Phantoms Retain Control Of Playoff Fate With 4-2 Win Over Norfolk
April 4, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release
NORFOLK, VA - Danny Syvret set up Boyd Kane for a pair of goals, including the game-winner, to lift the Philadelphia Phantoms over the Norfolk Admirals 4-2 at Norfolk Scope. The win was Philadelphia's fifth in a row and allowed them to keep pace with the Binghamton Senators. The Phantoms remain a point behind Binghamton with one game in hand.
The Phantoms needed just 42 seconds to start the scoring, doing so when a faceoff in their own zone developed in a two-on-one the other way. Syvret carried the puck into the zone and dished it off to Kane, who finished off the rush to give Philadelphia the early 1-0 advantage.
Then with 8:39 left in the period, the Phantoms took advantage of a miscue behind the Norfolk net that saw Riku Helenius send a puck directly to Josh Gratton. He threw it out in front and Jared Ross was there, but his bid towards an open net was thwarted by Wade Brookbank. The puck caromed to the right corner, where Matt Clackson picked it up and found Sean Curry in the high slot, Curry snapped it home before Helenius could fully recover, and the Phantoms had a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.
Norfolk charged back with a pair of goals in the second period. Former Phantom Pete Zingoni potted the first, knocking home a puck during a lengthy 6-on-5 that was taking place on a delayed penalty to make it 2-1 2:32 into the second period. Then near the halfway point of the period, Blair Jones fired a slapshot from the top of the left circle that beat J.S. Aubin during a 5-on-3 power play. It knotted the contest at 2-2 heading into the third period.
Kane's winner came with 14:43 left in the frame. He was at the right post when Syvret set him up from the left circle for a stuffer past Helenius. David Laliberte iced the win with an empty-netter with four-tenths of a second left in the game.
Aubin picked up the win, stopping 35 of 37 Norfolk shots. Helenius took the loss with 26 saves on the 29 of Philadelphia's 30 shots he faced.
The Phantoms and Admirals will meet for the third consecutive time on Sunday night at the Wachovia Spectrum at 5:05 in the second-to-last regular season game in the building. The Phantoms will induct Peter White into the Phantoms Hall of Fame prior to the game, the first 5,000 fans will receive authentic ice from the Spectrum ice surface courtesy of Wachovia, and the Phantoms will auction off their special Spectrum jerseys after they wear them for the final time during the game.
Tickets are still available for Sunday's game, and are going fast for the final game on Friday, April 10 against the Hershey Bears. Adult tickets are just $10 and kids tickets just $5 for both contests. Tickets are available through ComcastTIX at 1-800-298-4200, at the Wachovia Complex box office or online at Phantomshockey.com.
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American Hockey League Stories from April 4, 2009
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