Phantoms prefer rich chocolate Ovaltine

Published on December 21, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


PHILADELPHIA - Stefan Ruzicka and Boyd Kane had two goals apiece and Jared Ross posted 3 assists as the Philadelphia Phantoms reached the 20-win mark before the Christmas break with a 5-2 win over the Hershey Bears on Friday night at the Wachovia Spectrum. The win puts the Phantoms at 20-8-1, making them just the fourth squad in team history to reach the 20-win plateau before Christmas.

Hershey struck first, taking a 1-0 lead near the halfway point of the first period. Sasha Pokulok had played a puck around behind the net, which Joe Motzko pushed out in front. Brian Boucher was protecting the right post and could not adjust before thorn Louis Robitaille poked it between the netminder's pads at 9:10.

The Phantoms tied the game with 3:49 remaining in the first. Darren Reid came down the right hand side and put a puck on net at a sharp angle. Frederic Cassivi stopped the bid, but it slipped through his armor and landed behind him. Boyd Kane spied the stray puck and poked it the rest of the necessary distance to make it a 1-1 contest.

Philadelphia jumped ahead 4:10 into the second period. Stefan Ruzicka moved a puck deep behind the net, where Lars Jonsson was able to pry it out in front. Jonathan Matsumoto was crashing and knocked it home while off balance for the 2-1 lead.

The advantage became 3-1 just over five minutes later. The Phantoms were just nine seconds into their second power play of the game when Ruzicka lit a rocket from the left circle that blurred past Cassivi and nearly tore through the onion bag at the 9:10 mark. The tally snapped an 0-for-19 scoreless streak on the power play.

Less than a minute elapsed before Kane's second of the night made it 4-1. He was stationed in front of the net and tipped home a puck that was played toward the net by Oskars Bartulis with 8:21 left to play in the middle frame.

Hershey got a goal back 6:15 into the third period. Jason Morgan carried a puck over the Phantoms blue line and let fly with a perfectly-placed slapshot that beat Boucher into the upper glove side corner, making it a 4-2 game.

But Ruzicka answered with his second of the night, coming with 7:07 to play. He was idling on the right post while a scrum took place in the crease. The puck slid through and he lifted it over the fallen Cassivi for the 5-2 lead.

Boucher took the win with 27 saves on 29 Hershey opportunities, while Cassivi absorbed the loss with 29 saves on 34 Phantoms shots. The team's record of 20-8-1 for 41 points puts them with the 1996-97, 1997-98 and 2004-05 squads as the only ones to win 20 games before Christmas. The win also grows the team's lead to five points over Albany in the East Division.

The Phantoms are now off through the Christmas holiday, and will resume their schedule on Dec. 27 in Norfolk. The next home game is in one week, Friday, Dec. 28 against the Binghamton Senators. The first 4,000 kids 14 and under will receive Phantoms trading cards courtesy of Pepsi. Tickets are available at the Wachovia Complex box office, online at ComcastTIX.com or phantomshockey.com, or by phone at 1-800-298-4200.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 21, 2007


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