Phantoms sweep Rochester with 3-2 win
April 11, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release
(PHILADELPHIA, April 11, 2002) - Pavel Brendl scored a pair of goals and Neil Little stopped 37 shots as the Philadelphia Phantoms completed a sweep of the Rochester Americans with a 3-2 victory in Game Two of their best-of-three Western Conference qualifying series.
Philadelphia, the eighth seed in the Western Conference, now advances to the best-of-five conference quarterfinals and will either play top-seeded Syracuse or No. 2 Grand Rapids. Brendl had collected a goal and an assist on Tuesday when Philadelphia captured the series opener, 4-2.
The Phantoms opened up a 1-0 lead after a nice passing sequence 11:28 into the game. Jarrod Skalde began the play with an offering from the corner to Mark Greig, who was stationed outside the crease. The Phantoms' captain then backhanded the puck over to Brendl in the far circle and he deposited it top shelf past a helpless Mika Noronen.
Meanwhile, Little turned aside all 12 shots he faced in the first period, including a breakaway by Rochester leading scorer Chris Taylor at the 5:50 mark. Little withstood 17 more shots in the middle stanza, making two sprawling saves during Americans power plays.
Brendl doubled the Phantoms cushion following a heads-up play by Mike Watt. At the 8:18 mark of the second period, Watt intercepted a clearing pass by a Rochester defenseman and quickly found Brendl alone in front. Brendl one-timed it past Noronen for his third goal and fourth point of the young postseason.
"Pavel really showed up the past two games, played hard and scored some goals," said Phantoms head coach John Stevens. "He's showing the ability we felt he had all along. He's working hard and is committed to playing a team game. When he got an opportunity to score, he scored. We couldn't be happier with the way he's played the past two games."
Philadelphia extended the gap to 3-0 on Mark Freer's first playoff goal. Jim Vandermeer began the play by finding Mike Lephart streaking down the near side. The rookie right winger headed in on goal before crossing it to Freer, who easily tapped it in at the 2:52 mark of the final period.
Rochester made things interesting with a pair of goals by Ryan Shmyr late in the third. His first, from Geoff Peters and Norm Milley, was a long line drive that sailed over Little's shoulder and off the far post at the 13:39 mark. Shmyr made it 3-2 with 3:51 remaining when he followed up a miss by Milley.
Rochester pulled Noronen with 72 seconds to play and only had one good scoring opportunity before time elapsed.
Phantoms Notes: Philadelphia and Rochester were meeting in the playoffs for the fourth time in the last six years. The Phantoms have now advanced past the Amerks three times and lead the postseason.
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