Phantoms lose 6-2 to Bridgeport

Published on November 9, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


(PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 9, 2003) - Jeff Hamilton and Rob Collins each scored twice as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers posted a 6-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phantoms tonight at the Wachovia Spectrum.

Martin Kariya added a goal and an assist, Jody Robinson registered two assists and Wade Dubielewicz stopped 19-of-21 shots for Bridgeport, which extended its unbeaten streak to five games (4-0-1). The Sound Tigers also notched their first win in three tries vs. Philadelphia this season, as they lost and tied in two match-ups in Bridgeport last month.

Patrick Sharp and Dennis Seidenberg each scored for Philadelphia, which had its season-best three-game win streak come to an end. Antero Niittymaki made 25 saves as his personal two-game win streak was halted.

Playing for the third night in a row, Philadelphia suffered its worst loss of the year and allowed the most goals in a game since a 6-1 setback vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Dec. 13, 2002.

"When you play three in a row vs. Hershey - it's such a rivalry - it's tough to come down to play against another team," commented Sharp. "We just came out flat and were working from behind all night."

Hamilton gave Bridgeport a 1-0 lead 7:02 into the game with his eighth goal of the year. During a flurry in front of the Phantoms net, the puck came to rest just outside the crease and Hamilton swooped in to knock it in. Mattias Weinhandl and Eric Manlow received assists on the power-play goal.

Philadelphia evened the score at 1-1 when Boyd Kane and Sharp executed a 2-on-1 break. After taking a feed from Kirby Law, Kane streaked down the near side and offered a centering pass to Sharp, who tallied his fifth goal of the season and third in as many games.

But Bridgeport took the lead for good on Kevin Colley's first goal at 7:59 of the middle period. Robinson helped set up the play, as well as Hamilton's second tally of the night at 11:15 that made it 3-1.

Seidenberg narrowed the gap to 3-2 with 6:14 to go in the second. On the power play, Law and Sharp fed the defenseman for a long slap shot that caromed off a Sound Tiger's skate and in for his third goal of the year.

The Sound Tigers scored the final three goals, however, beginning with Kariya's shorthanded goal with 44 seconds left in the second. Collins set up Kariya's third goal on a 2-on-1 break.

Collins sealed the win with a pair of third-period goals, the second coming during a five-minute power play late in the game.

"We've killed something like 30 penalties in the last three games. I'm not a mathematician, but that's a whole hockey game," said Phantoms head coach John Stevens. "Bridgeport played only two games (this weekend) and we're coming off killing 30 penalties in three days - we have to clean it up. If you take penalties against good teams, it's going to be tough."

The Phantoms play four games in five days next week, beginning with the team's second annual School Day Game on Wednesday at 11:05 a.m. vs. the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks at the Wachovia Center. Philadelphia then hosts Cincinnati again on Friday at 7:05 p.m. at the Wachovia Spectrum before playing at Bridgeport on Saturday night and entertaining the Providence Bruins next Sunday at 6:05 p.m. at the Spectrum.

Phantoms Notes: Earlier in the day, rookie defenseman Joey Hope was recalled from the Trenton Titans (ECHL) ... Law has nine points (4G, 5A) in his last four games ... Kane also has a four-game point streak (1G, 5A) ... Philadelphia still leads the all-time series 5-4-1-1.

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American Hockey League Stories from November 9, 2003


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