardt did not travel ... Wade Skolney returned to action after missing 11 games due to a shoulder injury ... Slaney has nine points (3G, 6A) in his last seven games ... Law has nine points (7G, 2A) in his last seven games ... White has a four-game assist streak.



American Hockey League Stories from April 9, 2004


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