Phantoms tie Bridgeport 1-1
October 17, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release
(BRIDGEPORT, Conn., Oct. 17, 2003) - Antero Niittymaki made 26 saves in his season debut and Peter White scored Philadelphia's lone goal as the Phantoms extended their unbeaten streak to three games with a 1-1 tie against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers tonight at the Arena at Harbor Yard.
Niittymaki, who missed last weekend's first three games due to a knee injury, showed no rust in helping Philadelphia improve to 2-0-1 since a season-opening loss to Binghamton. The Phantoms are also unbeaten in their last three visits to Bridgeport, including a 3-1 victory six days ago.
Dieter Kochan stopped 31 shots for the Sound Tigers, who fell to 0-2-2 on the season and 0-2-1 at home. Philadelphia and Bridgeport will meet six more times this season, with the next match-up set for Nov. 9 at the Wachovia Spectrum.
The teams played scoreless hockey in the opening period and deep into the second until Bridgeport's Martin Kariya tallied a power-play goal at the 14:08 mark. With Peter Vandermeer serving a tripping minor, the Sound Tigers worked the puck around from Mattias Timander to Justin Mapletoft to Kariya, who deposited his first goal of the season.
Less than two minutes earlier, Phantoms right wing Kirby Law was pulled down on a shorthanded breakaway, resulting in a penalty shot. But Kochan stopped the one-on-one situation, as Philadelphia fell to 3-for-11 all-time in penalty shots.
Law atoned for the miss by setting up Philadelphia's equalizing goal with 2:16 to play in the middle period. On the power play, Law and John Slaney worked the puck to White, whose shot was deflected over Kochan and past the goal line.
White's third goal of the season was Philadelphia's first power-play marker in 19 chances this year, as well as the first allowed by Bridgeport in 19 opportunities. White and Law also remained the only Phantoms with a point in each of the Phantoms' first four games of 2003-04.
The Phantoms are back in action on Saturday when they host the expansion Toronto Roadrunners at 7:05 p.m. at the Wachovia Spectrum. Philadelphia then entertains the Syracuse Crunch on Sunday at 5:05 p.m. The Phantoms will be wearing special orange Halloween jerseys that night before auctioning them off for charity.
Phantoms Notes: Jeff Smith and Freddy Meyer were healthy scratches ... Mike Peluso also made his season debut after missing the first three games due to a chest injury ... Dating back to last season, Law has a five-game point streak (1G, 5A) ... Philadelphia is 2-1-1 all-time on Oct. 17 ... The Phantoms are 5-3-1-1 all-time vs. the Sound Tigers.
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